As a RN have you ever had a problem finding a job?

Nurses General Nursing

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I mean anywhere in the USA? And is it true you get to travel?

Specializes in ICU.

In 4 1/2 years I have changed jobs about 6 times and never once had a problem getting hired. But not every nursing job is worth having. Having said that, I'm male (which I have experienced to be a plus), I'm fit, positive and energetic, ICU qualified (with PALS as well as ACLS), and have a lot of cardiac experience. I also like to work nights.

All that adds up to value for the employer.

If I had all kinds of preconditions on when or where I could work, if I had no experience except with medical patients, if I looked slovenly or unprofessional, and if I looked lazy, I might only get hired by the most desperate of places, and I've worked in some of those places when I was a traveler.

I am now trying to get hired at a military base, which is some place I think I would really like to work. The application takes longer, but hopefully in 2-3 weeks I'll be doing shifts. Hopefully, my value as an employee will work out for me.

It is true there is a shortage of bedside staff nurses (and that's all the shortage includes). So, jobs are easier to find as a registered nurse, but value as an employee to the employer always matters if you're going to get to work where you want to work.

Sorry if I sound like I'm pontificating here or acting like I know it all. I don't, and I could be wrong. This is just how it has seemed to be for me.

Oh, and by the way, I have an ADN, and a B.Sc. in Liberal Arts. Having an ADN has never, near as I can tell mattered. One place would have given me a dollar an hour more I think, but it certainly didn't affect the hiring decision. The place I'm applying now doesn't even seem to care, and doesn't pay more one way or another. Having said that, I'm not trying to become a NP or CRNA or a manager. I'd go for an RN-MSN program, but I can't afford it, I don't need it, and the idea of doing clinicals for which I am not getting paid is abhorent to me. A CCRN might be cool. I might look into that, but again, no employer has ever inquired whether or not I had one.

I should become an ACLS instructor. Now, that would gaurantee me a job in just about any hospital I wanted!

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Specializes in Government.

Not sure how many of you were nurses in the early 1990's but there were some geographic areas in the US impossible to find an RN job. Many of us who were employed found our hours cut. I went from 1.0 FTE plus a very well paid internal pool job to .8 FTE and no pool. Sure we didn't lose the house but it was a jolt. No job is recession-proof.

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

I haven't ever had a problem finding a job. I am here in MI, and the economy stinks here, and still no trouble with getting a nursing job.

As others have said you can travel, but you need some experience first.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.
Not sure how many of you were nurses in the early 1990's but there were some geographic areas in the US impossible to find an RN job. Many of us who were employed found our hours cut. I went from 1.0 FTE plus a very well paid internal pool job to .8 FTE and no pool. Sure we didn't lose the house but it was a jolt. No job is recession-proof.

I didn't have a problem then either. But I worked in a busy community hospital just outside one of the largest cities in the country as a staff nurse.

So my answer is no ... I've always has work.

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I've never had a problem finding a job as an RN in three different countries.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatrics.

No, never. I've been hired the same day. I've even been hired over the phone.

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Never had a problem. Though I am a bit more cautious now. Just because they'll hire you in a heart beat doesn't mean it's a good place to work.

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i work in med-surg. i'm having trouble finding an RN job in a non-med-surg field. i hate hate hate it, but that's mostly what hospitals are hiring for. as much as i complained about being a nursing student, i actually would prefer to be back in it (too bad they don't pay you to be a nursing student).

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Specializes in Pediatric Psychiatry, Home Health VNA.

New2block, I live in MA and it took me six months to find a job.

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