I am a student nurse looking forward to graduating in May. However, I am very concerned about obtaining a job due to the state of our economy. Have you experienced changes in staffing, or seen the number of nurse job openings decreasing?
Kendra
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March 2nd, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Kendra, I am in the same boat as you are. In IL very few hospitals are offering RN-residency programs. Most hospitals are looking for an experience nurse minimum 2 years.
March 3rd, 2009 at 9:08 am
I also graduate in May and am stressing out about the jobs available. Only 2 out of my class of 44 have jobs lined up : / Not only are the jobs scarse but there have been pay cuts in my area of south dakota. Hope this doesnt last!!
March 3rd, 2009 at 5:41 pm
Job opening in IL is really less than other states. Suburban hospital has closed door to new grad.
March 3rd, 2009 at 11:24 pm
The job market is awful in most areas. If you are willing to move, then you will be able to get a job. Texas and arizona are hiring. Northern nj, nyc, and pa are rough areas to get a job now. Good luck.
March 3rd, 2009 at 11:31 pm
The same thing happened to me when I graduated in the last major recession. I packed myself and family and moved 1500 miles away to a great job and a wonderful life. I was scared to death at first and told myself I “couldn’t move” but then I did. Because I moved, I had more opportunities and have had a great career. So think big picture and consider moving-there are still a lot of places where you can get a GREAT job with asupportive environment.
March 3rd, 2009 at 11:35 pm
Hey Kendra!
I have seen the job numbers decreasing and have heard horror stories about hospitals closing and nursing being laid off. However, I just landed my dream job at Cleveland Clinic so it is possible to get the job you want! I would just say keep your options open and apply to many places. My friends and I have gotten interviews at every hospital we have applied to so things are happening! Keep your head up and keep confident!!
March 4th, 2009 at 7:37 am
Yes this is terrible. I graduated in May of 2008 and I am stuck working in a skilled nursing/rehab center aka: nursing home. Granted these jobs are the easiest to come by and pay a lot more than hospitals, but you may be miserable whilst gaining your initial experience as a nurse. I know I am. I have sent out hundreds of applications to every hospital in the Chicagoland and surrounding areas, and I have only gotten one response that lead to a phone interview. I never got a call for an in-person interview. Like these other nurses suggested, it may depend on what state you are looking for a job in…good luck. Maybe look into places other than hospitals to apply to.
March 4th, 2009 at 9:50 am
I hear ya! I am graduating in May as well and I have been looking for a job for about a month now and no prospects so far. I live in NC in an area where there are 4 major hospitals with many satelite locations. I even had 2 second interviews at a nationally accredited hospital and when I called to confirm the date and time, I was informed that I would be put on a waiting list d/t cutbacks in hiring. One of the reasons I went into nursing was job security. Guess we might feel secure if we could find a job!
March 4th, 2009 at 10:25 am
Hey Jennifer,
The new nurse is just as likely to be miserable gaining experience in an understaffed hospital….I’ve worked in a number of them, and they were all understaffed. I’ve never worked in a nursing home, but I would have relished a less-stressful, better paying nursing job over med-surg anyday. After 12 years, I don’t ever want to step foot in a hospital ever again!
March 4th, 2009 at 11:49 am
In our areas only a couple of hospitals are shunning new graduates. They are trying to avoid the costs of orienting new nurses who leave within the first year; the cost of the loss of a new nurse within ranges from $5,000 to $12,000, not counting replacement costs. So student nurses need to begin to “attach” to a hospital during their last year in school. A couple of strategies are worth trying. During your senior practicum/leadership practicum, become engaged in the agency you are working in. In some cases, students have input into which agency they would like to be placed. While there become engaged in patient care and with staff and the manager. Show them you can make a contribution to the unit. Let them know you are interested in working with them. About half way through the rotation, make an appointment to talk with the nurse manager. Tell her your interest and why you want to work there (i.e. nurses are role models for good nursing care; the work environment is conducive to learning and collaboration; your interest in caring for the patients seen on that unit; etc.). Explore the possibility of working on that unit. Making a connection with a manager who is looking for bright engaged nurses can win you a position. Also, if you have the time during your last year in nursing, work part-time as a nursing assistant in a hospital that you would be interested in working in. Become engaged; demonstrate quality patient care; be dependable, open to learning; work well with others; etc. About half way through your last semester, make an appointment with the unit manager to explore the possibility of a position when you graduate. Agencies are often willing to hire a known entity; make yourself known as a good student nurse/nursing assistant who provides good care, works well with patients, nurses, physicians, and families, has a good work ethic, is willing to learn, etc. You might be surprised to find that hospitals will be open to hiring you as a new RN.
March 4th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
I am a retired nurse still working in the field through an agency. Since November, work has completely dried up. Very few shifts compared to this time last year when I worked 32+ hours per week. I am sure a hospital would be the best place and an agency as a fall-back. LTC isn’t good learning, but it might pay the bills.
March 4th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
Hi! I graduated in December 2007 with my BSN. I still haven’t been able to find a nursing job. I am not being picky. Can’t even get work as a nurse aid because most places require experience. I even applied for ward clerk positions just to get a my foot in the door. I wish you well.
March 6th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
Thank you all for the feedback. The responses are both encouraging and helpful. There are about 50 of us in the May graduating class and the college graduates approx. this many every semester. Cece, your response and advice comes in at just the right moment as I am presently in the middle of my precepting/leadership rotation. Trish, you offer all of us job seekers hope and congrats on landing your dream job! Anne, I love your idea of looking at the big picture and taking chances. Thank you!
March 6th, 2009 at 8:03 pm
Check out the March issue of Advance for Nurses. Their “State of nursing salaries” article has a section about how the nursing shortage varies based on location.
US dept Health & Human services predicts a 42,000 deficit of FT nurses by 2010 in Texas! US Bureau of Labor Statistics includes Reno, NV in the nursing shortage until 2020. I know here in IL we have felt the opposite problem – too many nurses and not enough positions left, but apparently it is quite location dependent.
If you cannot afford to wait it out a bit, sounds like moving might be a necessity. When I graduated, it was also quite tough to get nursing jobs, and the one thing that I think truly helped me was that I was already working at the hospital as a care tech. If you cannot (or do not want to move), it might be worth considering taking a care tech position (or other non RN degree type job) temporarily just to get your foot in the door so they get to know you and the type of worker you are! That is one way to demonstrate yourself tangibly to them and at least “be in line” for the next RN opening.
March 11th, 2009 at 12:56 am
I know the feeling. I am an experienced nurse who has been traveling the last few years. I have been offered many times to stay on at the facilities that I worked at and now that I want to stay, there isnt a position for me. I have three weeks left on my contact and do not have a job lined up. So the market is bad even for experiences nurses.
March 11th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
I am in the same boat as you. I graduate in May and Idaho is currently on a hiring freeze. I have had to look out of state and will move if I have to. But their is still not a lot in the Northwest unless I want to move to Seattle or California, which I would prefer not to. I have talked to my fellow classmates and I have heard of only 1 or 2 out of 75 that have a job lined. It is really scary right now.