Shortage of nursing positions?

Hello!

I was told by my SIL (who is currently studying nursing) that there is a shortage of jobs in the nursing industry at the moment, which is quite concerning us considering DH wants to study nursing next year!!

He's not sure whether to go that way now, he doesn't want to study for 3 years then be unable to get a job. He's thinking of becoming a paramedic now instead, and is researching that option as a back up.

Are there any nurses on here that can tell us if there is in fact a shortage of positions vacant? Especially in the Brisbane area?

Thanks for any thoughts/help/advice.....

wow ive heard its the opposite!
we recruit o/s nurses cos we dont have enough..maybe im wrong

I have heard that not all graduate nurses will be able to find a graduate position, but they will still be able to get a job it just might be casual initially. There is a big demand for nurses still but mainly for ones with a years experience, hence the shortage of graduate positions where extra training and support is needed.

Considering the amount of agencies looking for overseas nurses, and the aging nursing population, I highly doubt it is true. At the very least, the aged care industry will boom in a few years, and they are always looking for qualified nurses.

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I have heard that not all graduate nurses will be able to find a graduate position, but they will still be able to get a job it just might be casual initially. There is a big demand for nurses still but mainly for ones with a years experience, hence the shortage of graduate positions where extra training and support is needed.

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Ahhh that must of been it. She is in her 2nd year of study and is going for the only job available or something along with lots of other people.

So he shouldn't worry?

nah he shouldn't worry. We have been told by a grad nurse that you would have to get pretty shocking grades to miss out on a grad position and even then there will be job opportunities, as little chicken says, in aged care.

At the moment that major shortage is En's (Division 2 nurses) although RN's (Division 1 nurses) are always in demand.

The whole area of nursing is undergoing some pretty drastic changes which is causing an overhaul of the RN's current role. RN's are now moving into a more managerial type roles as EN's step up into doing medications, care planning and wound care (which traditionally have been more RN roles).

So...basically, there isn't a shortage of positions more a transition of what these roles are and where you will find them.

Studying to be an RN is still very much worthwhile. The perceived lack of graduate positions exists only for those who have no overall nursing experience so maybe when you are training for RN do some personal care work to keep up with the work force.

Happy to chat more if you like :)

As others have said will always be jobs in aged care. I know some of the casual banks have put a hold on employment at present. And agency staff not getting a lot of work in public sector but getting some in private.

The main issue is they want experienced staff which makes it hard for the new grads to get experience but getting a toe in the door is all that is needed.

I know paramedics course in VIC is very hard to get into as limited places.

Hope he gets what he wants.

Th company I work in HR for, needs to recruit regularly from overseas for RNS as there is a shortage. That's in aged care, which I know isn't as sort after as other types of nursing.

(we are in most states of Aus, including Qld, and specifically Brisbane!)

from what I understand, there's always an enomous demand for male nurses, so he might be ok anyway ... but someone with industry knowledge might be able to confirm :)

I think it depends on the area he wants to work. The job I am starting, they actually created new positions because they liked everyone they interviewed, and HR approved all the new positions in a heartbeat. Like any industry, things change. Just because grad positions are hard to get now, doesn't mean they will be in three to four years. Nurses, like teachers and police, are always needed, just maybe not in the all areas all the time.

I know a heap of casual nurses who are NEVER short of work.

I would suggest that the employability will depend on the area he is going to look at. To be honest, I don't know many nurses who have trouble getting work. What I like about nursing is that there are SO many areas you can move across to. If you get sick of the ward you're in or the specialty, there are so many more to try! It's not just mainstream nursing either - there is Forensic Nursing (people with criminal histories), Mental Health, School Nursing, GP's office, OHS nurses (a lot of big private companies employ these), there is nursing in remote areas, mining companies, there is community nursing, immunisations, research, clinical trials, education...honestly, there are SO many areas you can explore! (some of them require extra training)

Just want to point out that it is actually much harder to get work as a paramedic than a nurse. To put it in perspective, there are two Universities that offer Paramedical sciences in Vic (or is it 3 now?). Each year there are over 200 graduates. MAS takes approximately 50-80 per year...when they recruit. There have been years they HAVEN'T recruited. And it is very very competitive. And if he is considering studying in one State and then working in another, make sure the course is going to be recognised in the State/Territory you plan to settle in because they are not all compatible.

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To put it in perspective, there are two Universities that offer Paramedical sciences in Vic (or is it 3 now?).

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ACU started offering this year for the first time B. of Paramedicine so maybe 3

There is a great need for nurses...

But as a third year student nurse, we have all been told that there is NOT enough graduate positions for us all. So we are very worried about who of us will get a grad program and what the other's will do without one. It is very concerning. Qld health has mentioned that they don't employ student nurses (just comming out) without a grad program, so leaves your options limited.


So he will get a job, it just might not be where he wants (those that don't get grad programs go into other area's such as nursing home work, agency etc, medical centres, that type of thing)

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ACU started offering this year for the first time B. of Paramedicine so maybe 3

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then 3 :) Monash, ACU, Victoria Uni. That's a lot of graduates each year! Well...maybe not for a couple of years 'cause you have to give ACU time to get through the degree!