Hiring Freeze and New Grad

Nurses General Nursing

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Are there hiring freezes all over the country? Am I the only one who thought nursing was one of those magic careers that the economy couldn't hurt? :crying2: I think I need a hug!

When I started nursing school, there were so many positions open for RNs. I used to read the paper and dream of the hospital I wanted, on the floor I wanted, great benefits, etc. Now, I just pray that I can get a hospital job so I don't have to stay in LTC. Thank goodness I enjoy my job and my residents and I can stay working as a nurse there as as long as I want.

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
yup balto/dc same thing plenty of jobs to go around.

while there may be many jobs posted for our hospital, i know there aren't any openings. they're just not hiring here. we recently had to let go a new grad from our icu -- you may have read that thread -- and our manager was committed to finding her another job within the system. no one, however, is hiring. sal's even been looking for home health and long term care opportunities in the city and so far hasn't found anything.

In the same situation, in the Philadelphia area looking for new graduate jobs. Nothing offered at all, i personally walked into most of the city hospitals asking, but they are on a hiring freeze.

Goodgrief, would appreciate the info, i don't know how to PM

(((HUGS))) to everyone who just recently graduated and are located in the northern CA. The "new grad" program is just horribly limited at this point because of the hiring freeze and budget constraints. I peruse all the hospitals in the surrounding area and new grad will not reopen till August of 2009. That means half of the students who just graduated in the vicinity area last December 2009 will be competing against the nursing students who will be graduating this summer. I'm just so frustrated searching and receiving interminable rejection letters from the organization I applied to as they're not currently hiring a new grad. As for the meantime, I'm thinking of volunteering for the next few months in the hospital (of my interest) and even considering the probability of even moving out of the area just to get a year of experience. :urgycld:I hope the economy will be better and the sun will come out for those people who needed it. Hoping tomorrow will be a much better day for all of us!

Specializes in Psychiatric, Medical, Residential.

I have been a nurse for over 5 years and am currently unemployed. I had to leave my last position due to my husbands illness and have not been able to find a new job anywhere. I may start traveling and home schooling my children just to get a job. My suggestion to ANY new grad is get 1 year of medical surgical nursing before anything else. I cannot say it enough. I went directly to psychiatric and have had only a very short med-surg recently (6 months ago when I was working for a few months at a job I changed to). If you go into a specialty and decide you want something else, they will want to see med-surg on your resume... so get it while you can!

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I was talking to a friend tonight who is a long time nurse and she said that she has seen times like this before and that it will turn around. Hospitals are still spending money on expansions, the population is aging at a good clip and we as a culture are demanding excellent health care so we need good nurses. Sending good vibes to everyone out there looking.

I think I could have written that myself. I seriously feel the exact same way. I graduate in May as well and I am extremely nervous about not finding a job. My fellow nursing students were just talking about this a few ays ago. When we first started nursing school there were so many jobs but now there is not too many, especially for new grads. I am nervous that I am going to get into a job that absolutely hate. I just keep praying about it and hope that I find a really good job or even a job for tha manner. I have heard that nursing is so called recession proof but I am not too sure about that. The area where I work at just laid off 37 jobs in health care, many being nurses. I am moving but I am still so nervous about it. I hope you find a great job. Hang in there and just keep positive.

Specializes in Urgent Care.

I graduate in May and I go to school in boston, is there any hope of landing a hospital job? The economy is terrible and i hear a lot of the hospitals arent hiring new grads. any advice?

Honestly, I have never thought of just applying in hospitals. As a new grad in Ohio working in a LTC was and is a given (there are not many hospitals hiring LPNs). That being said, I think you have to be flexible, examples are, you can commute, work part time or 3rd shift, and/ or network with other students.

I live just outside Philadelphia and all of the hospitals are on a hiring freeze. Graduated in Sept, 08 and more than half of my class are still looking for jobs. Those who have found something were forced to take a position in LTC or per diem. I think I will have to work my way either North or West to even find a position open (Lehigh, Reading). All I wanna do is work.....ahhhhhhhhh.........This economy stinks..............:crying2:

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
Those who have found something were forced to take a position in LTC or per diem.

While I'm not finding the crunch so severe in my area I also don't think having to start in LTC or per diem is the end of the world. Last year when I graduated, yes we did have our pick of specialities, sadly this year things have changed. To me its kind of like the people that expected the real estate market to continue to steam roll and that their over priced houses would be worth 10Xs what they paid in 6 months. Not exactly realistic, imo. You just have to adapt and I think your plan to move if you can find a better offer elsewhere is wise. Good luck.

Thanx for your encouragement........I guess what I'm trying to express is that when in nursing school everyone tells you that nursing is the field to be in......you can always find a job in healthcare. You then go through school thinking that the gaits will open once you graduate....and you'll have your pick.....however that is so not the case these days. It just get frustrating at times.....then I remember why I chose this field in the first place......to help others.......so you just have to roll with the punches and keep on searching. :D

Specializes in Telemetry & Obs.
Thanx for your encouragement........I guess what I'm trying to express is that when in nursing school everyone tells you that nursing is the field to be in......you can always find a job in healthcare. You then go through school thinking that the gaits will open once you graduate....and you'll have your pick.....however that is so not the case these days. It just get frustrating at times.....then I remember why I chose this field in the first place......to help others.......so you just have to roll with the punches and keep on searching. :D

New grads may have to work nights...med/surg...anything to get their foot in the door.

It's just like anything else that cycles, though...right now we're on a downturn, but there's always the UPSIDE!! :)

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