The economic downturn has temporarily eased the state's shortage of registered nurses, according to studies released Friday by the Virginia Department of Health Professions.
But state health officials cautioned that a severe problem looms.
"We have this juggernaut down the road," said Elizabeth A. Carter, the department's Healthcare Workforce Data Center director. "Right now we look like we're fine, but we're in the eye of the storm."
On Friday, the center, which was formed on the recommendation of Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's 2007 Health Reform Commission, posted its first wave of studies related to the nursing work force, education programs and projected supply and demand.
The recession prompted employers to slow hiring, and registered nurses increased hours, re-entered the work force and delayed retirement.
Those shifts, along with an increase in nursing graduates, temporarily filled the state's nursing needs, according to the center's studies.
The number of graduates from registered nurse education programs in Virginia rose from 2,328 in 2004 to 3,228 in 2008, because of added programs, said Sandra Whitley Ryals, director of the state health professions department.
Still, new projections show a deficit of around 7,100 full-time registered nurses by 2020. The aging population and an anticipated wave of nurse retirements are expected to increase that number to about 19,100 by 2028.
"It would be very misleading at best for anyone to think the nursing shortage is over," Ryals said. "And this is one that is not going to go away."
For more information, visit www.dhp.virginia.gov/hwdc.
Amy Jeter, (757) 446-2730, amy.jeter@pilotonline.com
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Got low pay, got no benefits, got no respect at work!
Union! Union! Union! Union! Union! Union! Union! Union! Union! Union! Just substitue maid for nurse and voila!
There once was a union maid, she never was afraid
Of goons and ginks and company finks and the deputy sheriffs who made the raid.
She went to the union hall when a meeting it was called,
And when the Legion boys come 'round
She always stood her ground.
Oh, you can't scare me, I'm sticking to the union,
I'm sticking to the union, I'm sticking to the union.
Oh, you can't scare me, I'm sticking to the union,
I'm sticking to the union 'til the day I die.
This union maid was wise to the tricks of company spies,
She couldn't be fooled by a company stool, she'd always organize the guys.
She always got her way when she struck for better pay.
She'd show her card to the National Guard
And this is what she'd say
You gals who want to be free, just take a tip from me;
Get you a man who's a union man and join the ladies' auxiliary.
Married life ain't hard when you got a union card,
A union man has a happy life when he's got a union wife.
Nurses
School nurses literally start out at $29,000 in one school district. They care for the general student population AND severly autistic, wheelchair bound, trached, diabetic, asthmatic, and many other afflicted kids - some of which would have been institutionalized decades ago. NOt to mention dealing with the parents, some of whom are difficult to deal with to say the least. Sure, the hours are nice and summers off, but why does Virginia not 'require' RN's in each school. If I had a child with a severe medical problem, I would not send him or her to a school without an R.N.
At the other end of the spectrum, hospital nurses pay may be better, but the compensation is not even close for having to work holidays, nights and weekends. Time away from family. MANY MANY times nurses have to catch a physicians mistake before it's too late or they would be sued as well. They are also the ones to asses the patient and contact the MD if a patient worsens...quite an important job if you ask me.
Nurses Union
These are the exact conditions that our parents endured until unions began to organize, began to have a voice and began to insure that hard workers were properly represented.
Why is it that with the large number of health care workers in this area, that there is no union? Could it be that the large health care system silently takes away the hearts of the people that have attempted to unionize?
Nursing "fix"?
For the last 30+ years there has been a vocational program in NY high schools that prepare students for a nursing career when they graduate. They attend high school classes as well as a teaching hospital several afternoons a week and are graded in all these classes. When graduating from HS, these students can receive a certificate which would qualify for nursing aide or go on to receive an RN and more advanced training at a nursing school or college in greatly reduced time. This eases the financial burden and time lapse for families/individuals, who already know they want a nursing career and put practical nurses, with hands on experience, immediately into the workforce. Since elderly people are the fastest growing population in Hampton Roads and services are in great demand and not always available, why not introduce a program that could actually benefit individuals seeking a nursing career and benefit the general public by enhancing their access to care? The nurses from these NY programs are in demand, always find jobs and are highly respected in their areas. I know several such nurse/graduates and have actually met people in Hampton Roads who have worked in medical settings w
Just a note...these are not nurses...
They are Certified Nursing Aids...or CNA's. Portsmouth School System has an LPN program, again...one year long, I believe.
Depaul does have a great program for Nursing Aids 8 weeks or so. But there is no comparison in education to a licensed Registered Nurse.
reply: These are not nurses
The comment about NY program states that people with this training can "go on to a college or nursing school" and receive an RN or higher degree, but can graduate from HS with a certificate....CNA (present name for it). The point is many courses are already complete when they enter college etc. They don't have to spend extra time in classes and pay more money. In NY, these courses begin when a student is a Junior. This is a two year course with supporting HS science courses. My sister took this course and has been a nurse for over 40 years. She is now an operating room assistant for a famous plastic surgeon. She worked for over 20 years for the teaching hospital where she took her nursing courses. Her nursing career began at age 16 when she began this program. She went on to more education and has had a long varied and extensive career. Another point is the length of time and experience people who are still young and healthy can bring to the profession and to the public. A nurse with 40 years of experience who is less than 60 years old. I think it is a great investment.
correction
Towards the end of my post I meant to say....
We should consider the type of nurse and what their job functions are exactly. As not all nurses work the long shifts or in hectic environments such as hospitals.
For example, if we should raise the salaries of nurses in hospitals, should we lower the pay of those in other fields like home healthcare or schools? Or should we require a higher level of education?
