Hiring Freeze and New Grad

[natrgrrl]

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? 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.

[prinsessa]

I know how you feel. I graduate in May and I hope I can find a job. We had a job fair and almost all the hospitals said "well we aren't hiring now but....maybe when you graduate". I hope they are right

[SnarfGirl]

Consider yourself hugged. I know the feeling. I graduate this May - I too have been dealing with the same problem here. Where are you? But on the bright side, if you've been in LTC you might have a better chance than someone who has not had that... Good luck to you :heartbeat

[linzz]

I too am starting my RN hopefully this fall and this economy is a worry. However I think that things go in up and down cycles and I think it will get better eventually. At least you are in LTC and this will be a plus when an employer asks what you have been doing. I doubt you will be in LTC forever. Good luck.

[widi96]

1. jan-23-09graduate nurse - 2east orthopedics

2e orthopedic unit

liberty hospital, liberty, mo full time

nights

1845-0715 2. feb-6-09graduate nurse - 2west telemetry

2west telemetry

liberty hospital, liberty, mo full time

nights

1845-0715 3. jan-27-09graduate nurse - 3south telemetry

3s telemetry

liberty hospital, liberty, mo full time

nights

1845-0715 4. jan-27-09graduate nurse - 3south telemetry

3s telemetry

liberty hospital, liberty, mo full time

nights

1845-0715 5. jan-27-09graduate nurse - 3south telemetry

3s telemetry

liberty hospital, liberty, mo full time

days

0645-1915 6. jan-23-09graduate nurse - 4east surgical/oncology

4e surgical/oncology unit

liberty hospital, liberty, mo full time

nights

1845 - 0645 7. feb-5-09graduate nurse - 6south medical/telemetry

6south medical/telemetry

liberty hospital, liberty, mo full time

nights

1845-0715 8. feb-5-09graduate nurse - 7south medical/telemetry

7south medical/telemetry

liberty hospital, liberty, mo full time

nights

1845-0715 9. feb-10-09graduate nurse - emergency department

emergency department

liberty hospital, liberty, mo full time

varied shifts

varies 10. feb-10-09graduate nurse - emergency department

emergency department

liberty hospital, liberty, mo full time

varied shifts

72

[stykerforce]

I am not sure what cities you are all located in, but I have resided in several major cities on the east coast with the current being Philadelphia,PA, and I still see job listings all over the place.

[Jules A, MSN]

I am not sure what cities you are all located in, but I have resided in several major cities on the east coast with the current being Philadelphia,PA, and I still see job listings all over the place.

Yup Balto/DC same thing plenty of jobs to go around.

[Nrsstudent09]

There may be job listings but if the hospital is on a freeze all the listings in the world won't matter. I know Penn is telling people they aren't even taking applications, yet there are listings for them online. So in reality listing does not matter

[Freedom42]

I am not sure what cities you are all located in, but I have resided in several major cities on the east coast with the current being Philadelphia,PA, and I still see job listings all over the place.

There are all kinds of job listings in my area, too. But:

Many of them are often job listings that a hospital's human resources department does not remove from a website in a timely manner. My classmates apply, only to find out that -- oops! -- that job's already been filled. This happens constantly. Or a hospital puts an ad in a paper to run for a fixed number of weeks, regardless of whether the job has been filled. Same story.

Jobs expressly labeled "new grad," and spell out that a preceptor will be made available, are virtually non-existent. I can count the number I've seen advertised in my entire state on two hands.

Hospitals are reaping a benefit of a poor economy by hiring veteran nurses, who are coming out of the woodwork for money and job security. They don't require the lengthy orientation that a new grad does.

Is it this way everywhere? No. But if you read this board a lot, you'll see it's this way in a lot of markets. I graduated at the top of my class in December. Fifty-seven job applications and two job interviews later, I am one of eight people in my class of 70 with a job, and only three of us landed full-time work. I started looking for a job in June, which is when hospitals in my area froze hiring for all but personnel deemed absolutely essential. I completed my practicum in an ICU where I was urged to apply for an internship. The program was then cancelled because, according to the manager, there were too many experienced nurses available, and nurses already on the unit were postponing their retirements. It's tough out there.

[MBA2RN, BSN, RN]

I just finished nursing school in Dec'08, and have come to the conclusion that the light at the end of the tunnel was an oncoming train. Rushing to flatten my nursing dream:(

Can you say "would you like fries with that?"

[Jules A, MSN]

I just finished nursing school in Dec'08, and have come to the conclusion that the light at the end of the tunnel was an oncoming train. Rushing to flatten my nursing dream:(

Can you say "would you like fries with that?"

Where are you located? That seems to make a huge difference. I graduated in May 08 and everyone in my class had jobs lined up by the start of our last semester. Classmates started in specialities like NICU, ICU, L&D, Psych, ED and quite a few also did Medsurge of course.

[goodgrief]

I graduate this May and have 2 job offers and I'm expecting 2-3 more, both of my offers come with a 12 week orientation on their Cardiothoracic/Cardiovascular ICU's. PM me and I'll tell you where they're at and the nursing recruiter to get a hold of, they're both still hiring new grads.