Nursing shortage?

Nurses Career Support

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Specializes in Emergency.

If there is such a nursing shortage why does it take WEEKS for recruiters to get in contact with candidates? I am becoming so frustrated I just want to go back to doing what I used to do....

I have been having the hardest time finding a job in Atlanta. I have applied at every hospital in the area with only 2 inteviews... that went great, just didn't like the offers.

If there is a shortage I sure can't tell.

Sick of it all!

To add, I did NOT turn down any offers, just hoping something comes along soon before I loose everything over the next 3 months waiting.

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Specializes in Tele/ICU/MedSurg/Peds/SubAcute/LTC/Alz.

Tell me about it. Getting myself to what I really want to do it making me frustrated.

When I graduated in May 2005, I was expecting the best but it didn't really go as they said it would. After taking my boards twice (Kaplan confused me more in my opinion) it took me three months to find someone that would hire me as a New Grad. Some of my classsmates it took six months after taking their boards.

Then, I worked on a Sub-Acute and Alzheimers floor where I learned most of my experience from. I worked my butt off! I had up to 60 patients at times. Then, it took me a year and a half to get onto a Med-Surg floor in a hospital. Three months later the floor closed due to low-patient census. I lost everything. My house and my car.

Luckily, I found a recruiter at Core Medical Group who found me a job fast. Had a telephone interview, the hospital flew me in for an interview, and I waited for my bonus check to move. It took me two months to get here and it really isn't the greatest place to be. There are jobs out there, it might not be what you want right now and it might take you some more flexibility. Look at me, I moved thousands of miles away for my career!

Maybe you don't have to go that extreme, but something has to work out. Just take what you can get I guess.

To answer you question about the shortage. Correct me if I am wrong nurses, but it seems it is for "experienced" nurses only. No one wants to train in a certain specialty.

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You say you didn't like the offers. It sounds like you are rejecting them.

As a new grad, you may be lucky to get hired.

Maybe you shouldn't be so selective. Take a job and get some experience and then you can move into what you want.

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Specializes in Emergency.

I have interviewed for the ED in two hospitals that want me, feels nice and are willing to train me. One starts in Feb. the other in April. I have a family I have to feed TODAY not after the first of the year when thier "fellowship" programs start...or when they open thier "new" ED. If they were to offer me position today starting next week I would take it, med/surg any shift, but they are not.

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Specializes in Tele/ICU/MedSurg/Peds/SubAcute/LTC/Alz.
You say you didn't like the offers. It sounds like you are rejecting them.

As a new grad, you may be lucky to get hired.

Maybe you shouldn't be so selective. Take a job and get some experience and then you can move into what you want.

I agree you have to be more flexible... I would try the nursing homes for fast results... Until you get into the progam you want. And you can stay at the nursing home per diem if you like it, to make more money on the side.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
If there is a shortage I sure can't tell.
There's no real nursing shortage in America, as 500,000 RNs and countless LPNs/LVNs have current licensure, but have abandoned the workforce altogether. There is, however, a true shortage of nurses who will deal with high patient loads, mediocre pay, and the lack of respect from many angles.
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I have interviewed for the ED in two hospitals that want me, feels nice and are willing to train me. One starts in Feb. the other in April. I have a family I have to feed TODAY not after the first of the year when thier "fellowship" programs start...or when they open thier "new" ED. If they were to offer me position today starting next week I would take it, med/surg any shift, but they are not.

you got a job and turned it down?

why not accept it and wait..

what if nothing else comes your way and the job offer you got passed you by along with the dates they told you u would start

then what

some people wish they had a job offer and have nothing and you are there being picky

the world is not perfect u know

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Specializes in Tele/ICU/MedSurg/Peds/SubAcute/LTC/Alz.
you got a job and turned it down?

why not accept it and wait..

what if nothing else comes your way and the job offer you got passed you by along with the dates they told you u would start

then what

some people wish they had a job offer and have nothing and you are there being picky

the world is not perfect u know

I don't think he turned them down, it takes a couple of months before he can start. :nono: He needs something now.

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Specializes in Emergency.
you got a job and turned it down?

why not accept it and wait..

what if nothing else comes your way and the job offer you got passed you by along with the dates they told you u would start

then what

some people wish they had a job offer and have nothing and you are there being picky

the world is not perfect u know

Guess you didn't read the words I wrote, no where did I say I turned them down, just don't want to wait until Feb at the earliest to start work.. make sense?

Ok... now.. lets not beat a dead horse... I am just frustrated and becoming more frustrated by the minute by nurses who don't or can't empathize with my dilemma.

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Specializes in Tele/ICU/MedSurg/Peds/SubAcute/LTC/Alz.
Guess you didn't read the words I wrote, no where did I say I turned them down, just don't want to wait until Feb at the earliest to start work.. make sense?

Ok... now.. lets not beat a dead horse... I am just frustrated and becoming more frustrated by the minute by nurses who don't or can't empathize with my dilemma.

I can definately empathize. I had to relocate across the US to find a job. I lost everything, my house is in foreclosure for crying out loud. My car was repo'd right before I left. I work in a place with no transportation. I either walk (the hospital is an hour walk from where I live), or I have to ask for a ride.

And I have been a nurse for over 2 years!

That is why I am telling you go to the nursing homes. You can get some money and experience before you start at the ER.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
Guess you didn't read the words I wrote, no where did I say I turned them down, just don't want to wait until Feb at the earliest to start work.. make sense?

Ok... now.. lets not beat a dead horse... I am just frustrated and becoming more frustrated by the minute by nurses who don't or can't empathize with my dilemma.

Some people might just read the first post and then post without reading the whole thread. Your initial post is a bit hard to empathize with since you merely stated you turned down two offers. Might I suggest you add to the post "Edit: the reason I had to turn them down was..........." so you don't have to beat a dead horse.

Good luck in fidning something and getting call backs. It's a slow maddening process sometimes.

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Specializes in Emergency.
Some people might just read the first post and then post without reading the whole thread. Your initial post is a bit hard to empathize with since you merely stated you turned down two offers. Might I suggest you add to the post "Edit: the reason I had to turn them down was..........." so you don't have to beat a dead horse.

Good luck in finding something and getting call backs. It's a slow maddening process sometimes.

I didn't turn any offers down... as I edited it to make that more clear, I merely stated I didn't like the offers I was given...

Why have we moved so far off point? Now it has become my own fault that I can't find a job in the middle of a nursing shortage...

Please lock this thread.. it is becoming redundant.

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