Are job seekers self-limiting job opportunities?

caliotter3 · May 2, 2012

In my area even LTC facilities do not hire. The jobs that used to go lacking, are now sought after by those desperate to find anything in health care. But, if you're going to be unemployed anyway, no reason why you can't limit your efforts to the area(s) that interest you.

tt11 · May 2, 2012

Seems there are a lot of LTC/nursing home type positions available in my state, but many new grads are holding out for hospital jobs. So would it be safe to say that yes, there are an abundance of nursing positions available, just not at the hospitals? Or is it true that jobs are truly that difficult to find?

I would say that if you are in NJ, that's not true - the RN job market in NJ is tight. I am a new grad and have technically applied everywhere.

In fact, I prefer the LTC because of my difficulty with childcare. However, the only call I got from an LTC was ridiculous as regards to pay (I worked as a CNA in a hospital before my RN license and the pay offered was about $4 more than my previous CNA position!). They also wanted me to sign a contract that I would stay 3 years otherwise I would have to pay back a couple thousands of dollars. I had to decline this offer for the reasons above.

Other jobs outside the hospital - homecare, outpatient centers and schools want you to have acute care experience. So I think it depends on where you are. Jobs for new grads are hard to find in my area.

anotherone, BSN, RN · May 2, 2012

Seems there are a lot of LTC/nursing home type positions available in my state, but many new grads are holding out for hospital jobs. So would it be safe to say that yes, there are an abundance of nursing positions available, just not at the hospitals? Or is it true that jobs are truly that difficult to find?

When I was a new grad some hospitals were hiring new grads. NO LTC/nursing homes were. They all said Experience a must and some wanted only experience in LTC and would mention that not acute care or other setting.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · May 2, 2012

Thanks for the replies. There are a lot of LTC/Rehab/Nursing home facilities hiring in my state and the pay is comparable with many local hospitals, and in some cases, they pay more than hospitals. While I would love to work in critical care; as a new grad, I am more concerned about gaining nursing experience.

Be wary of LTC that pays more than acute care unless it is a LTAC. When LTC pays more that ahospital there is usually a good reason for it and it's not a good one.

babynurse428 · May 2, 2012

I have to say that it is a little of both. Although I have been looking for a job as a full time RN for over two years, part of my problem is finding a job that I can do as I have a spinal cord injury and nerve impingement in my neck and that comes with a 15lb. weight lift restriction. I have 30 years of experience in NICU and peds but no one wants you unless you have 3-5 years of experience and the hospitals are getting picky as they have put out a requirement on the positions as "you must be able to lift 50 pounds" regardless of the fact that you won't ever pick up more than the weight of a pencil. I am assuming that it is to keep health care cheap for their employees. It weeds out all those with issues. My friend needed a job so bad that she went anyway. They made her lift a 50 pound box in human resources and walk it across the room and place it on the floor with correct body mechanics. I could never have done that without injuring myself. She wonders how she didn't hurt herself as she has a bad lower back. I can't get anyone interested in me to even give me a shot at a desk job. I tried for unemployment and they said because they felt I could do a desk job, that I did not qualify. I agree with them. I want a job more than anything! The bad part is I was injured on the job after I was attacked by a patient. It happened before there eres MRI's so they had no idea how severely I was injured. In one split second my career was changed forever. I have no savings left. I live with my father because I have no income. Nursing abuses us and then turns their backs on us. Get whatever experience you can! It could be invaluable in the future! And take your education to as high as you can go. That's important too!! Good luck!!

2bgoodnow · May 3, 2012

Seems there are a lot of LTC/nursing home type positions available in my state, but many new grads are holding out for hospital jobs. So would it be safe to say that yes, there are an abundance of nursing positions available, just not at the hospitals? Or is it true that jobs are truly that difficult to find?

It is very uncommon for new grads to aim for hospital jobs, but very few are so fortunate in getting hired for New Grad position. Some new grads stay around unemployed for awhile even if they make their doors wide open, but their windows are closed. Yes, nursing job is difficult to find if you are picky.

I agree that LTC experience doesn't count if you are aiming for acute care job. While hospital position is currently not possible, I would consider LTC if that's the only nursing job available at this time. After all, it is also a "nursing job" that gives you continuous experience in direct patient care. Who knows, you may find your niche there one day.

Many of our new grads nowadays have no clue what Ambulatory Care Nursing is, which is also considered as a specialty. Their mind is set to getting a hospital job thinking that it is the only way to get their field of specialty.

Rags2Riches RN · May 3, 2012

It could be a combination of things. I'm currently employed but I'll tell you after not getting callbacks from hospitals 2 - 3 months after graduating I turned my attention to nursing homes...and guess what? Didn't get callbacks from them either. Plus some LTC position require that magical 1 year of experience. Believe it or not in some areas even LTC jobs are hard to come by for new nurses.

TamaraKae · May 3, 2012

So funny, I took a job in LTC about a year after I graduated. Then left for a hospital medical unit. After 4-5 months, I hated that med unit so much, I tried to quit, was offered per diem (4 shifts a month) and am now back at the LTC job (GLADLY!!) per diem with my 4 supplemental hospital shifts and NO MORE.
I have no idea why any nurse wants to work in a hospital so badly. Is it some kind of nurse status thing? It's awful. I worked in hospitals for years in another discipline and it was absolutely fine- I liked it very much- but nursing? Talk about slave labor! I'll take the nursing home any day! I get to TALK to my patients and take care of them. Imagine that! No running around a mile a minute worrying about making sure all of my BS charting is done and fixing doc orders just to get started with my day.
What I'm noticing is that it's the really young nurses who are doing all of this hospital work. As they load more and more patients on us and stick us with more responsibility, the older nurses are getting out or working per diem. And I think it makes sense. Only a mid-twenty-something who hasn't worked very long (at anything) would do this stuff. No thanks!

I TOTALLY agree!! When I graduated, I worked in 2 hospitals.....one in medsurg...the other a medsurg float in medsurg, adult surgery, surgical specialty, oncology, pulmonary, orthopedics, neurology, rehabilitation, etc. I got some good experience....that's what I felt I needed to do. Then I took a position in LTC. I am sooooo much happier. AND I make the same wages as the hospitals paid. THere is a common misconception that nursing homes dn't offer real nursing care. Well I do the exact things I did in the hospitals......wound care, G-tubes, PICC lines, IV's.....and not the stress found at hospitals. LTC is the best kept secret!!!!

MN-Nurse, ASN, RN · May 4, 2012

So would it be safe to say that yes, there are an abundance of nursing positions available, just not at the hospitals? Or is it true that jobs are truly that difficult to find?

Depends on the area. But in my region (Twin Cities, MN), there is an abundance of non-hospital RN jobs. Full Time, Part Time, Per Diem, Temporary....

ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP · May 4, 2012

I remember getting into it with a new grad who refused a position paying 40k/yr because all of her other new grad friends got jobs making 60k. She was pretty entitled.

jtmarcy12, BSN, RN · May 4, 2012

Blessings to you all, have you all considered moving to other states, I have a friend who lives in Atlanta and her hospital is hiring. it is the hospital that delivers the greatest amount of births ( I can't think of the name of the hospital). but check it out.