No nursing shortage in Central VA

U.S.A. Virginia

Published

:cry:Hello there, just wanted to post info and maybe get some common feedback about the lack of all nursing positions(CNA, LPN, and RN) in the heart of VA. I've found that although there are new job postings in the newspaper and on the internet, myself and others are applying their tails off for weeks and no interviews whatsoever, not so much as a simple "Thank you for applying" e-mail.With about 5 local colleges in the area, new grads are finding it hard to ease into local positions. I'm guessing about 600 new RN grads a year, and about 100 LPN grads and maybe 50-75 CNAs a year, where do they all go? What if a new grad doesn't want to re-locate out of Lynchburg? Should they rethink a career path in nursing for it? I know some highschool grads have. The area is so well-saturated, i've heard it has brought a local RN's pay down, because there is no demand. Its a sticky situation that needs to be brought out of gossip and into the public.:down:

Specializes in ICU, Informatics.
Grades are great in school only, recommendations will help at local hospitals maybe. No interviewer is going to be sitting there reviewing your grades in looking at hiring you hence why they have the NCLEX to show you have the basics down.

Perhaps this may be dependent on the local market, but the New Graduate Internship positions I have applied for requested their applicants to submit a copy of their unofficial transcripts. These positions also requested the applicant to have a GPA that is 3.0 or above (one requested GPA of 3.5 above with no C's in nursing and science courses). I think employers can be more picky given the volume of applicants they are receiving for new graduate positions. Therefore, grades can matter for new graduate positions.

I'm not quite sure where some of the previous posters are getting their information. Lynchburg is an easy place for an RN to get a job. Centra Health has a long list of RN job openings. New Grads can even get hired to specialty units like ICU or psych.

http://www.centrahealth.com/career/jobs.aspx

I am a new grad and was recently hired to a specialty unit at Centra. Associates Degree. No hospital experience.

For LPN's, I admit most hospitals are trying to phase you out.

This is sort of happening in NOVA.

RNs are still getting hired but forget it if you are an LPN.

We have had literally hundreds of LPN apps since January. Rejected every single one. We've had 3 RN apps. Hired every single one.

CNAs can always get hired though IMHO. Unless there is a miraculously low turnover rate in the area.

What's the business reasoning behind this? I know some ltc facilities will have just one rn and the rest lpn's. Does facility management prefer to have more of the more expensive nurses these days? Or are some facilities low balling rn's now because they can?

Is easier in NoVA than RVA?

Specializes in medical/telemetry/IR.

Back in 94 when I tried to get in the hosp that I'm at now, I couldn't get past recruiter.

so I called up the floor I thought I wanted to be on and spoke to the nurse manager asked if she got my application-she hadn't of course. we set up interview and I've been there ever since.

I just called the hosp operator, asked for the manager for the medical floor. she hired 3 people that month on my floor-the others left less than a year later.

that recruiter was notorius for not letting people through. thank god she's gone.

Cherryblode, I would like to know what school you graduated from. I am a LGH hopeful. Are you working as a RN now? I just looked at LGH's website and they have 14 RN level 1 job postings.

Specializes in Geriatric, Acute care....looking for mor.

Best of luck to you in your search, if the hiring freezes continue people will have to look at re-locating if they want better opportunities of getting hired.

this is true-I already have it in mind that I am on the first thing smoking out of Central VA when I am done. I've been looking at NOVA, NY/NJ area to be specific. The money is definitely out there, I've talked to a nurse who touched $102k last year (travel nursing/agency). I know it isn't about money but lets be real-we have bills, we have student loans, we have families and goals. How are we supposed to feel valid if we can't find any jobs out there? You have to be ready to make your move regardless. My suggestion is to devise a plan while you are in nursing school. I have 6 different options that I can go into once I am done. I shoot for the worst case scenariou and pray for the best. Remember, when you start from the bottom, you only have one way to go.:twocents:

Specializes in Med-Surg, LTC, Rehab.

Not sure where some of you are from in Central VA but SRMC in Petersburg is hiring. They are really good about hiring new grads and the shift differentials are better than some of the Richmond hospitals. The only positions that require experience are L&D and ICU.

Specializes in Tele, ICU, ED, Nurse Instructor,.
There are some exceptions to that rule. I did have one manager look at my GPA on the resume and comment that it showed I was a go-getter. It probably depends on the individual. Also, my hospital checked references before I started work there. They wanted 2 instructor references and at least one/two professional references. I know for sure that they checked them because one of my references told me he got a call from them.

While job hunting I was told that some hospitals only hire a certain number of new grads a month so that they can orient them properly. I was told to check back every month because they do orientations on certain days of the month. So some of the places that weren't hiring will be hiring again. Just keep checking back.

Right after I got my job, I got 2 offers from hospitals who weren't hiring just the month before. It pays to be persistent sometimes. It seems like each hospital just has a different hiring process. Most of them wanted me to fill out an application online when I would call to talk to them. So, I would fill out the online app and then call to follow up a couple of days later.

Good luck to everyone![/quote

Not everyone puts their GPA on resumes. There are several different ways a person may do their resumes. In my book a C equals RN.:nurse: Sure a new grad wants to impress the nurse manager.:up: Please new grads do you best clinically on the floor because all nurse gets a ninety day period. I dont want any new grad get discourage about having a high GPA going to get you a job. You are not applying to nursing school. You are trying to make a career and life for you. Just a thought.:)

Specializes in Tele, ICU, ED, Nurse Instructor,.

Im not going to say it is not a shortage in VA. The hospitals are hiring within and taking nursing from other units as transfers. It has to be in the unit budget to hire nurses. The nurses are getting their experience and going to other units. They may not leave the hospital why because if they start over at another facility and that facility have to let go that nurse will be the first to go. It is a process. Whatever is cost effective.

Specializes in CVICU, post op cardiac transplant.

:nurse:I think a big part of it has to do with 4-6 hospitals in the Richmond area are trying to get to Magnet status which changes the look of the quota of RN vs LPN. I have been to quite a few meeting after begging for more nurses and this is the answer we have been given. I was an LPN first so I am an advocate for LPN nursing to help in the nursing shortage but not everyone feels that is the answer.:uhoh3:

Hi Cherry Blonde (and any of the other nurses or students replying to her post),

I am working on a story concerning the lack of nursing jobs in the central Virginia area. I was wondering if any of you are still having a bit of a hard time or know someone who is and would be willing to talk to me. I know this thread is fairly old, but I have to start somewhere. I wish you all the best of luck!

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