Comments about ‘Utah nursing shortage has become an oversupply’

I graduated CNA school last September and I am still trying to find work as a CNA in SW Utah. It's absolutely tough right now.

Same exact thing is happening with teachers.

When the economy goes bad, people look for steady jobs instead of the get rich quick jobs.

Nursing and teaching are two of those.

5 years ago we would have two or three applicants for open teaching jobs.

This year we had over 100 for one of our positions.

It makes it very nice for the schools.

We actually have some choice and can pick the best candidate for our school.

Be patient. Census 2000 counted 79.6 million Baby Boomers!

Don't everyone go running for Twin Falls, the jobs aren't there either. I currently live there & am trying to move down here. We have a 2 year RN program that is turning out students every 6 months as well as people moving in from Nevada, Oregon, & other parts of Idaho. There are some jobs available, but many are part time with no benefits. You need to weigh your options carefully before deciding to move that far for a job that may end up costing you more in the long run, i.e. no moving reimbursement, poor benefits, low pay. Good luck to all of you job hunting out there, & congrats to all you new nurses!

Another thing that has contributed to this problem is the "same day surgery" switch. Now surgeries that used to be done inpatient with a few days' stay until the patient was actually healing well and risks for complications, bleeding, infection had passed, are done as "drive-thru" business at free-standing facilities. I am a nurse and yet when I had surgery a couple of years ago in this outpatient fashion I assumed the procedure must have been greatly improved since I didn't need to actually be admitted to the hospital. Wrong! I was miserable. I needed a nurse. Sending you home while vomiting pain pills that won't stay down so you can "sleep in your own bed" (they say this like they're doing us a favor) is anything but helpful. You're on your own and can only hope there is someone at the house to at least call 9-1-1 (assuming they can recognize the complication, should one arise) to see to it you don't die. As for comfort; hire yourself a nurse (insurance won't pay however) and good luck. Can't eat, take care of daily activities? Too bad.

She left "A very high paying job in retail"??? is that what this article just printed, twice? Unless you are the owner of a very successful store or the ceo of a large corp, there are no high paying retails jobs, I don't believe...

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Good luck nursing students! It will come back around soon enough I guess.

So why is the Salt Lake Medical Center hiring nurses from out of state and paying bonuses to come to Utah??
I personally know 2 nurses from Columbus, Ohio that are working here on a contract for 2 years. They are in their first year.
Both are RN's.