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?

So, I graduated in Dec '08 and my class was worried as well about the economy, but honestly it depends a lot on where you are looking/area to work in. There are lot's of jobs out there, tons once you get your foot in the door.. but a lot of hospitals are not taking on new grads because of the cost of precepting, economy, change in healthcare etc... But all the students from my class and the may of '09 class have gotten jobs. I ended up going out of state, and several others did as well, but I work in one of the top hospitals in the nation - ICU and we are still hiring new grads as of this month. The economy is always going to flip flop, by the time you finish nursing school it could be a totally different arena, so if it is really your calling then I would go ahead and go to school.. the money is stable, you'll always have a job (once you get one), and there is so many different avenues you can take with it, just do it.

Good Luck!

Thanks that was encouraging to hear.

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Jobs are slim to none in Columbus, Ohio. To many nursing schools the market is saturated!

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Jobs are slim to none in Columbus, Ohio. To many nursing schools the market is saturated!

Jobs are slim to none in Ohio in general. I just moved out of Ohio to the DC area after 5 years of living and going to school there. Graduated in May, just got a job as new grad RN in DC.

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I am a December 09 graduate and FINALLY landed a job that will begin next week! During my last semester I applied to jobs that I preferred, to no avail, not one interview. During the second round of GN opportunities, I applied to every GN position except labor and delivery and had one interview. I left that interview knowing that was not where I belonged - it just didn't feel right and I was not selected. A third round of GN opportunities from one hospital chain in this metroplex area came a month later and I was fortunate enough to get an interview. The recruiter said there were thousands of applicants, 20 interviews and 9 to be selected. Again, I did not receive an offer. I was mortified because I left that interview with great regard for the hospital, its faculty, and the team I hoped to become a part of. I wanted to contact the manager and question why however I was advised by my better half to accept it and to continue my journey towards a job. A little over a week later I received a call and another GN position became available and I was number 10. I am so thrilled, honored, and excited to begin my journey as an RN, yet nervous and scared!

My advice:

1. Make sure your resume is correctly written. John Hopkins Nursing Career Center has a terrific website to assist graduate nurses in preparing their "career notebook", resume, and tips for interviewing.

2. If you get an interview, follow up within 24 hours with a thank you note.

3. Don't be afraid of networking, several in this chain of comments recommended it - it's good advice, I did it too!

I too am a second career nurse! After raising my children I began college and nursing was the ONLY thing I wanted to do. I, like most nurses am a natural caretaker and I get fulfillment in every part of my being taking care of others. Nursing school was the hardest thing I ever did in my life and the most nerve racking was the NCLEX! But I persevered and if you have the same desire in your spirit to become a nurse, go for it...

Yes, being a GN is hard and jobs aren't as available as they once were for a multitude of reasons, however its not impossible. Good Luck to all of you and keep the faith in yourself. You may not get the dream job right away but after a year of experience, you'll probably get the opportunity to get it!:yeah:

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robi-d may I ask where you live? so you waited over a year before landing the job?

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I did all of the above and still hasn't gotten a job. This is so frustrating.

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Jobs are slim to none in Ohio in general. I just moved out of Ohio to the DC area after 5 years of living and going to school there. Graduated in May, just got a job as new grad RN in DC.

Congrats on your job, hope you like it!

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The answer to the question, at least in the Phila area, is a resounding "Yes".

My graduating class (AAS - May 2010) was told that more than 50% of the 2009 class still had not found jobs. My entirely unscientific survey of the reasons include:

- a glut of nursing students (there are a ton of nursing schools and probably more nursing grads in the Phila area than anywhere else in the country)

- more selectivity on the part of employers (who have a large candidate pools and can now demand a BSN and significant health care experience as their entry level credentials)

- slack demand for nurses (as many older nurses postpone their retirement due to the poor economy and decimated 401k's)

- less demand by hospitals who increase nursing patient loads rather than hire staff (it was not uncommon for nurses to have 6, 7 or more patients at some of the hospitals that I did my clinical rotations in)

I also believe that starting salaries for new grads have declined substantially in the Phila area (they now seem to be at rough parity with new teachers - mid $40's at hospitals, about 15% or so less in nursing homes).

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Chuckster, I am a Philly-area new grad with a BSN. Hospitals just aren't hiring. Period. So you're not alone, at least. :)

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in California, YUP. Bigtime, yup.

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Specializes in NICU.

I went on a job interview a few days ago. Part way through the interview, one of the managers interviewing me happened to mention that there were hundreds of applicants for the job I applied for, and while she was pleased, she was also dismayed. Then she looked me straight in the eye, and with a tone of total shock and dismay she asked me: "Did you know the hospitals aren't hiring new nurses right now??".

I chuckled a little and told her I was aware. She went on and on about how she simply couldn't believe it, and how the hospitals were so wrong, and how they were shooting themselves in the foot because in a few years they wouldn't have any nurses to hire because of the practice, and everyone has to start somewhere, and med-surg should be welcoming new nurses with open arms.....she went on and on.

I seriously wanted to give her a huge hug.

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I went on a job interview a few days ago. Part way through the interview, one of the managers interviewing me happened to mention that there were hundreds of applicants for the job I applied for, and while she was pleased, she was also dismayed. Then she looked me straight in the eye, and with a tone of total shock and dismay she asked me: "Did you know the hospitals aren't hiring new nurses right now??".

I chuckled a little and told her I was aware. She went on and on about how she simply couldn't believe it, and how the hospitals were so wrong, and how they were shooting themselves in the foot because in a few years they wouldn't have any nurses to hire because of the practice, and everyone has to start somewhere, and med-surg should be welcoming new nurses with open arms.....she went on and on.

I seriously wanted to give her a huge hug.

What really bothers me is that nursing schools are not being upfront with students. My alma mater just took in a huge cohort to their 2-year program. Maybe things will be better in two years. Maybe. But I am betting that most of those students are unaware of how bad the job market is, and unaware of the backlog of already-licensed new grads that are trying to get jobs. :eek:

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