Nursing JOB shortage in Maryland!

At one point recently, JHH had less than 10 positions open for nurses in the entire system. They have had hundreds to thousands apps coming in monthly. Open position rate is staying at less than 1%. And few of the people coming in are really getting much leeway to choose position.

this is kinda scary... maybe it's a not a good time to become a nurse...

It is scary, but I wouldn't let it intimidate you. It's kinda scary right now to be anything!

I have one nagging question about this terrible job environment. I can't help but wonder what makes the difference in geting the positions. I know how awful everyone said last May's grad's were having it locally, but we were told that 50-60% of oour graduating class had positions lined up before graduation. I know several personally who had more than one offer to choose from- and it wasn't always because they were tech's somewhere. They were getting offers from places that others were gtting told were overwhelmed with internal applicants. Granted, these are some smart ladies, and socially graceful, but...why them? Why are some folks getting jobs and some not? Is it really sheer luck? Right place, right time? Knowing the right people?

I got a job in the early 90's in Pharmaceutical sales. It was the job everyone wanted and I was way underqualified. I got lucky though and happened to walk through some cheesy hotel job fair at just the right time and met my future manager. We clicked immediately, and he had enough clout to push through my application even though others looked much better on paper.

Is it a matter of being at the right place at the right time? If so, where are the right places?

Castlegates, I am sure it depends on the area. In my situation, I learned from the mistake that I made. I worked as a tech with an excellent employment record from a hospital. I assumed that I would get a job there upon graduation, and I truly think my clinical director did want to hire me (so I was not completely oblivious.) Up until this time, I put my eggs in one basket. Why you ask? No clue! I wish I knew what I was thinking! Around April I find out that they were not taking any new grads, so it's not like someone was chosen over me. The hospital just did not allow it into the budget this year. Many of my classmates (may 2009) are still unemployed, and the ones that I know of that have jobs, mostly had them lined up many months in advance. Many interviewed Decemberish, when probably no one realized how lucky they were to have jobs lined up, because I don't think we realized how bad this would be. Some days I want to run into every nursing class in every nursing school in MD and yell "don't do it! you will be unemployed!" But somehow, I truly think that it has to get better...

Calm down everyone, the sky is not falling. All boats are lowering right now with the falling tide. You think nurses have it bad right now? I know people with MBAs right now that are doing telemarketing. Legg Mason, T. Rowe Price, teachers, etc are all hurting. So relatively, nurses are gonna be OK.

Yes, hospitals are being cheap bastards and not hiring new nurses. The ones that are not farsighted enough to see past this recession will find that 5-10 years down the road they will have no experienced and dedicated nurses/leaders.

Furthermore, its not that there isn't any need for nurses anymore, hospitals just see nurses as "cost" centers and cut back on them. Patient/nurse ratios are getting worse still and patients are the ones that are going to be hurting at the end. Thats why we need strong unions - for ourselves and for our patients.

It is for sure knowing the right people.

It is all about money. I have 33 years experience and have been applying for one solid year. Managers tell me I'm hired, never hear from HR and when I call they have one excuse after another. I have GOOD, CURRENT experience. They don't want new grads but don't want long term experience either. I went to an open house last week and am keeping fingers crossed to land a benefited float position. Nurses are NOT leaving jobs right now. Many who were retired rejoined the work force this past year. It is not great right now. I turn down no paying assignment, work for several agencies, and PRN at a surgery center. Keep looking don't give up.