Are nurses really high in demand?

Nurses General Nursing

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What about in California? Why is it that many ADN RN's find it difficult to find a job as an RN? I would love to get my BSN, but I just don't know how I can afford to get a BSN at the moment. State schools are so impacted and competitive. Private universities are waaaay too expensive. So my only choice to go for my ADN. But now I'm having second thoughts after reading on this forum about how many people couldn't find jobs as an RN with an ADN since most hospitals require a BSN. I really want to be an RN, always have and always will. Any advice, guys?

I spent the whole year of my ABSN program stressed and depressed thinking that I would never find a job after graduation.. I read post after post on this forum about the impossibility of finding a job as a new grad. Well, I had 3 offers before graduation, and I will be starting at my first choice hospital this month. I haven't heard of any of my classmates having difficulty finding work either.

New grads are finding jobs, although it probably depends where you are. If nursing is what you want to do, do it. And have faith that you will be impressive enough to sell yourself successfully to a hospital after graduation. Good luck.

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Specializes in oncology/BMT & nursing education.

Yes they are!!!

However, new grads have been running into trouble finding jobs the past few years. First of all, this started when the economy started to crumble and retirement funds went haywire - so many RN's decided to work a few more years before retirement. Between 2007 and 2008, there was a "mass" influx of new graduates into the profesion. Now with the finanical situation that most hospitals are in, many do not want to hire new grads because they generally do not stay in their first position long or they go through orientation and fail NCLEX. It really comes down to the $$$ - especially since experienced RN's need much less orientation than a newbie.

My advice: go through with your nursing education! This is a wonderful profession with many doors and career paths. You may, as previous posters have said, have to work in home care or LTC before you can get into the hospital. THAT IS FINE!!! Honestly, I worked in the acute care setting for 3 years and became burnt out before I went to an oncology office.

Also - if you have a facility such as Health South or long-term acute care (AKA LTAC) such as LifeCare or Kindred, many hospital will consider that "acute care" experience because of the acuity at these places.

I do know that one of my former students was set on working in pediatrics and she was unable to find a job in the big pediatric hospital in our area after graduation. She was able to find work in a pediatric rehabilitation center and stayed there for 2 years before going to the pediatric trauma ICU at this big pediatric hospital - so the experience definitely helped!

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Specializes in FNP.

I wouldn't go into nursing right now if I needed to work for pay. I would if I could afford to volunteer only. The pendulum may swing again, but until health care reform and the impending doom sorts itself out, I don't think anyone knows what to expect. All the data about aging baby boomers is true, but those boomers are not going to get nursing care even if they need it because no one can afford to pay for it. It is that simple. So no, unless you are aware that your geographic area has a demand, I wouldn't recommend it.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.

IN NC, my home town anyway, there is a huge nursing shortage. Be warned though, the specialty areas are only taking BSN's... like ICU and tele. The A.A.S nurses are hired onto the floor positions. You will NOT have your choice of areas and nursing homes, vent dependent units and the like will hire you. It's tough to pick and choose on graduation, but with a few years of working on a floor, nurses are more mobile, marketable and have better options. This is the only difference in my area. Three years ago, you could have walked into the ICU, NICU or specials. Now you have to work up to your preferences.

The nursing jobs are still there, new nurses haven't accepted that there are jobs, but fewer choices with an A.A.S. Keep in mind though, many areas, or states like California that have a top heavy Bachelor's prepared group WILL most likely get chosen first, but you still have employment options, just not ideal and high paying ones.

I was lucky enough to get in the ICU 16 years ago with an Associates degree, when I left it this year, I was one of two nurses that didn't have a Bachelors, so there is your trend.

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Specializes in ED.

If I were to start nursing school right now I would:

1) BSN not ADN: hospital just prefer it. In Southern California alot of hospital are trying to go magnet so they only want BSN. I've heard North Dakota and Texas are hiring.

2) Get a unit secretary job while going to school. Hospital want to hire people they know (responsible, show up on time, common sense, lack of whining) and people who know their system (computer system, MDs, how to call when something breaks and charting system). So if you are going to get a ADN, find a unit secretary at a hospital that hires ADN.

3) in 2-4 years hopefully things will change but right now BSN and/or acute experience are the things that will put you in demand.

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Specializes in SICU, MICU, CCU.

You have to open yourself up to the possibility of relocating for school or a job. Maybe to a big city maybe to a smaller city or even a small town. Expect to log lots of hours devising a great resume, researching jobs and applying to jobs.

I have a friend who found a great hospital willing to train her for ICU, decent starting pay and pretty good bennies( 100% tuition payment for BSN or MSN) However, she searched for that job for 6 months, everyday, hours at a time in front of the computer.

Trust me, we will need you and the other tough new grads who will be looking foe jobs in a few years. When the older (and I'm sure tired.. Lord knows I am!) nurses decide to leave this profession they probably will in droves. On our unit alone, 12 nurses will qualify for retirement in the next 5-7 years: 3 of them have submitted their papers for next year.

I attended a IOM lecture( Institute of Medicine: Future of Nursing 2010) recently where they were discussing the innovative ways some schools are allowing ADN students to earn their BSN. The students finish ADN coursework and then immediately study for their BSN..At the same school. I believe the state of Arizona and New Mexico are doing this. Look into that as well.

You will never regret chasing your dreams my friend. Go for it!

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How does a new grad get experience?

That's the million dollar question.

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The hospitals would much rather pay new grad rate-of-pay than what they have to pay say some nurse who has been an RN for 16 years.

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By the way, what do new grads start out earning now?

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Specializes in Med-Surg, ER.

Move to St. Louis...plenty of new grad jobs here in hospitals.

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Nurses are soo not in demand.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, ER.
Nurses are soo not in demand.

It really depends on where you look. Everyone in my class had jobs waiting for them (me included) when we graduated last August. When I ask other newer grad nurses I work with about their classmates' job findings, they also said everyone had a job within 1 month of graduation.

I know that new grads have NO luck in CA, just from what I've heard from my friends who lives there.

So, I suggest that new grads be open to relocating to higher demand areas if they are set on hospital jobs & not in an area that hires new grads. Several of the new grads I work with actually moved here from out of state because of the better nursing job market.

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