I am a brand new nurse (having just passed the NCLEX June 10th) and am still looking for my first job. The job market here isn't completely saturated, I'm just really trying to get in to a hospital rather than a LTCF. What gets me though, is the perpetuation of the nursing shortage myth, which is NOT true anymore.
THIS ARTICLE has the nerve to point out that "nursing positions are plentiful" and encourages people not to go in to a different field, but instead to go in to nursing. Obviously I think people still need to go in to nursing because if people stop, there WILL be another shortage. That doesn't mean that this idea should be continued or that people who don't WANT to be nurses should be getting in to this field just to have a job.
I went back to school at 29 knowing that I wanted to be a nurse and that there was nothing else that was going to make me happy as a career. Yes, I don't have a job yet but I know it will come and that I'm doing the right thing. If this wasn't something I had a calling for, I can't imagine going in to nursing given all of the things nurses deal with on a daily basis. I know this is talked about all the time but this article really got under my skin. Be a nurse for the right reasons, not because anthropology has a bad job outlook.
No offense but you just passed the NCLEX a month ago so when it becomes 6 months without having found a job you can complain. I agree though I laugh when I hear this "there are going to be a huge shortages of nurses in a few years" and "there is a huge job market." Yeah right. It is better than many fields right now and everyone I know have a job within a couple months of graduating nursing school but the demand isn't as big as the hype. Most of the hype comes from baby boomers retiring. I laugh even more at that. I mean who are going to take care of these retired boomers? CNAs in nursing homes supervised by a couple ADNs so I wouldn't expect a crisis of shortages(especially given the sky rocketed popularity of this major since everyone found out about the "demand."). Nonetheless, here I am in nursing school. I'll just cross my fingers and keep my nose in the books.[/quote']
No offense but you're still a student and when you've passed the NCLEX you can talk. Hhmmm. Yep, that was just as inappropriate as your comment to me.
To be clear, I wasn't complaining. I specifically stated I was being patient and looking to get in to acute care. If I wanted to work at an ECF I could probably walk in and start next week. The entire point was that these article perpetuating the NURSE SHORTAGE myth are still out there and it's annoying.
I read on yahoo.com the other day that the RN unemployment rate is 4%. Seriously?? I am part of 4%. When reading posts here, I don't know how this could possibly be true...
Calm down, tiger. Can't take a joke? And I already have passed the NCLEX for ADN last year.
It wasn't phrased or stated as a joke, it was offensive. I was not complaining and that's where you went with it. I try not to be rude or take offense easily but your comment was unnecessary.
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
We're talking about trends here. When we're dealing with numbers in the tens of thousands (new grads over the last few years) it would make no sense to say that no new grads get jobs. Of course they do. In fact, I would not tell someone to abandon their dream of nursing or to quit nursing school. Only you know you. Try to maximize what you have in your case - whether it be volunteer work, CNA work, networking, getting involved in student nurse associations and carefully research your desired specialty and the geographic location you will be working in.
We don't want to crush people's dreams. We want you to have as much knowledge as you can about the job market as soon as you can so you can course correct and fine tune rather than deal with the aftermath of having reality hit you hard after you spent all that money and time to become a nurse.
Nursing schools have been popping up left and right across the country all tell potential students that there is a shortage for nurses right now. But all they're trying to do is fill their student quota per program year and get you to pass the NCLEX. They get more funding, basically. It's all a business, folks. But of course, you have those professors who do acknowledge there is a tough market right now. The finger can be pointed at the media as well for saying there's a shortage. All of this has to stop. But this starts with us - the nurses.
This is why I kindly discourage those bad cookies who wanted to go into nursing for all the wrong reasons. I can tell who would make a good nurse from the bad nurses as I get to know them. I tell them the truth about the job market for nurses, how competitive it is for a job, the horrors of nursing school, and so on. 99% of the time, they start to reconsider. It works! By doing this, I am helping the real folks out who really want to be nurses. Because the ones who don't care what I say and believe in their heart that they can be a nurse deserve to be one. So by "weeding" out those folks who go in for the wrong reasons, I am helping new grads out by lessening the competition while putting in little by little more effective, hard working and passionate nurses in.
Yeah, I'm crazy but I don't care. You just don't sweet talk lazy, money-eyeing folks to go into nursing. We're getting the wrong type of people I never thought imagined could go into nursing. And I'm known to be lenient and open minded. That's saying something!
Check the post in Travel Nursing ('Why do hospitals use travel nurses'), and you'll be as amazed as I am to find out that the nursing shortage IS real. Sometimes you just have to wonder what news is real, and when we are just being 'had'.
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
Check the post in Travel Nursing ('Why do hospitals use travel nurses'), and you'll be as amazed as I am to find out that the nursing shortage IS real. Sometimes you just have to wonder what news is real, and when we are just being 'had'.
None of the posts there pertain to a general nursing shortage and the person who said there is an underlying nursing shortage in California is just plain wrong.
I'm assuming that by "traveler" you mean nurses already licensed in the US as opposed to importing foreign-trained nurses. That I do not understand.
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Check the post in Travel Nursing ('Why do hospitals use travel nurses'), and you'll be as amazed as I am to find out that the nursing shortage IS real. Sometimes you just have to wonder what news is real, and when we are just being 'had'.
As a manager I will tell you that many hospitals utilize travelers to "fill in gaps" in staffing patterns and census fluctuations.... as a cheap alternative to actually hiring staff. Especially with seasonal residents ....ie: Florida and tourists/snow birds.
Hiring an employee with benefits, unemployment, workers comp, training costs is expensive. There are nurses to hire but they choose not to have permanent staff.
While there are under served areas of the country and facilities that truly have staffing gaps that can't be filled.....doesn't equate to a "nursing shortage". Mnay nurses here remember $10-20,000.00 sign on bonuses, relocation assistance, loan forgiveness programs, 3 ring binder's full of RN needs alone. Every hospital had new grad orientations/residencies.
This is no longer the case.
You are fortunate that you are successful in finding abundant work....I wish you safe travels.
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Calm down, tiger. Can't take a joke? And I already have passed the NCLEX for ADN last year.
didn't you state in your post.....
Nonetheless, here I am in nursing school. I'll just cross my fingers and keep my nose in the books.
I think "we" all need to recognize that each individuals experience will vary.....but "The Nursing Shortage" that started all the hype....does not exist.
Those retirement boomers...can't retire because they lost their behinds when the stock market crashed.
Those stay at home Mom's can't stay home because their SO got laid off and can't find work.
That 47% of all college grads that can't find work are drawn, like moths to a light, to the accelerated entry programs...because lets be honest nursing is a good bang for your buck...have flooded the market....that can't suport them with positions.
Mandatory staff ratios didn't happen and probably ....in the "short term" won't happen.
Hospitals are cutting staffing levels ...doing more with less to keep the CEOs 6 figure yearly bonus.
However......I believe the shortage will return...when the economy returns because lets be honest...nursing is a tough job and many who flocked to nursing will leave when the gettins good....they always do. Probably around 2020-2025 because this has happened to nursing once before (although not to this degree) and probably will happen again.
Hey Swellz. Where are you from? I am from Memphis and when I search jobs I see a plethora of jobs open! There is even a hosptial that has several opennings that come with a 10k bonus! But they all want an RN with 1-3yrs experience.
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Just because jobs are listed...does not mean they are actually hiring. Many hospitals are "actively interviewing" but have hiring freezes in place. Yes .....there is a "NEED" for experienced nurses ...however the does NOT mean there is a shortage of nurses over all......and yes there is something to say for location.
BloomNurseRN, ASN, BSN, RN
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