One post says they do the 'brunt' of the work. Is it the brunt, or is it they are doing the 'grunt' work?
School Nurses make a LOT less in most communities in Hampton Roa
School nurses' salaries in this area are pitiful...even if they have the comparible four degree. In some states there must be an RN at each school..in VA that is not required, which I think is criminal. The poor front desk office personal is left to do first aid etc.. for our children. Heaven help them is something serious happens.
And, what REALLY irks me is that there is NO requirement in VA for teachers or teachers aids to have ANY CPR or FIRST AID current certification!! Can you believe that?? I would like to see some legislation in VA to change that asap.
lets keep it in perspective
I don't understand why the comparison of nurses to teachers...it seems a bit random. The jobs are completely different and not related to one another.
Doctors are paid significantly more because their level of responsibility is greater. This does not mention that they require advanced education just to enter the field whereas a nurse only needs a certificate. However, these two jobs work in the same field of healthcare, they are still different and have different functions and scope.
I also think we need to consider the what types of nurses. Not everyone works the long shifts or in a hospital.
I don't know the answer, I'm just saying before we draw conclusions we consider all the details.
Registered Nurses must take State Board Licensure
RN's come in 2, 3 or 4 yr 'flavors'. Four year nurses are highly trained to not just 'do the task' but to critically evaluate the patient for health threatening events. Even Sentara just changed to a four year degree granting school because they recognize the need. RN education is not a certificate....they must pass the NCLEX, no easy task. Nurse practioners require a Masters plus a LOT of experience...they also must pass some very tough advanced testing requirements.
I was comparing the professions on the basis of education...four yr degree to four year degree or Masters to Masters. The responsibilities are certainly differing. Nurses working in a hospital do back breaking work...often in 12 hr shifts and work 24/7. It is a brutal job at times...and with federal reimbursement falling, facilities are giving nurses more and more patients to care for. If you have been hospitalized lately, you know that if you are waiting for a pain med - the nurse is running ragged trying to help everyone adequately and safely.
However, teachers are paid and given benefits that far outweigh most hospital nurses. Master's prepared teachers are well compensated within VA.
Check out the person
teachers
With this post I can better understand your position. However, since the article nor any other poster mentioned teacher salaries I viewed it as a personal gripe and basically a red herring. Especially with almost constant news we hear about problems within the local education systems in our area.
I may have been wrong in saying nursing education is a certificate, but my point was that there is no actual degree requirement. For the record, I do believe the pay for RNs to be inadequate. However, I also feel that they should be required to have a minimum of a bachelors degree.
In regards to pay comparisons based on level of education...There are countless careers where 4 year degrees are required for employment. You could have easily compared a CPA's salary and compared that to nurses. They work 9-5 and sit behind desks all day-not nearly as back breaking. It's just as related to nursing as teaching- not at all.
What I gather from your post is just that their work requires a specialized skill set, sometimes advanced education, and is physically exhausting and thus deserving of higher pay than what is currently being provided. While this may be true, I don't see the ju
Marie Arnold on target
I agree completly. Nurses are soooo underpaid around here. Sentara has the monopoly on salaries and attempts to bring in a union are thwarted by the hospital in a non-threatening, threatening manner...wink, wink.
When salaries increase, more people will go into that field. Now, there are nurses who are working as bartenders and waitresses and earning more.
Yes, some can go into resource pool and earn more...no benefits though.
How many politico's, lawyers, judges in this area are helped every day by the "seasoned" nurses who cover for the doc's who either barely made it through or are so locked into the theoretical that they can't see the surgery is a success but the patient is dying.
Nurse Practioners should be applauded, they are the nurses who have worked in the trenches, took the practical experience, did the advanced education and passed the exams.....and if they are in a hospital setting, they are not comparatively earning in the same amount relative to doc's.
Don't get my wrong, I have nothing against docs. I do have a gripe against the monster medical system that does everything it can to squash the salaries of nurses, escalate docs salaries and then go to
nursing shortage
When men start going into nursing the compensation will go up and the shortage will go down. It should no longer be considered woman's work.
Proper Pay for Nurses
When you look at what nurses do everyday it's a travesty of justice that they are not compensated fairly. Why?
Maybe it's because this has been a female dominated profession, (more men are nurses now then ever.) WHy do doctors make so much money and not nurses? They do the brunt of the work and don't get half the compensation.
For all you nurses out there: it's time to stand together and band together and demand better.
UNIONIZE
Don't let Sentara keep out the union. Call and ask them to send organizers. Push hard for it this time and you will have a united voice. Then, and only then will salaries and benefits rise to meet the standards of work that nurses put out.
Nurse vs Teachers
Agree on the compensation. A nurse with a 4 yr degree and a teacher with a 4 yr degree are no where 'close on compensation' when one figures out the salary by hour. Add specialization or a masters and it is still unbalanced.
Teachers get GREAT VRS benefits, do not work 8 hrs a day usually, have no where near the life and death responsibilities and have an extra summertime off or available for extremely high paying summer teaching jobs. They can go from place to place and retain all their retirement perks. Nurses change jobs and have to start over.
Plus...compare the work...it is not even close.
Yes, nurses do need better compensation. But, with the health care plan cutting more reimbursement for the poor and indigent, nurses salaries will get worse and more non-degreed, cheaper to pay medical techs will care for patients.
Yup, bless those in nursing...they work so hard and care so much. But, their reward is mostly in heaven!
We appreciate teachers too for what they do.
Supply and demand
If Nurse total compensation was improved, people would flock to the profession.