What are my chances of getting in?

aabdelhadi · Feb 17, 2016

It most certainly sounds like you have the GPA and test scores to back it up, I am not sure how it works @ where you are applying but I do know that a lot of universities tend to utilize their own "points" system. Basically what that means is your grades/GPA and test scores will account for a major portion of the points and could either help you (if they're good) or somewhat help you (if they're average). Volunteer experience can factor into it, but it's relatively minuscule when compared to the aforementioned.

For example, one of the universities I applied to stated that you can earn a maximum combined of like 14 points between grades and test scores, but volunteer experience is only worth 3 points. They also include prior work experience as well but that is worth even less.

I wouldn't worry too much about it, so I say apply.

foreveRNimble · Feb 19, 2016

You will get in but you won't be able to find a job when you graduate. The nursing shortage has been over for a while now, and nobody wants to hire new grads no matter what your grades in school were/are. Facilities don't want to hire smart people, they want to hire what I call "yes man" people. "Yes man" people are people who will do whatever you ask them to do, no explanation required. Smart people tend to want to rationalize before performing a task, hospitals don't want nurses who rationalize. If they tell you to do something that you're afraid will kill a patient, just do whatever it is they tell you to do, then pull the curtain and pretend that it never happened.

Also, I have a friend who is nurse manager, and he said in June healthcare is going to change drastically. When you're admitted to the hospital, you will have 3 days to recover. If you don't recover in 3 days you will be sent to an LTACH or LTC to finish recovering in a subacute setting. What does that mean? A hospital isn't going to need half of the nurses that they currently have. Nurses are already getting laid off and hospitals aren't hiring. You are going to pay a fortune for a degree you will never be able to use. Not needing as many RN's in the hospital setting is suppose to save hospitals a lot of money. Whatever jobs are available, the competition will be fierce and chances are they won't want new grads because it costs too much money to orient them, especially when there are tons of experienced nurses who are out of work.

If you are determined to have a career in healthcare your best bet would be to go the NP or PA route. Because just like the hospitals are doing away with a lot of the nurses, they are also going to be replacing a lot of the MD's with PA's and NP's. Once again because they want to save money. It all boils down to greed.

windsurfer8, BSN, RN · Feb 19, 2016

Forever...How do you "know" the OP won't find a job? You can guarantee this? Because the hospital I work at just hired New grads and continuously does. Also are you blanket saying there are no areas that need RNs? Have you been to Wyoming? North Dakota? You know every single hospital in the United States won't hire new grads? Where did you acquire this information?

foreveRNimble · Feb 19, 2016

Continuously hiring new grads. Why are they "continuously hiring" at all? Because the turnover is astronomical? The hospital I work at hired 3 RN's in 2015. Most of the nurses I work with have been working there since the hospital opened in 1997. Sounds like the hospital you work at is a real gem.

foreveRNimble · Feb 19, 2016

Are you telling me that all of these nurses are lying? What are they gaining by lying? The media is the one lying! Nursing shortage my butt. They do have a reason to lie! They want your money! Hey believe what you want, you will see for yourself! And you are going to regret it!

I regret becoming a nurse... - Nurse Jobs | Indeed.com

Where's this so-called shortage? - I can't find a nursing job! - CNNMoney

FatsWaller, BSN, RN · Feb 23, 2016

I'm from California, where competition is ridiculous for everything. I left to go to an accelerated nursing school in Kentucky. I graduate in May. I know there is no way I will get a job in California. Just too much competition and almost every job posting says *No new grads*. But there are plenty of job postings so I don't see how nurses aren't needed, just new grads aren't wanted. You almost always need to know someone or have some experience to get a job in California, and if you want ICU or ER then you MUST have experience in that field.

With that said, here in Kentucky (Louisville to be exact) nursing jobs are plentiful and they seek out new grads. I already have a job lined up in the CVICU of a large downtown hospital /heart and lung center. I also got a PRN position at the trauma 1 ER at university of Louisville hospital. I'm not alone, everyone in my program has already landed a job, ER, ICU, NICU, PEDS, etc.. I plan on doing a year here and getting my experience in so I can return home and get a job, and eventually apply to CRNA school.

Moral of the story, jobs are out there, you just may have to relocate or go find them.

Zooey72 · May 13, 2016

Are you telling me that all of these nurses are lying? What are they gaining by lying? The media is the one lying! Nursing shortage my butt. They do have a reason to lie! They want your money! Hey believe what you want, you will see for yourself! And you are going to regret it!
I regret becoming a nurse... - Nurse Jobs | Indeed.com
Where's this so-called shortage? - I can't find a nursing job! - CNNMoney

What you have posted is anecdotal. The fact of the matter is according to the Bureau of Labor the job growth rate for nurses is more than double the national average (16% vs 7%). Demand will vary depending on where you live, but nursing as a whole there is more demand than there is supply. With the baby boomers getting old there is no reason to believe that that will change.

Edited to add

Registered Nurses : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

BeachsideRN, ASN · May 13, 2016

Your employment all depends on your area.

barcode120x, RN, NP · May 16, 2016

Your employment all depends on your area.

110% true.

windsurfer8, BSN, RN · May 26, 2016

Based on your post every single nursing student in the United States will graduate and not get a job.

mrphil79 · Jun 13, 2016

Are you telling me that all of these nurses are lying? What are they gaining by lying? The media is the one lying! Nursing shortage my butt. They do have a reason to lie! They want your money! Hey believe what you want, you will see for yourself! And you are going to regret it!
I regret becoming a nurse... - Nurse Jobs | Indeed.com
Where's this so-called shortage? - I can't find a nursing job! - CNNMoney

Yup. They are lying.

There is a drastic nursing shortage nationwide - and it gets worse as more and more nurses retire.

Maybe a particular area doesn't have a nursing shortage - but entire states are in a collective panic over what they will do in 10 years if schools can't crank out enough nurses.

Tampa, FL:

- one hospital has 77 RN positions - many offering $10,000 bonuses if you have experience.

-Another hospital has 37 posted RN positions they want to fill.

-A third company has 101 RN openings between their hospitals, clinics, and assisted living facility.

That is one CITY in one state that has a shortage, and there are hospitals I didn't even look up - and I didn't even get in to any hospitals from suburbs and other surrounding areas.

I picked another city in Florida at random - Ft. Myers. Their main system is Lee Memorial Health System.

They have 151 RN job postings on their website.

These hospitals are DYING to get more nurses because the shortage is SO bad.

If you know people who can't find a nursing job, it's because they aren't looking hard enough. And anyone saying the nursing shortage is over is, indeed, lying.