I am a brand new nurse (having just passed the NCLEX June 10th) and am still looking for my first job. The job market here isn't completely saturated, I'm just really trying to get in to a hospital rather than a LTCF. What gets me though, is the perpetuation of the nursing shortage myth, which is NOT true anymore.
THIS ARTICLE has the nerve to point out that "nursing positions are plentiful" and encourages people not to go in to a different field, but instead to go in to nursing. Obviously I think people still need to go in to nursing because if people stop, there WILL be another shortage. That doesn't mean that this idea should be continued or that people who don't WANT to be nurses should be getting in to this field just to have a job.
I went back to school at 29 knowing that I wanted to be a nurse and that there was nothing else that was going to make me happy as a career. Yes, I don't have a job yet but I know it will come and that I'm doing the right thing. If this wasn't something I had a calling for, I can't imagine going in to nursing given all of the things nurses deal with on a daily basis. I know this is talked about all the time but this article really got under my skin. Be a nurse for the right reasons, not because anthropology has a bad job outlook.
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
The nursing shortage.....or the lack thereof.....is HIGHLY based in location. California presently has a 47% unemployment rate for new grads. New York area is badly hit as is Boston, some areas of New Jersey, Florida
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation
For example.....
Minnesota
[TABLE]
[TR]
[TH=align: left]City and Area[/TH]
[TH=align: right]Median Salary[/TH]
[TH=align: right]Employees[/TH]
[TH=align: right]Job Density[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Duluth[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$71,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]3,690[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+46%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Mankato[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$66,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]1,010[/TD]
[TD=align: right]-1%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Minneapolis[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$76,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]34,060[/TD]
[TD=align: right]-7%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Rochester[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$79,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]6,660[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+240%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]St Cloud[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$75,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]2,140[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+18%[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
Ohio
[TABLE]
[TR]
[TH=align: left]City and Area[/TH]
[TH=align: right]Median Salary[/TH]
[TH=align: right]Employees[/TH]
[TH=align: right]Job Density[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Akron[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$62,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]7,040[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+8%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Canton[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$56,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]3,860[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+18%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Cincinnati[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$62,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]23,260[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+12%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Cleveland[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$63,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]28,530[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+36%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Columbus[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$63,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]17,740[/TD]
[TD=align: right]-6%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Dayton[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$61,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]9,640[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+24%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Lima[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$60,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]1,990[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+112%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Mansfield[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$59,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]1,220[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+31%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Sandusky[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$56,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]760[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+27%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Springfield[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$55,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]910[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+6%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Steubenville[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$50,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]1,510[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+107%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Toledo[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$58,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]8,850[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+49%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Youngstown[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$55,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]5,310[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+17%[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
Texas
[TABLE]
[TR]
[TH=align: left]City and Area[/TH]
[TH=align: right]Median Salary[/TH]
[TH=align: right]Employees[/TH]
[TH=align: right]Job Density[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Abilene[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$60,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]1,460[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+26%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Amarillo[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$60,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]2,620[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+28%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Austin[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$65,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]10,080[/TD]
[TD=align: right]-38%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Beaumont[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$59,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]2,410[/TD]
[TD=align: right]-24%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Brownsville[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$69,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]2,330[/TD]
[TD=align: right]-8%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]College Station[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$60,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]1,180[/TD]
[TD=align: right]-33%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Corpus Christi[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$62,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]3,400[/TD]
[TD=align: right]-4%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Dallas[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$68,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]33,060[/TD]
[TD=align: right]-24%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]El Paso[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$63,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]4,760[/TD]
[TD=align: right]-13%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Fort Worth[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$65,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]14,780[/TD]
[TD=align: right]-17%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Houston[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$72,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]42,220[/TD]
[TD=align: right]-22%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Killeen[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$66,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]3,250[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+30%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Laredo[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$65,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]1,170[/TD]
[TD=align: right]-20%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Longview[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$60,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]1,800[/TD]
[TD=align: right]-1%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Lubbock[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$56,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]3,270[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+34%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Mcallen[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$72,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]4,400[/TD]
[TD=align: right]-4%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Midland[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$57,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]670[/TD]
[TD=align: right]-42%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Odessa[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$61,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]960[/TD]
[TD=align: right]-7%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]San Angelo[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$58,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]1,080[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+48%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]San Antonio[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$69,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]16,890[/TD]
