Future Demand for Nurses? (bachelors, skill, doctors, degree) - Higher education - City-Data Forum

luvmymacaw · 08-19-2009, 01:10 PM

I am wondering if nurses will continue to be as in demand once healthcare reform is passed. I've been considering going into nursing for the past few years and am about to get off the fence and go back to school, but I would dread if I went back to school to get a nursing degree, obtain my RN and then somehow the demand for nurses falls off because of this reform they have in the works. Can anyone comment as to how the nursing profession may be impacted with health reform? I have a degree already, so I would only need to go back to school for 2.5 years to get a second Bachelors Degree (a BSN.)

drjones96 · 08-19-2009, 01:33 PM

You're assuming that something will pass?

I think some things may change over time and demand for various medical professions will change....

...just like many other feilds.

But do you see that people will not become ill the world of Barack Obama?

luvmymacaw · 08-19-2009, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drjones96

You're assuming that something will pass?

I think some things may change over time and demand for various medical professions will change....

...just like many other feilds.

But do you see that people will not become ill the world of Barack Obama?

I'm more or less wondering if the profession is going to become essentially controlled through government mandates, where reimbursements are slashed, budgets then get slashed, wages spiral down, and demand for nurses drops off.

This is my fear for nurses, as well as other medical professionals frankly.

lisdol · 08-19-2009, 03:15 PM

I think nurses have value as Jacks of All Trades. I would worry more in the ancillary positions that they might cut there and just have nurses learn another skill and pick up the slack, esp in the positions that make close to or as much as some RNs.

tijlover · 08-19-2009, 06:53 PM

In the Long-term car/rehab facility I work at, due to Medicaid/Medicare cutbacks, we're all taking on more patients, like it or not.

At one time, we had 5 nurses on the floor, now we're down to 3, along with a charge Nurse. 100 divided by 3.

The 4 Aides now have 25 patients each. At one time, we had 7, then cut to 6, 5 and now 4.

It's only going to get worse with budget cutbacks on the state and federal level. Universal health care or not, I don't see our workloads getting any easier.

Katiana · 08-19-2009, 08:13 PM

Doctor's offices have been replacing nurses with MAs (Medical Assistants) for years now. Reason? They cost less. I honestly don't know what the future of nursing is outside of hospitals. They will always be needed in the hospital setting.

john5527 · 08-20-2009, 10:28 AM

I have often wondered what the demand for nurses is like now. My cousin went to school to get her nursing degree and she is now working as an assistant for mentally challenged kids. She is disappointed because she says there are no nursing jobs where she lives. I told her not to get discouraged right now.

christina0001 · 08-21-2009, 10:24 AM

I read an interesting article yesterday (probably either msnbc's or cnn's website) about the impact national health insurance would have, and they discussed Massachusetts, which offers coverage to almost everyone, so appx. 97% of state residents have medical insurance. The result is a 1-2 month wait to see doctors - and Massachusetts has more doctors per person than any other state. So I think nurses (RNs), but especially nurse practitioners, will be in huge demand.

drjones96 · 08-21-2009, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john5527

I have often wondered what the demand for nurses is like now. My cousin went to school to get her nursing degree and she is now working as an assistant for mentally challenged kids. She is disappointed because she says there are no nursing jobs where she lives. I told her not to get discouraged right now.

In my area the 8 to 5 nursing jobs are scarce right now. But if you wanted you could pick up night shift work you can have all of it you can stand.

Aconite · 08-24-2009, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lisdol

I think nurses have value as Jacks of All Trades. I would worry more in the ancillary positions that they might cut there and just have nurses learn another skill and pick up the slack, esp in the positions that make close to or as much as some RNs.

They were doing that back in the eighties. It has nothing to do with "health care reform" and everything to do with increasing profits.