Bad Job Market? Be a NURSE! (Insert eye roll here)

Nurses General Nursing

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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.

All these people who go into nursing for money or job stability will absolutely hate their choice with the 12 hour shifts, or the dirty aspects of the job.
Strong words... but ignorant.

I am in nursing primarily for money and job stability. I have no calling nor passion for the job. In my mid-40's I found myself looking for a career which offered much more stability than the one I was in and chose nursing.

Four years in and I still have no calling nor passion for the job. It is... only my job. That said, I won't be leaving for at least another 20 years so my position won't open up for you.

Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
From what I've heard, there's a plethora of positions available once you get your foot in the door.

*** Yes, seriously misinformed. Plenty of good nurses with experience having trouble finding work.

Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
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'.

*** Using travel nurses is no indication of a shortage or much of anything else. Travelers are cheaper than staff in the land run, in particular if the hospital isn't sure on ongoing need. If you believe there is, or has recently been a shortage of nurses you are a victim of propaganda.

Strong words... but ignorant.

I am in nursing primarily for money and job stability. I have no calling nor passion for the job. In my mid-40's I found myself looking for a career which offered much more stability than the one I was in and chose nursing.

Four years in and I still have no calling nor passion for the job. It is... only my job. That said, I won't be leaving for at least another 20 years so my position won't open up for you.

First I was a "cry baby" and "whining", now I am ignorant. I think ignorance is having a stable job and knocking other people for voicing their frustration that they can't seem to find one. That's great for you that you'll have a job you dislike for 20 years. Congrats and best wishes.

Strong words... but ignorant.

I am in nursing primarily for money and job stability. I have no calling nor passion for the job. In my mid-40's I found myself looking for a career which offered much more stability than the one I was in and chose nursing.

Four years in and I still have no calling nor passion for the job. It is... only my job. That said, I won't be leaving for at least another 20 years so my position won't open up for you.

And furthermore - ignorant as I may be, thanks to people like you in the industry, I will flourish in my position when I find one, because I will go the extra mile to make sure my patients know that I am happy to be there with them.

I really wish everyone would lay off on my comment about feeling as if this job is a calling for me. Just as much as you feel you have a right to express it isn't for you, I have a right to express that it is for me.

To each their own, it truly is that simple.

I received notification on passing NCLEX in July... ADN... California... starting a new job soon... got my foot in the door by standing out in school and volunteering.

All the people who didn't stand out in school, didn't volunteer, all jobless.

Gotta go out and get some.

Don't paint all of us without jobs with one brush stroke! I stood out. The nurse managers, staff nurses, UAP and my instructors always gave me great reviews. Several of the NM told me they couldn't wait for me to become licensed so I could work their floor. The staff nurses told me they wanted me to work on their floor and told their NM the same thing. I did volunteer. Guess what NO job for me.

The ONLY ones who've gotten jobs were the ones who were PCT's or techs at the hospitals they got jobs in. How that meets the 'RN experience required" or "1-2 yrs med/surg required' requirments to apply is beyond me. I have worked from a CNA to RN with every job in between. (CNA to pharmacy tech to EMT to LPN to RN) yet I can't get a job because of 1 of 2 reasons, 1. No openings available to hire me for 2. I don' have RN exp.

It's not just about not standing out that leads to joblessness, but a lot of it IS all about who you know ;)

The ones I 'know' would love to hire me, yet they can't. Why? Because there are NO OPEN positions.

Specializes in Emergency Department.

I know we are still hurting for nurses at the hospital where I work. We have residencies for critical care that last 18 weeks. 4.5 years ago, I was one of ten in the ER residency. Now, the residency has 40 new grads/new ER nurses! It's crazy to think about training all these new nurses.

Good luck in your job search! You may need to be open to relocating, if possible.

Specializes in CMSRN.
I know we are still hurting for nurses at the hospital where I work. We have residencies for critical care that last 18 weeks. 4.5 years ago, I was one of ten in the ER residency. Now, the residency has 40 new grads/new ER nurses! It's crazy to think about training all these new nurses.

Good luck in your job search! You may need to be open to relocating, if possible.

The hospitals around me are hiring, it's just a long process and I'm trying to be patient. :-)

Unfortunately relocating is not an option at this time. My husband and I own a home and have for 10 yrs. We have two small children here in school and are near family. Also, given that I don't have a full-time position and haven't for a while, it would be difficult to sell our home, relocate, and pay for bills, loans, etc. If I were single or we had no children, it would certainly be something I would consider more easily.

Specializes in Hospice, Telemetry.

I followed this debate while in nursing school. I graduated in May, got my license in early June, and for six weeks was in the "There Is No Freakin' Nursing Shortage" camp. Then over the next two weeks I had four interviews and ended up with three job offers. While the current situation is obviously tougher than pre-recession times, there are jobs out there. You do have to be pro-active -- when I didn't get a call from the hospital where I did my preceptorship, I called the nurse manager of the department I worked in and asked him if he would put a good word in for me, and he did and I got an interview and a job offer. I also took a CCRN review course at a nearby hospital. Since I am a newbie without a job, I can't even sit for the test, but the two-day class was cheap ($75), and I figured I could meet nurses and network while also getting some good knowledge. The class was great, and better yet, I met a lot of nurses working at the hospital hosting the event, they put me in touch with the recruiter, and we had a good chat. Followed that up the next week, got an interview, then a second, and another job offer. Bottom line -- you can make your own luck.

Specializes in CCRN, ED, Unit Manager.
Don't paint all of us without jobs with one brush stroke! I stood out. The nurse managers, staff nurses, UAP and my instructors always gave me great reviews. Several of the NM told me they couldn't wait for me to become licensed so I could work their floor. The staff nurses told me they wanted me to work on their floor and told their NM the same thing. I did volunteer. Guess what NO job for me.

The ONLY ones who've gotten jobs were the ones who were PCT's or techs at the hospitals they got jobs in. How that meets the 'RN experience required" or "1-2 yrs med/surg required' requirments to apply is beyond me. I have worked from a CNA to RN with every job in between. (CNA to pharmacy tech to EMT to LPN to RN) yet I can't get a job because of 1 of 2 reasons, 1. No openings available to hire me for 2. I don' have RN exp.

It's not just about not standing out that leads to joblessness, but a lot of it IS all about who you know ;)

The ones I 'know' would love to hire me, yet they can't. Why? Because there are NO OPEN positions.

I totally get you, and you WILL get bypassed for current employees because that is what is ethical.

But the only reason I know anyone is because of how I stood out. I'm not painting everyone without jobs with one brush stroke, I'm just saying you gotta go out there and get it because it's difficult and jobs are hard to come by.

Good luck!!

Specializes in CCRN, ED, Unit Manager.
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.

You're awfully easily offended ;-)

And he/she had a point. It's been a month...that's not terribly long. if you have a job within 6 months without knowing people you're doing pretty good, IMHO

Think it depends on the area. I live in Arkansas and lived in Oklahoma. I can tell you, there is PLENTY of jobs here

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