Why do we have such a nursing shortage?

I have been looking at the topic of the nursing shortage for a while. I think I have cracked the real reason behind the problem. Look at the lack of nursing instructors. We don't have enough of them in colleges teaching. Too many potentially great nurses are being turned away because of the lack of instructors. Why is this? The lack of proper wages at the college level. I can make more as a floor nurse without my degree than they are paying instructors in my area. Why would I want to take a cut in pay to teach unless I was close to retirement or so broken down physically that it was the only way to remain working. Look around and see what the average age of the current nursing instructors and I bet I'm right. I would love to teach but I have to pay back my huge student loans back before I could even think about it. This topic was reintroduced over at Everyday Nurses forum. Please pop over and check it out and while you're at it, check out Nursing Link as well. They are two great nursing forums and places for us to network.

Link between Cancer and Nurses?

Here's a scenario...A fellow co-worker recently has a neck injury. She goes to the doctor and finds out that she has several disc problems in her neck. Usually no problem, surgery to commence soon. As she was getting worked up with the usual labs and basic chest x-ray... BAM! She has two large areas of suspicion in her lungs that she didn't know were there. Not much of a medical history to mention. She never calls in sick. What's going on here?

Ever wonder why health care providers, especially nurses, seem to have higher incidences of cancers? I have worked with several who have been diagnosed with different cancers, mostly breast. How many of your co-workers have been treated or are currently in treatment?

My sneaking suspicion is that there are a few reasons. I am certain they are not novel ones. We take care of everyone else but ourselves. We don't go to the doctor. We keep working even though we are dog sick because we don't want our fellow nurses to work short. It's a backbreaking profession.
A second reason is the fact that we tend to bury our feelings. We may be having a horrible day at work but we plaster on a big smile so that our patients won't know. We may be having a horrible day at work but we do the same burying of feelings when we go home because our family just can't truly understand the stress.

There have been studies linking stress to cancer. Makes sense, doesn't it?

I was talking to a few other co-workers and a new idea came up. What about sick building syndrome? What are our hospitals built on? Ever wonder? Also, is there a link between handling certain medications? I hope everyone puts on their gloves before handling any meds. How many times do we find out side effects much later in time?

Just some thoughts.. Got any yourselves?

It's Official!

Hello to all who read this blog! Well, it's official! I have finally passed into the illustrious ranks of Family Nurse Practitioner. That test was pretty hard and I had to completely guess in some sections. You have to make 350 points to pass and I made 416. Not too shabby, I must say! Now I can breathe a little! I felt like throwing up before I took the test and my hands were just shaking like a leaf. I have TERRIBLE test anxiety. I had 3 1/2 hours to take the test and I finished in an hour and a half. I went with my first instinct. I tend to over think if I take too long. Thanks for all of your well wishes and good lucks! It really worked! Now I can spend some quality time with the family before I start my new job as soon as my shiny new license gets here in the mail! WHOOO HOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm a new FNP. Can you believe it? I can't just yet. It'll sink in soon!
Cheers!!!!!!!!

Do You Link To Me?

Hello to everyone! I take my Nurse Practitioner National Boards from the ANCC on Monday. Wish me luck! I've been trying to update things on my sidebar but need a little help. Do you link to me and I haven't returned the favor? Are you in the right category? Are you a nurse instead of a nursing student? Chime in and let me know. I'll update it right after I take the test. Cheers!