Nurses unemployed what is happening out there???

kc87t, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Sep 2, 2010

Hey all,

I think the nursing shortage is all very dependent upon your geographical location within the US. I graduated from a BSN program in Ohio in June. No joke, I applied to EVERY hospital in the state of Ohio and I heard back from two (one of which was only because I had a family friend who is a senior VP there). So I basically decided to forget Ohio and started looking elsewhere. I applied to between 5-10 networks in Kentucky/West Virginia/Tennessee. Within two weeks I got calls from 3 hospitals wanting interviews. After two interviews (in KY & WV) I got offered two positions ON THE SPOT! In all honesty, if so many new nurses are willing to do "whatever it takes" to get a job like they say and are willing to relocate then check out Appalachian Regional Healthcare. Their website is Appalachian Regional Healthcare - Advancing Medicine In The Mountains ...they are located predominately in SE Kentucky with a few locations in southern West Virginia (where I took an offer). This is a very rural area, for those of you not familiar with it...these are all coal-mining towns/cities but like I said, I was offered two positions within their network the same day as my interview. Also, I had an interview scheduled with the University of Kentucky Medical Center two weeks after I applied...they LOVE new grads! I was unable to make that interview due to extraneous circumstances but a friend I graduated with just recently started there and loves it. Also, Centura Health in Colorado was very persistent in trying to schedule an interview with me--they wanted to wait till I passed the NCLEX. If you live in any of these areas you should check them out...I have nothing but good things to say about these organizations. Luckily, I really had no reason to stay in Ohio...no husband, no kids, free as a bird! So picking up and moving to West Virginia was no problem to me. I found that using this website Hospitals, Medical Centers Health Systems in the United States is the easiest way to search in your state. That's literally all I used. Another piece of advice I'd like to share... the 4 interviews I went on... ALL of them told me they were very impressed with my well thought out cover letter. They said it really showed my desire to become part of their team and showed the motivation I had to warrant a second glance at my resume. So I just wanted to pass that along if any new grads were having difficulties in job-hunting. Good luck to everyone! :)

danursern · Sep 2, 2010

I remember back in 2001 when many coorperations were importing Asian nurses, because of the so called nursing shortage. I worked in a facility in a state close by that was primarily Asian, infact I was the only American on nightshift. Now we have a shortage of jobs and more nurses than ever before.

I guess I should be grateful for what I do have. I've learned quiet a lot this past year 2009-10, and I've gained experience in home care with PEDS patients on LTV's, plus working with the Mollen Flu Clinic is exciting. They may not be full time, but they put dollars in my pockets and I love being a nurse. Actually, I am kind of enjoying being free of all the medical bureaucracy one has to deal with when working for just one company full time. :idea:

I am one of the people who cannot pickup and move my family, so that is out of the question for me, but good luck to the rest of you.

LovelyDragon · Sep 2, 2010

Just applied for the Mullen Flu Shot clinic and crossing my finger that I will get a call. Better to have some few bucks than nothing at all and have some sort of an experience. Not what I really wanted but it is a start. That way I will be able to network some people.

Been thinking to move out the state I'm located, but need to know more and do some research. This will be a very rough and tough road and year(s) to come, but nothing wrong to stay strong and positive....and surrounded also with positive and kind people, not those who are emotion vampires.

danursern · Sep 2, 2010

The economy is worse that they are letting on........Theyare not hiring experienced nurses as, in most cases cost more. They aren't hiring new grads because it really costs a lot to have double the nurses (orientee and preceptor) and educate the new grads to get them up and running. I find it ironic that in the time of the health car bill being signed into law.....hospitals stop offering benefitted positions. True, not in all areas of the country, but in a lot of the country.

I am not sure about the hospitals and benefit packages, however many hospitals have a freeze on hiring full time, but the LTC's, Dialysis Centers, Hospice Care etc., have difficulties paying for full time and benefits. Why hire full time after all they have the bull by the horns right now. They can get a nurse to work all the days they need covered, which each can add up to full time, but they only want to pay part time wages. Think about the money they can save doing it this way. :idea:

msn10 · Sep 2, 2010

I agree that it is geographical. 2 new hospitals just opened up where I live in Wisconsin and they are hiring. You said you have only been a nurse for 15 years. If you look at the trends, the cycle is about 20 - 30 years.

I am also a "15 year" nurse and I remember how tight the market was right before I graduated. Look at the depression, then the 70's, then the early 90's and now 20 years later, here we are again. It will get better in about 2-3 years, which I know doesn't help right now, but it will get better.

I am hoping this is another time for cleansing the system. I wish the hospitals would take a good look at who they have working for them and upgrade the work force where needed. There are so many great nurses out there who can't find jobs and too many unhappy or unsafe ones still in the business because they are too scared to leave.

danursern · Sep 2, 2010

Just applied for the Mullen Flu Shot clinic and crossing my finger that I will get a call. Better to have some few bucks than nothing at all and have some sort of an experience. Not what I really wanted but it is a start. That way I will be able to network some people.
Been thinking to move out the state I'm located, but need to know more and do some research. This will be a very rough and tough road and year(s) to come, but nothing wrong to stay strong and positive....and surrounded also with positive and kind people, not those who are emotion vampires.

Good luck and Mollen CLinic is fun to, because you meet lots of people. It's a important job and this year the vaccine covers three viruses strains H1N1, H3N2, Brisbnane for one low price. Fingers crossed for you!!!

