Are nursing grads still having a hard time finding jobs?

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I was considering earning a degree in nursing and even took some pre-reqs and did well in them. I wanted to become a pediatric nurse and eventually become a CPNP, but last year when the economy tanked nursing grads were having a really hard time finding jobs. Also I know a lot of schools are graduating nurses, so I hear there is an excess of nurses out there. So I decided not to do nursing and I'am having second thoughts and thinking that maybe I want to apply for nursing school. Are you all still having a hard time finding jobs? Has the school you went to or the type of degree (ADN or BSN) you have affected your job search? Do any of you think there are too many nurses out there and not enough jobs to go around?

Specializes in CCRN, House Sup, CCT, Unit Director, ICU.

We aren't hiring right now. I happened to call right before someone retired and they had not posted the position yet.

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Specializes in Telemetry.

Can Someone give me a job please? I am so tired...I walk in the sun just to get a job and to no avail. I have spent so much on gas to find jobs. Lord where are you....:crying2::crying2::crying2:

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The real issue I think people are having is that they entered nursing school with the idea that there are many jobs and that nursing was promoted as the biggest in demand profession expected for the next 20 years. As I mentioned in a previous post that is a bunch of crap. Many people chose nursing because of a combination of liking to help people, good pay, and job security with limitless options as far as practice types. As with everythingelse the economy is a factor, but it's not the only factor. Right now there are literally hundreds if not thousands of RN and BSN nursing programs across the country from community college, hospital based programs, university based schools, 2nd degree BSN programs etc... if you think about it if each school turned out only 20 students which for many of these programs, they turn out more than that, plus have multiple classes graduated per year ie) spring and fall my guess is at least 20,000 new RN's are graduating nation wide each year and I bet that is a low figure to boot. Now couple that with all the nurses who left nursing because of low pay, better opportunities in other fields, or retired but are now re-entering the job market due to the poor economy, which will not turn around to the way it was before for at least 3-4 years, if even then. Then look at hospitals, they are businesses, with money as there main concern to either stay in business or make a profit. The reality is and I am in a nursing program myself is that nursing is not going to be a fun place to be, now and in the future. Sure, some new grads are getting jobs in the remaining giant metropolis's such a NYC, Phily, but they will soon fill up too with many new grads still being pumped out the door. Hopefully, you may find a job, but don't expect great pay, not that nursing paid well to begin with. Having to live in NYC on a nurses salary is like living on a poverty wage and having to work your butt off to boot.

Making 30 bucks/hour in a big city is chicken feed, maybe elsewhere it would be nice, but not the big city.

I am a second career nursing student that fell for the bait of nursing being in such big demand, you can move anywhere after you graduate, make great money, with limitless opportunities for advancement. As I was told recenlty by a nurse, "there is not shortage of nurses, just nurses who want to remain in the field". I now believe this to be true. If you trully love nursing, know the facts about being a nurse, not what you hear. The future of nursing is going to be even harder that it already is, with too much competition for jobs, low wage, exploitation, and as I have seen in my clinicals, the old saying "nurses eat there young". If you have other options in life, go for it. I am going to finish my nursing program only because I am a semester away from being done, but I am definetly keeping my options open to enter a different field.

All the caring to help people in the world desn't make for all the hassles of being a nurse and now having to beg to even get a job as one?

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This is depressing. So, what do you all think is the average % of the graduating class that are finding full time employment soon after graduation? Is it 10%, 25%, 50%?

If someone tells me that only 50% found jobs, I'd say be darned sure you're not in the bottom 50% of the class, that you don't have visible tattoos and piercings, you have a seriously professional and clean-cut appearance, and you get along well with classmates and instructors, because everything is all about "teams" nowadays. And conservative never goes out of style.

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Specializes in med surg.

50% sounds overly optimistic. I am postitive, but in my class that graduated last December, I would estimate that out of 40 students, perhaps 10 of us have found employment as RNs. I am in southern California though.

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50% sounds overly optimistic. I am postitive, but in my class that graduated last December, I would estimate that out of 40 students, perhaps 10 of us have found employment as RNs. I am in southern California though.

What school did you graduate from, if you don't mind?

I am either going to Cypress or Golden west soon. I think I would be willing to move just to get my first job as an RN, there's definitely no shortage in orange county.