[TD=align: right]-6%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Sherman[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$57,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]1,120[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+54%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Texarkana[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$65,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]1,620[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+65%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Tyler[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$60,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]2,820[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+65%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Victoria[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$50,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]1,380[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+61%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Waco[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$66,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]2,200[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+15%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Wichita Falls[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$57,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]1,190[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+18%[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
West Virginia
[TABLE]
[TR]
[TH=align: left]City and Area[/TH]
[TH=align: right]Median Salary[/TH]
[TH=align: right]Employees[/TH]
[TH=align: right]Job Density[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Charleston[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$58,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]3,720[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+31%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Huntington[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$58,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]4,600[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+110%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Morgantown[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$59,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]2,450[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+155%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Parkersburg[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$53,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]1,540[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+22%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Wheeling[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$44,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]1,930[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+61%[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
California
[TABLE]
[TR]
[TH=align: left]City and Area[/TH]
[TH=align: right]Median Salary[/TH]
[TH=align: right]Employees[/TH]
[TH=align: right]Job Density[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Bakersfield[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$87,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]3,740[/TD]
[TD=align: right]-28%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Chico[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$88,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]1,570[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+22%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]El Centro[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$72,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]750[/TD]
[TD=align: right]-16%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Fresno[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$81,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]4,870[/TD]
[TD=align: right]-24%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Hanford[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$93,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]890[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+52%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Los Angeles[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$83,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]64,630[/TD]
[TD=align: right]-22%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Merced[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$83,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]500[/TD]
[TD=align: right]-51%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Modesto[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$93,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]3,160[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+4%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Napa[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$97,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]1,350[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+18%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Oakland[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$101,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]16,840[/TD]
[TD=align: right]-18%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Oxnard[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$75,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]3,360[/TD]
[TD=align: right]-44%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Redding[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$78,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]1,520[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+39%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Riverside[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$80,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]21,780[/TD]
[TD=align: right]-12%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Sacramento[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$93,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]14,610[/TD]
[TD=align: right]-18%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Salinas[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$97,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]2,580[/TD]
[TD=align: right]-18%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]San Diego[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$84,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]21,100[/TD]
[TD=align: right]-22%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]San Francisco[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$98,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]17,050[/TD]
[TD=align: right]-16%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]San Jose[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$116,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]11,710[/TD]
[TD=align: right]-36%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]San Luis Obispo[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$88,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]1,940[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+11%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Santa Ana[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$77,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]22,840[/TD]
[TD=align: right]-24%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Santa Barbara[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$86,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]2,530[/TD]
[TD=align: right]-23%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Santa Cruz[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$97,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]1,450[/TD]
[TD=align: right]-11%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Santa Rosa[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$85,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]3,440[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+1%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Stockton[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$85,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]3,850[/TD]
[TD=align: right]-7%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Vallejo[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$95,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]2,400[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+4%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Visalia[/TD]
[TD=align: right][/TD]
[TD=align: right]2,400[/TD]
[TD=align: right][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
So the jobs available varies as much as the salary.
Whether or not this will affect "you" personally ....who knows.
It is my belief though....
Praemonitus praemunitus or forewarned is forearmed
It's totally appropriate to give a job to a current employee. Their work ethic is known and they have proven themselves. I think it's great when a facility shows some loyalty to its employees.
I agree with it being great when a faciltiy shows loyalty to its employees. However ONLY when said employee meets the criteria for the job. That was my point. I don't begrudge internal applicants getting the position over an 'outsider', it should be that way. I have been a loyal empoyee to my company for 18 years and I would totally expect my company to consider me over an outsider. My issue is when the facility hires an internal applicant for a specific job when that employee lacks the required skills/education/experience that the facility states is required but won't consider an outsider with maybe just under the required specified years of experience as an RN or an experienced RN who just doesn't have the 'specality' experience. That's it, nothing more, nothing less.
LOCATION! LOCATION! LOCATION! As a new graduate RN you are going to have to go to wherever you can get a job ..especially if you want hospital experience.
I worked in a rural Wyoming hospital. There are several new grads there from CA, AZ, ect. They just work there for 1 year and then are able to return to their previous locales and find employment. If they had stayed where they were upon graduating they would probably still be looking for a job 1 year later.
