Is it really that bad out there?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in Ortho/trauma acute care/med surg.

I am currently a RN student with just 7 months left to go and I was browsing ALLNURSES and noticed a lot of people posting about how hard it is to get a job. Is this the general concensus out there or maybe just the area the people live in? I am not into nursing for the money I really want to help people but if I am unable to find a job maybe I should look into another field?

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Specializes in LTC.

I graduate in 2 months and I think it really is that bad. The hospital I currently work at as a NA now has MAJOR budgets cuts for the next year, it is not pretty.

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Specializes in Oncology/BMT.

With 7 months to go, I would not suggest going into another field. After all, you've come this far! See if you can get you foot in the door right now by applying for a nurse assistant position. Many hospitals post open positions to current employees for a week or so and allow them to grab them before the general public has the ability to do so. Times are tough for both the economy and health care industry. There are GN/RN jobs out there, but hospitals are keeping to the bare minimum when it comes to staffing.

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Try corrections and mental health...There are usually positions available...State, Federal etc...

usajobs.com will let you post a nationwide resume for federal positions...

VA and IHS are usually looking for new grads....

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Yeah, it really is.

I am a RN with 15 years of experience, great resume and I have been looking for a job for over a year now.

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Specializes in Emergency, Case Management, Informatics.

Depends on the area. No shortage of RN jobs in my area. LPN jobs have been getting more and more scarce over the past couple of years, but still not too difficult to find something.

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all i can say is you will get a job but not one that you want. i have a job at a nursing home, all i do is get shouted on by the nurse manager who doesnt know what to do or even how to do it. we did our clinicals in hospitals but now they are only hiring experienced RNs. i am a fresh lvn, hope you get a job

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I started applying in Feb, graduated in May, license in June, applied to over 15 facilities, well over 100 apps, 4 interviews, and ended up at my last choice-LTC. I am still applying at other places, I am learning a lot, but the 8 hr shifts in midnights where I am working 7 of 9 weekends in a row and many times work a day, off a day, is killing me. I love nursing, I hate having so many pts I am rushed to pass meds, and have no time to assess people. Good luck, start now, and ask people you know for recommendations.

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Have gone without work for months at a time and am in an area with a population in the millions. If you don't have work in a place like this, you aren't likely to find it elsewhere. Best recommendation: if you have a job, keep it. Once you get a job, hold onto it as if it were the last job on earth.

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Yes, it is that bad. I graduated in May with my BSN, started looking in February, went on 4 interviews before I landed my first RN job at a Level I Trauma teaching hopsital in the MICU. I got my license in July, didnt start working until August.

My suggestion is to try to get your foot in the door NOW! Work on your resume and portfolio and start applying NOW!

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It is difficult, but not impossible. Are you able to move after graduation? That may help you land a job.

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Specializes in medical.

In my area, which is major metropolitan suburbs of Washington D.C. hospitals are not hiring new grads. I'm glad, I was applying to hospitals as a new grad 5 yrs ago, when every hospital gladly saw a new grad. Not anymore. I think this is just all temporary, but not sure how long the whole situation will last.

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