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First of all, applying to nursing school is a process on it's own, since you apply months in advance - obviously, you may or may not get accepted. I say go ahead and submit your application to your nursing school of choice - then if they send you an acceptance letter, you can finally make your decision to start the program or not. Keep in mind that you'll be a student for 2 whole years, and things may/may not get better. As nursing grad, I can tell you from experience that people who got jobs made CONNECTIONS during school,..they volunteered at the hospitals they wanted to work at...many worked as PCAs or unit clerks...and that got their foot in the door - meaning they spoke with managers and asked the important question, "What do I need to do to get a job here after a graduate?" Some managers will tell you from very early on that your GPA has to be so and so high..which is good..cuz then you can work on your GPA early in the game...etc,etc. The most important thing is to meet a manager on some floor in the hospital you have clinicals, volunteer or work... :)

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Just to clarify, I don't know which college I'll attend because I've been accepted next jan and I'm an alternate for august at another school. Of course if I get in this fall I'll take it.

Yes I will try to make a great impression to those in my clinicals, thank you for the tip;)

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WOW! Not sure what to think after all that. I don't think anyone should expect to just "get" a job in any filed whether the economy is good or bad. You must go into this field or any other with the mind set of working hard in school, paying your dues, and thinking long term. I'm a 38 year old single father of two kids out of high school who has been in construction his whole life. Our job market has suffered greatly over the last 2-3 years and I want a career change that is more stable. Is that nursing? Nothing seems to be too stable like we all have said. As I decided it was time for a career change based on several factors, I found myself wanting to work directly with people, make a decent living, and get into something I could do as I was much older. Nursing seemed like a great choice. I've heard several times being a male is a plus in the nursing field. So I'm sure it's not gonna be a free hand out at the end. But I think it's more important to do what you like, like what you do in this life. Money truly isn't everything we all know. I welcome any and all comments as I start classes in august with nursing school 2-3 years away.......Best of Luck to all of you!

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Specializes in I/DD.

My two cents... getting a job as a nurse right now is not as easy as it used to be, you can't just walk in to a hospital and expect to get hired. But your chances of getting a job as a nurse are definitely greater than your chances of getting a job in most other fields that I can think of. But it all depends on where you live as well. I live in a city with two large hospitals and three smaller hospitals. I only interviewed at two jobs and got offered a job on the spot from the second hospital (!). I graduated in a class of 32 students and by graduation weekend the only person who did not have a job lined up hadn't started looking yet. I don't know what the statistics are for other nursing schools in my area (there are several and most of them are bigger than mine), but my impression is that my area still has a nursing shortage.

For people deciding whether they should start nursing school, I would say if you only become a nurse for a paycheck then you will probably hate your job if you can even make it through nursing school. Personally, I never would have graduated if I didn't love what I was doing. But if you can't invest in school unless you know that you will get a job for financial reasons etc., ask the school you are looking at how many of their graduate nurses have gotten jobs, find out from local hospitals what their hiring trends are right now. Also I know that in other fields that when people hear there is a surplus, they stop going to school for that career. Then in a few years there is a shortage, so more people go to school which results in another surplus. Don't know if that applies to nursing since it can take 1 year or 4 to complete your education, but its just a thought.

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Specializes in Urology, Liver Transplant, Tele.

If you are wanting to get a degree in nursing I would go for it. Nurses are having a hard time getting jobs right out of school but they are still having more luck than most of my friends that got other degrees. I have friends that are engineers and buisness majors and they cant find jobs either. If it is what you want to do I would go for it- just keep in mind that you need to make good connections with people and that you may need to relocate in order to find a new grad job. I just graduated in May 2010 and I applied all over the country and ended up getting a job in Knoxville TN before I even took my NCLEX. Some states are hiring more than others. IF you can't relocate I would try to get a job in a hospital that you like while your in nursing school or really try to make good connections with management while your in school. It can be done it's just not as easy as it used to be. You have to be more open to whatever is available. It used to be you just picked your hours and speciality and you were set.

Good Luck!

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Don't be in awe... I just graduated from a BSN program in May... and same with me just about my whole class has jobs! like 96%.... and were working all over... NYC (NYU Critical Care, Oncology, Med Surg, Presby OB, Montefiore Peds Onco) Jersey (in a whole plethora of places), CT (Stamford, Yale, etc), Washington DC (Georgetown (Speciality Surgery, Peds Transplant Unit Children's NICU), CA UCLA (SICU) Philadelphia (Hosp of Univ of PA on OB/LD CHOP PICU)... the list goes on... none of us settled were working in some of the best hospitals across the country in some of the most exciting places to live across the country and were all on specialty units!

Thats great, Im definitely going back to school to get my BSN. Congrats! Thats good to hear.

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