I understand the OPs reasons for not being able to relocate but just to warn anyone thinking about nursing school......
The nursing shortage.....or the lack thereof.....is HIGHLY based in location. California presently has a 47% unemployment rate for new grads. New York area is badly hit as is Boston, some areas of New Jersey, Florida
For example.....
So the jobs available varies as much as the salary.
Whether or not this will affect "you" personally ....who knows.
It is my belief though....
Praemonitus praemunitus or forewarned is forearmed
Thank you for such a great link! I found this website to be VERY interesting. This is my state's breakdown:
Indiana
[TABLE=width: 100%]
[TR]
[TH=align: left]City and Area[/TH]
[TH=align: right]Median Salary[/TH]
[TH=align: right]Employees[/TH]
[TH=align: right]Job Density[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Anderson[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$60,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]980[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+48%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Bloomington[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$56,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]1,340[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+4%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Columbus[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$53,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]730[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+10%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Elkhart[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$70,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]1,760[/TD]
[TD=align: right]-15%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Evansville[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$53,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]4,220[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+25%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Fort Wayne[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$51,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]5,160[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+27%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Gary[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$62,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]6,480[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+20%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Indianapolis[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$62,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]20,740[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+13%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Kokomo[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$53,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]950[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+40%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Lafayette[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$57,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]1,390[/TD]
[TD=align: right]-1%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Michigan City[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$57,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]830[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+15%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Muncie[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$51,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]1,340[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+66%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]South Bend[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$55,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]2,780[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+11%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Terre Haute[/TD]
[TD=align: right]$54,000[/TD]
[TD=align: right]1,590[/TD]
[TD=align: right]+26%[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
The city I live in isn't that far from 0%, which doesn't surprise me, as I stated before we don't seem to be ridiculously over saturated, things just take time.
I guess it's because no one wants to move here? I graduated in May and had no trouble getting a full time job. And I work with more than a few nurses who moved here because they couldn't get jobs where they were from.
So what is the magical career choice that just hands out jobs to recent college graduates?Unemployment/underemployment is just as bad for new grads in just about every field. Nurses overall fare better than most other majors. Just do your best and make yourself stand out above the rest and you will eventually find a job.
Don't get annoyed by articles on Yahoo education. It's only a venue for advertising and not based on any reliable facts.
Unfortunately, there any many new grads that had to relocate to other states in order to get a job. I am in Greenville NC, Vidant Medical Center, and we have many new nurses from other states because they could not find jobs.
I would like to be very clear that I am not whining about having to compete for a job. People in most careers have to compete with other candidates. My point was that articles like these make it seem like the nursing job market is a magical place where jobs materialize out of nothing and you will get a job without any work. I am happy to put in work, volunteer and pay my dues. I just think articles like these give a false impression to people.
While I agree that it might be a little harder for a new grad to get a job there are still a lot of places hiring new grad. Put your time in a LTC and work your way up. You can't expect to get the "dream" job when you are competing with an experienced nurse.
While I agree that it might be a little harder for a new grad to get a job there are still a lot of places hiring new grad. Put your time in a LTC and work your way up. You can't expect to get the "dream" job when you are competing with an experienced nurse.
Exactly and I never said I was looking for my dream job right now. I assure you, the jobs I've been applying to are on Med-Surg floors and anywhere else except my dream job (L&D). I understand getting experience and paying my dues.
Exactly and I never said I was looking for my dream job right now. I assure you, the jobs I've been applying to are on Med-Surg floors and anywhere else except my dream job (L&D). I understand getting experience and paying my dues.
How come you aren't applying for your dream job? Are there just no openings, or do you want med-surg experience first? I'm just curious. I've heard no one leaves L&D and it is hard to break into. My good friend got right into L&D in Pittsburgh, but she had to stay in Pittsburgh to do it, rather than come back to Philly.
Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN
20,908 Posts
The nursing shortage.....or the lack thereof.....is HIGHLY based in location. California presently has a 47% unemployment rate for new grads. New York area is badly hit as is Boston, some areas of New Jersey, Florida
For example.....So the jobs available varies as much as the salary.Whether or not this will affect "you" personally ....who knows.
It is my belief though....
Praemonitus praemunitus or forewarned is forearmed