"Reverend Crantz" wrote in message
. ..


Brilliant insight. A good number of people are going into nursing today
because of the relatively high pay.

That's hardly a brilliant insight. Nurses rank among the most underpaid
professionals, and they always have. In 1906, nurses earned about 1/3 of
the income of the average physician. What is that ratio now? I'm guessing
it's closer to 1/6 on average, based upon family practitioners, not
specialists or subspecialists, where it could be as low as 1/20 or more.

When there are enough nurses pay will decrease.

There never will be "enough nurses." The shortage is exacerbating and has
been for decades. Adequate staffing for my wife's unit is her chief
administrative problem.

Why is there such a nurse "shortage"? Previously causes were bad working
conditions, lousy pay and long hours. Nurses left the field in droves. Do
you think it will be any different this time around?

Nope. The hours are the worst feature--most nurses work weekends, nights or
evenings, and they are required to work double shifts if called upon to do
so due to weather or sufficient call-offs. The pay is not commensurate with
the level of education or the responsibility assumed. And the burnout rate
is exacerbating. Too many young women enter nursing with unrealistic
expectations, only to leave a few years later for better hours with less
responsibility and stress.

Max