RNASHLEY · Sep 2, 2010

I agree that it is geographical. I graduated from nursing school in May 2010 and received my RN license in June after passing boards. I started applying for jobs here in Omaha, NE and surrounding areas beginning in March with no luck. I thought after I passed boards i would have more luck. NO SUCH LUCK! I applied for well over 200 positions during the last few months. I have a daughter and I'm a single mom so I couldn't just up and move somewhere else. I got an interview in L and D which was shocking but didn't get the job. I continued to apply everywhere, every hospital, LTC, doc offices etc but 9 out of 10 hospitals have on their websites NO NEW GRADS AT THIS TIME. HOW FRUSTRATING!! FINALLY I had an interview last week and got a job on the spot from one of the most recognized hospitals in the nation, its in Lincoln about a 40 minute drive but thats ok with me!! Its on an ortho/neuro floor so I think it will be a good start. I hate that there are such nursing shortages in some parts of the country and in others there are WAYYYYYYYY to many nurses. THere are 9 nursing schools ALONE in the city of Omaha and practically no jobs!

danursern · Sep 2, 2010

I agree that it is geographical. I graduated from nursing school in May 2010 and received my RN license in June after passing boards. I started applying for jobs here in Omaha, NE and surrounding areas beginning in March with no luck. I thought after I passed boards i would have more luck. NO SUCH LUCK! I applied for well over 200 positions during the last few months. I have a daughter and I'm a single mom so I couldn't just up and move somewhere else. I got an interview in L and D which was shocking but didn't get the job. I continued to apply everywhere, every hospital, LTC, doc offices etc but 9 out of 10 hospitals have on their websites NO NEW GRADS AT THIS TIME. HOW FRUSTRATING!! FINALLY I had an interview last week and got a job on the spot from one of the most recognized hospitals in the nation, its in Lincoln about a 40 minute drive but thats ok with me!! Its on an ortho/neuro floor so I think it will be a good start. I hate that there are such nursing shortages in some parts of the country and in others there are WAYYYYYYYY to many nurses. THere are 9 nursing schools ALONE in the city of Omaha and practically no jobs!

Good luck and have fun to.

RNBearColumbus, BSN · Sep 2, 2010

Couple of things are happening these days:

1: Because of the economy, and the effects on the stock market and everyones' retirement funds, nurses that might have retired over the last few years haven't been able to.

2: Nurses that HAVE jobs are not moving around within the field right now. It's safer to stay where you are and where you have at least a reasonable chance to keep your job, than to risk leaving for a job you might not like or be successful at in a down economy. And, because of reason #1 noted above, there are fewer jobs for experienced nurses to move to.

3: Both of the reasons above leave little or no open positions for new nurses to go into. Hospitals and LTCs are able to demand experience because of the scarcity of jobs.

4: There are too many people looking to enter the field. Prior to the economic downturn, all we heard about was how there was going to be a huge shortage of nurses. Nursing was touted as a recession proof career, one for which there would be a never ending demand. But that demand was dependent on older nurses retiring, and more experienced nurses moving up in the ranks. Those two things did not happen. (It's also my opinion that a lot of people went into nursing as a way of getting a big paycheck, and not out of a real desire to be nurses. Hopefully the difficulty of finding jobs will convince some of these folks to pack it in.).

The situation will improve eventually, but not before the economy recovers sufficiently for people to start feeling comfortable with the job market once again. There are a few areas, as noted by other posters, where new facilities are opening, or where the recession has not had as great an impact.

For the OP, it sounds like you are doing the right thing by being flexible in the kinds of jobs you are willing to look at. Hang in there, and I hope you find something soon more fitting with your years of expereince and expertise.

SummitRN, BSN, RN · Sep 3, 2010

Decrease in demand, glut in supply.

There's more nurses graduating each year than ever and the trend is increasing several percentage points each year. Here, it is up darn near 20% over the last 5 years as I understand it.

This region is graduating 2000 RNs a year for a population of 2 million.

tex-anna · Sep 3, 2010

Our current political adminstration has cut medicare/medicaid reimbursement so much that hospitals and doctors are getting paid what amounts to less than minimum wage! One pedi that makes initial hospital visits told me that his re-imbursement is 32 dollars for an initial exam. These exams are very detailed as that is the best chance to pick up on something that could have long-lasting consequences. These pedi's have to leave their busy practice, drive to the hospital, make a very detailed exam, order labs, tests, and then follow-up on them. Keep in mind that most of these babes will not be seen in their practice after discharge. Also keep in mind that most of these babes are medicare/medicaid babes and will not be taken to follow-up/well-baby exams by said parents. I don't know what else to say. Until we have True/Real change in our political administration, things will not get better and hospitals will not be able to hire the nurses, physicians and support staff required to truly care for the people of this country.

Otessa, BSN, RN · Sep 3, 2010

Hi, I am a 15 year nurse and I am unemployed from a full time position. I cannot seem to find a job. I have experience, and I am certified is many areas, but no potential job. I have applied over and over for work. Gees, I am a nurse where did the shortage go? All they want to offer me is PRN and Per diem or Part time no benefits, means no insurance. Right now I have to accept jobs where ever I can even in LTC facilities with G tags or troubles and who do not care to orient you, high risk potential. I saw a sign at a major hospital recently it said only experience accepted, no new grads??? What is happening no new grads? Will this continue to spiral out of control? I've never ever in all my 15 years had this kind of trouble with employment?

There was trouble like this in 1992 where I lived as new grads. The ones that were lucky enough (was one of the lucky ones) to get jobs felt very lucky...2 years later (1994)..different part of country.....could only find PRN...part-time-agency jobs for quite a while.

otessa