Nursing graduates find tighter job market

You who are willing to take $18 an hour, ( when an RN makes $25 +)... Hey, why not volunteer for free?
Not only will you sell yourselves short on the money end but, on the education end as well.
Your actions to this recession, will create a presidence that will snow ball the whole industry.
Remember why you got into this industry. The Money, the Flexibility, Training, More ways to be a Nurse than one, and because you are caring and compassionate (the latter does not pay bills).

If you have to work, take a job outside of the healthcare industry until you can land a job in the healthcare industry, that WILL pay for your SKILL and EDUCATION.

Obviously if you have graduated with an LPN, RN, BSN ... Maybe just not aware that by taking a lesser pay, just to get your foot in the door, puts the rest of the Nursing industry at a greater risk of being dictated an even lower salary than the current profession already is enduring.

Where do you think I am getting the $0 an hour from?

I am guessing based on the attitude in your post that you probably have a job already. If so, congratulations--you are one of the lucky ones.

For the rest of us who are hunting in an oversaturated job market where a lot of entry-level nurses won't even see $20 an hour (and no, relocating is NOT an option), I'll consider the $18 an hour so I can get the much-needed "1 year experience" that will then give me a chance at better jobs and better salaries.

And if my doing this sets the economics of the nursing profession back...well, y'all can pay my bills while I "hold out" for more money, because volunteering at $0 an hour may help the resume but certainly isn't doing much for my finances

If it is a tighter job market for nurses now, are they still hiring nurses from abroad? IF they do, why can't they stop it? That does not make sense at all...

It is the economy, no money for elective surgery; and, many people are unemployed and now without health insurance. Hospitals have closed 15% to 20% their beds in medium and major population areas.

As the economy recovers and people have money for elective surgery and health insurance enrollment picks up, so will the business through the front doors of the hospitals and hospitals will be opening up those beds and wings again.

Also, many areas have too many beds for the population --- classic over build --- good economy or bad, and new nurses should consider moving to areas with fewer beds to population ratios.

I think the situation changes from state to state (although overall these are tough times for nurses, especially us, new-grads). If any nurse here is from MD, VA, DC, or MA please shine some light on the current situation in these states..........No matter what, please remember to remain optimistic, being pesimistic will not change anything, at least not for good.

Thanks to all of you for your input.
Massin1218

Looking for a job has become so frustrating as a new graduate or should I say graduate. I graduated in December 2008 and every month that passes by I get a little more discouraged. I applied to at least 30 positions in 5 different states and well each time I get a letter or email mentioning they are no longer accepting applicants I become a little more heartbroken. It is like a contradiction to the whole nursing idea they feed us in nursing school.... There are nursing jobs and a huge nursing shortage but they didn't read us the fine line that that is only for experienced and specialty nurses. How am I supposed to get ACUTE care experience when hospitals won't hire me and if I apply for a LTC facility, it is not considered ACUTE care experience so in every way I lose... and on top of all that, I have a huge loan I have to pay soon.... with no job in line.

It is like new grads are not desirable... I feel nursing schools should stop graduating all theses new grads to allow those who have been waiting so long to find and fill jobs... I mean every semester that goes by makes it more difficult for me... and I have been waiting SO patiently for something to come along. I just don't know what to do anymore... THIS IS SO RIDICULOUS ALREADY!!!!

I love everything about nursing, which is why I went into the field in the first place but I am slowly losing my passion for it because of the lack of interest hospitals have in me. It really makes me second guess if I went into the right field...

FOR CRYING OUT LOUD... TAKE THE LTC JOB!!! I know several nurses who started in LTC and later went to the hospital, or started in LTC and decided that they loved it. You can't tell me on one hand that you have all these debts to pay for and on the other you aren't wiling to work LTC!

Oh yeah, that will look wonderful on my resume/application. I can picture the interview:

"So Mr. ♪♫, what have you been doing in the six months since you graduated?"

"I was honing my interpersonal and customer-service skills... working at Wal-Mart/McDonald's/Starbucks"

"Do you have any health care experience besides nursing school... let's see, you graduated what, 6 months ago?"

"No, I don't."

"Alright... well, we should be making a decision in the next few days and we'll let you know if we need anything further."

Me, I'll take any health care job I can get, even if the pay is crappy. Hopefully I can get hired in under an existing contract and not have to worry about it. At this point, though, I just need a job, and I am willing to work for cheap for the first year. I'd be THRILLED to get $18/hr working in an acute care facility.

The problem that we're facing, though, is that the acute care facilities are are requiring SPECIFIC experience in a similar acute-care unit in order to be considered for their experienced positions. If you start out in LTC then it seems quite likely that find yourself stuck there.