[Annisme]

There is still a shortage here (Central Valley, California). The nursing schools around here all recommend the extern programs so most of us have jobs when we graduate and still there is a shortage. Starting pay for new grads (ADN) at the local, non-profit hospital is $33/$38 NOC. I was told that BSN's should negotiate their starting pay.

[zoobyli]

I'm in KY and I guess it depends on where you are and who you are. I've been looking for a job since Feb and haven't found one yet. I graduated in May. I do have an interview finally, for an ICU at a hospital 2 hours away from me in Lexington, KY. I would dearly love to work NICU though as I feel thats where my heart is. But at this point, I need a job. The School I went too graduates ADN students every three months as its an LPN-RN program. There is another school in the area that does about the same. Add the local colleges and universities and you have A LOT of New Grads looking for jobs.

I've even been thinking of going out of state, might not be financially possible....but I may have too.

[zoobyli]

Originally Posted by chcgoblue

Im a newly graduated nurse who has been an lpn for 18 years, thought it would be a piece of cake to get a job, WRONG!! I have never had so much trouble trying to find a job. It is very disheartening. Everyone wants expereinced nurses and I can truly understand that, but the age old question is how do you get the experience if no one will give you a chance. So I keep plugging along applying and working as an lpn. Seems strange to wonder if I will be out of work when I pass boards.

I'm having the same problem. I have 13 years experience as an LPN, but it doesn't seem to matter. I've worked Telemetry, and CVU..yet my experience doesn't count. Granted I had a 4 year spate of what looks like job hopping, it wasn't, but thats what it looks like. I have finally gotten my resume down to 1 page from 3, so I hope that helps some.

Keep plugging away. Here in KY if I don't find something before my provisonal license expires in Dec I'm screwed. We have a 120 clinical internship we must do before getting our permanent license. No job=no clinical internship.

Good luck to you :-)

[Proverbs 16:3]

Originally Posted by Jerzy Girl

Forget the Southern New Jersey/PA/Delaware area, many of my graduating classmates are unable to land a GN position. The GN's that do have jobs are the ones who worked at the same hospital prior to graduating. Jobs are plentiful for RN's with experience.

I have to agree. And just to say, I worked at a hospital prior to graduation and they have a hiring freeze so i wasn't hired. A friend from my school who's worked there since 2006 as an extern signed a contract with them in february and they told him in march they can't hire him because they have scholarship students they have to hire (of course, my friend was screaming breach of contract, but who cares what he had to say).
I'm sure some of you know which hospital i'm talking about. Oh, they aren't the only one, their sister hospital in south philly also has the same issue so they have the hiring freeze.
My friend told me earlier but i thought was still gonna get past it somehow because my manager had told me i could work for them. Well, she waited till may to tell me i can't anymore!!! Guess i wasn't the only one screwed.
Several hospitals here aren't either hiring or they only need experienced nurses.

In a way, i'm glad they had a hiring freeze because now, i have to go to a state where i wouldn't pay city wage tax like i do here in philly, i get a nice sign on bonus and they pay more and even have weekend differentials. So yeah, i'd be making more there. I guess the hiring freeze was a blessing in disguise for me and i thank God for that.

If you can move, move somewhere else. Maryland needs nurses. Some will offer you sign-on bonuses, some who don't do the sign-on bonus, like hopkins, does retention bonuses. I heard hospitals outside baltimore city, like PG county pay more than those in the city. Plus, the hospitals i've come across in MD have weekend differentials. I don't see that in philly.
Best luck to all of you still searching.

[Proverbs 16:3]

Originally Posted by ballgyrl82

I live in the Philly area and seem to be experiencing the same thing. Hospitals are either looking at internal candidates or someone with a year's worth of experience. I've been looking since December and still haven't been hired yet. How do new nurses get experience in a hospital setting if no one wants to hire them?

It's not just about "internal candidates" anymore. Yes, some do take that, one hospital i know in u.city gives preferences to their CNAs who're nursing students.
We are currently in the age of "scholarship students" - students who had their tuition paid for by hospitals and have to pay back the time. Looks like many hospitals did this investment two or three years ago and now we have hordes of these so called "scholarship students" here in philly. One of the girls in my school here actually had $80k from vorhees or one of the hospitals in south jersey and all she has to pay back is 2 years.

it's pretty sad because people who've invested time as externs get kicked out when they graduate.
It's also good in a way because you get to receive money from a hospital, don't have to burst your behind working full time in school and at the end of the day, you HAVE to be hired by the hospitals that gave you the free ride through school. The sad part is you may end up in a unit you hate.
I say it's a double-edged sword.

[poconogirl08]

Just out of curiosity, has anyone tried going to a career fair? Nursing schools host them, bringing the hospitals to you! Some representatives give out information about what positions are available and what they're looking for in new grads, while other take resumes on the spot. My school hosts two or three a year, and usually career development also has great tools for finding jobs in the vicinity of your school. Schools usually want to help their students find jobs, because it makes a better selling point to incoming students.

[AtomicWoman]

Since I am in the Philly/South Jersey area, this discussion (which has been very helpful, thanks to all you posters) has made me realize that when I start nursing school, I *should not* assume I'm going to get a hospital job when I graduate. That means that from Day 1, I will be thinking about and looking for non-hospital opportunities. I don't know if it will help, but I feel more informed now than I was before.

Thanks, all!

[♪♫ in my ♥]

San Francisco/Sacramento region (Sonoma County down through San Jose over to the Sierra Nevada foothills) seems to have a glut of new grads struggling to find work.

But the schools keep pumping 'em out and screaming "shortage, SHORTAGE" at every opportunity.

[Dr.Nurse2b]

For those of you who just graduated I am sorry for the tough times...you'll get through it!

I have found the hiring process to be somewhat political. I was hired at my current hospital as a tech. I schmoozed HR and the the nurse manager who hired me...started the brown nosing on day one. I was offered a scholarship from the hospital... I provide the best service I possibly can and ask for feedback from all the nurses, staff, etc... So basically I have my "spot" when I graduate...as per HR and my contract. I suppose they could breech but then they'd lose what they have invested in me.

Start hunting BEFORE you start school...get yourself hired BEFORE you start school...even if it's in registration...just get in.

Also...Employers DO LOOK AT GPA! Get letters of reference from your science teachers.

For those of you who are grads and looking...take a look at GEORGIA...especially those in Philly and Jersey...I moved from NJ three years ago. Cost of living is great and jobs are plenty.

Check out Northside Hospital, Emory, Grady, CHOA in the Metro Atlanta area.

Good luck and feel free to ask for help. See you in the break room!

[Dr.Nurse2b]

Another avenue for those who are interested in critical care...the units, etc.

There is a shortage of medics...a little more education and more doors will open.

I believe in the State of Florida if you are an RN, have and EMT and ACLS you qualify to take the state boards for paramedic. From there you have options for critical care transport, flight programs, etc...just another option...

My 2 Cents