RN positions in SC

NurseARSC · Mar 11, 2010

This is so scary! I start school in August and I am really afraid that I wont be able to find a job based upon what I have been reading.

Call me crazy(beacuse I still have a well paid full-time job that I'm going to leave in August) but I have to still go forward because this is what I want to do. I really hope people respond to your message. I would love to know the answer to your question. :eek:

trimeduRN, BSN · Mar 11, 2010

This is so scary! I start school in August and I am really afraid that I wont be able to find a job based upon what I have been reading.
Call me crazy(beacuse I still have a well paid full-time job that I'm going to leave in August) but I have to still go forward because this is what I want to do. I really hope people respond to your message. I would love to know the answer to your question.

Hello NurseARSC,

I spoke to a few nurses that came back to the Charleston area with way more experience than I do. One with 8 yrs, 10yrs & 16yrs experience and they said they found it hard to find a job as well. The nurse with 8yrs said it took her 3 months to find her 2prn positions because the market is so bad here, but that could be because her specialty is L&D.

I spoke with several recruiters and was told that the Charleston area is tough to find a nursing position, he said that most of the jobs they staff for and get contracts for are out of SC, mostly NC, FL and VA. I had to move back for family issues so I had no choice in the matter. But still, I am second guessing myself about coming back here. A recruiter contacted about jobs being plentiful in Florida. I havent researched there, but I may have to soon.

FLmomof5 · Mar 12, 2010

That would be news to us!

Actually, with experience you could get work in FL. New grads can't get hired though.

I hope things will improve in Charleston because my hubby will be returning from Afghanistan a couple of months after I get my RN and he wanted me to live with him in Charleston until he retires (from the SC ANG AGR) ~ 3 yrs. It would suck to have to keep our LD marriage that way! (My youngest graduates HS a year from Jun so that was when I would be looking at that area...... :crying2: )

sissykim · Mar 16, 2010

If you want a job any where in AMERICA the best way is to actually present yourself in person. No longer is the internet the way to go to get noticed. You need to do the foot work, the computer is not longer you job-friend,

Fngrpntsnotasin · Mar 20, 2010

You may also need to look for work in other places (like not hospitals). I had no problem as a new grad getting a job with a home health agency and a Nursing home. Might not be what you want but it's better than no job. BTW it's much easier looking for a job when you already have one lol :)

trimeduRN, BSN · Mar 21, 2010

You may also need to look for work in other places (like not hospitals). I had no problem as a new grad getting a job with a home health agency and a Nursing home. Might not be what you want but it's better than no job. BTW it's much easier looking for a job when you already have one lol :)

The thing is, when I graduated with my LPN, I didnt have any issues getting a job. I had a job within 2 days of receiving my license. Its after I got my RN that it is harder. There are a lot of nursing homes, but they mostly hire LPNs. Most have a RN supervisor, so there is not much jobs in that arena either. Ive called agencies and have gotten the same story.

Fngrpntsnotasin · Mar 21, 2010

Oh my, I am sorry to hear that...I know that our facility could use a few good RNs...Trident and Roper seem to always be hiring RNs. check out DCI in goose creek or Health South, ive seen ads recently for both. what exactly is too far for you to travel?

trimeduRN, BSN · Mar 21, 2010

Oh my, I am sorry to hear that...I know that our facility could use a few good RNs...Trident and Roper seem to always be hiring RNs. check out DCI in goose creek or Health South, ive seen ads recently for both. what exactly is too far for you to travel?

Trident and Roper put ads in the paper, but when you apply, you never hear anything. Almost everything on Roper's site is PRN, they wont be hiring for the new hospital until late summer. And Trident, I just cant get a call back. I worked there for 6yrs. But I am being told by people on the inside that there is a hiring freeze. They hired close to 30 new grads back in January and arent really hiring.

At this point, nothing is really to far to travel. I have started applying to Beaufort, Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Greenville, Spartanburg and Charlotte areas. I'm willing to move again, but only within a 4hr commute to the Charleston area though.

NurseARSC · Mar 22, 2010

I just heard yesterday that HealthSouth in Columbia, SC is hiring. Good luck to you.

trimeduRN, BSN · Mar 28, 2010

I just heard yesterday that HealthSouth in Columbia, SC is hiring. Good luck to you.

Thanks,

Well, since I've posted here. I've found a part-time position at a SNF. Plus, I've gotten a contract offer for a travel nurse in a prison and I had a promising interview at PICU and a L&D interview scheduled this week. The only problem is that most jobs takes about 2 weeks for the interview process and the start date and the prison contract is for next week. I am unsure of what to do. Went from having no job or prospects to a few options and don't know which is better than the other.

T_Ann · Mar 31, 2010

i've had the same problem here in charleston. i have a nc nursing license (permanent addy is in nc, here for husband's job & will be for awhile) and under the 'nurse licensure compact' my nc license is honored in sc. back in october i started my job search. applied to a few agencies to give flu shots figuring i could tweak my schedule to be off for the holidays and then find something full time after the first of the year. i literally cleared my schedule thinking i would hear back from the agencies within days & start giving flu shots the following week. now, mind you, i was applying to jobs recently listed on craigslist, monster, careerbuilder, etc. i went on to apply to some of the hospitals, ltc facilities, etc. i only apply to posted jobs for which i am qualified. long story short, i applied to over 30 postings and have never been contacted other than a couple of places sent a letter after a month or so saying they appreciated the application, but.... that's fine, at least they sent me something. one of the hospitals has you sign up on their website, fill out their application then check back to see the status. after months my status is still 'application sent to department manager'. :mad: it's been crazy. i've worked since i was 15 years old and have never, ever not been called for an interview at least. i started to wonder if, even though as listed on the sc b.o.n. website about the nlc & reciprocity with other states, employers want you to just flat out have a sc nursing license and don't really like the whole reciprocity thing. i ended up getting a prn job up in nc & driving up to work a couple of days a week there. the drive is getting old and i think i'm just going to get a job at bed, bath & beyond to get the employee discount and stay closer to my husband. sorry this is such a long reply. i hope it makes you feel better to see that other nurses have had the same problem. good luck to you and the rest of us looking for a nursing job in charleston! :)