Nursing market cools, new grads have a tough time finding jobs

Hi! Can you help me out? I have an interview for the rn internship position in salem hospital next week. What kind of questions did they ask you? And how long is the internship program for? I will be interviewed by 4 nursing managers and I am soooo nervous. I am really bad at interviews! Please help me...

I think Southern California is still hiring. We're getting new grads into the ICU where I work, and it seems like they always need nurses on PCU. They hired 18 new staff for ER last summer. Many of them were new grads.

As an "about to graduate" student, I am willing to go anywhere to work in any field as a registered nurse. However, I can not apply everywhere. if anyone knows of openings in any field, in any location, I would love the oppurtunity to apply for the position. Just let me know!

As an "about to graduate" student, I am willing to go anywhere to work in any field as a registered nurse. However, I can not apply everywhere. If anyone knows of openings in any field, in any location, I would love the oppurtunity to apply for the position. I am on fire to get started, to apply what I have learned and to draw knowledge from those that have gone before me. Just let me know where!

I'm not sure where abouts you live Laurie B but I know there are alot of Nursing positions in Ontario Canada. For example, Peterborough Ontario is hiring Visiting Nurses Full Time, Hospital Nursing, LTC Nursing. etc.

I just checked the job board at my hospital. A year ago I was doing a day agency contract here and it seemed like there were more agency than non-agency nurses. There were $12,000 sign on bonuses.

Now, all positions are full. I'm glad I hired on when I did. So, the job market has changed radically here.

Wow~ I started reading this thread because of the title... then got caught up in the emotions poured out here. Wow! Don't get me wrong, I understand the fear.. I am set to graduate with my ADN in December and after reading all this I am already getting a bit nervous wondering if I will be able to land a job.. any job... I am not picky! Fortunately for me, I have enjoyed every rotation through nursing school. A couple specialties stand out to me, but every moment I have spent in clinicals has been an experience I've learned from and enjoyed.. so come January I will be applying to every hospital and every unit and every outpatient setting all over southern CA, Arizona, and beyond if need be!

After reading all these posts I approached my instructor last week... asked her about the job market... she claims that if I am willing to stay around this area I will NOT have a problem finding employment as an RN... I hope she's right!! LOL

I work as a unit secretary in a large teaching hospital so I also approached my nurse manager to ask her opinion and advice... told her I had no preference as to where I work.. just that I would like to have a job as an RN after I graduate... she told me that my facility is still hiring new grads (although not as many as in previous years) and to stop listening to the growing anxiety in my head. haha... She also said that she hopes that I will consider staying on as an RN there... so that gave me some hope. I love my boss!

I also decided some time ago that there is a God and I ain't Him... haha. I am trying to remember this when I start questioning my decision to enter nursing school when I did. I figure that to be a nurse is a HUGE privilege... and hopefully is seen as a calling of sorts... I didn't go into nursing because I wanted a sign on bonus or big $$ or pats on the back... all that stuff is nice and all but, speaking for myself, I am in nursing because there is something inside me that tells me everytime I step onto the unit that I can do some good... that I can help someone.. that I was born to do this... that I am right where God wants me. period.

Sorry for a long rant... guess I just needed to vent some feelings too! I tell ya, between the stress of being a nursing student, flat broke, and then hearing all of this... well sometimes we just need to vent... I also understand the fear of not being able to provide, put food on the table, etc...

From the other side...I'm an LPN in an RN program, and we've got 5 open positions on our floor, 1's leaving in the summer, and 2 are pregnant, so we'll be down 8 positions at some point....

And we've got a hiring freeze on.

A friend of mine on another floor just made RN from LPN, and was only given a $1 raise -- and it's not like she was topped out on the LPN scale -- before, 8-10 dollars would have been about right for her current pay vs. starting RN pay... I figure if things don't turn around before next spring (and knowing my NM), I'll get the "you should just be happy to have a job, here's a 25 cent raise, now go away." spiel.....

Thanks LittleneoRN for your support of us new grads!

It's amazing how the few out there that are naive and a little entitled suddenly become ALL the new grads to some people! Have a little mercy on us, folks!

I am in one of the worst markets: Northern California. Of course, it is one of the highest paying so it is extremely saturated. I don't blame nurses for coming here to get jobs, though. I am just extremely sad that I may have to leave my wonderful community, maybe my sweetheart even, for a job. This place is home and I don't want to go! I have been looking everywhere, using all my connections and it all doesn't matter if there are NO JOBS for us out there!

Like others have said, it is so frustrating to have to explain over and over that there is a shortage but not here. They just don't know, I get that of course.

So what can we do?

I read a post somewhere (can't find it now- sorry) by a nurse instructor who gave the advice of taking good care of yourself through this process. I can see that as very important since I can get lost on the internet looking at career sites of hospitals in places I can't imagine moving to but just in case...

Things ebb and flow so let's hope for more flow soon! I miss being with patients and families! I love being a nurse!