Considering nursing but hearing Philly market is lacking jobs.True or False? Help!

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Hi All,

I am currently a certified pharmacy technician in the Philadelphia Area. I have been working on a AS degree in Science less than half time while working full time. I have been torn between Pharmacy school(PharmD) and Nursing (Transfering to a BSN then pursing an Mental Health NP degree) for a long time, however several years have passed and I realize that I need to make a descison soon. I am thinkning about going back to school full time and I feel that Nursing better suites me, I love helping and caring for others, I want to make a difference in peoples lives. Pharmacy will never give me that, there is no real patient care involved and being an adult student is a huge disadvantage for that path.

So I am just starting to research Nursing, I am asking questions and looking into programs as anyone would but I am starting to become discouraged after talking to several Aria Health Nursing students who informed me that the Philly and Tri-State aera are over saturated and they are not getting jobs right out school. Some are moving out of state to find work! So here are my questions to start:

  • Can someone tell me if this is the case for everyone in my area?
  • Is the Nursing shortage a myth in PA,NJ and NY?
  • Are there any programs that gurantee or help you get jobs?

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Here's the thing with nursing- most new grads can't find jobs because they have no experience. Most employers want you to have 1-2 years of experience. So take an area like Philly that's close to South Jersey, Trenton, Delaware.. and you get LOTS of new grads applying for the same jobs. Not everyone is going to get a job.

We just left the South Jersey area (my husband is military) and it was hard finding a job there and when we moved. But this wasn't unique to nursing, this is everywhere and every field.

I don't think there are programs that gurantee you a job. At most, choose a great school and take it from there. I'm in an LPN program and their stats say 68% of graduates found jobs in 3 months. That was 2011 stats. I can only imagine 2012. The thing is.. if you want to be a nurse, be a nurse. Will you have a job on graduation day? Probably not. But there are few careers you can pick now that gurantee you'll have a job on graduation day. It's just a fact of life. Do well in school. Stand out in clinicals. Be open to working at places people don't want to work. But definately don't let the fear of so and so get you down. You have bills to pay, I get it. But it's hard out there.

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I agree, it is hard out there now. I have several friends that are having a tough time finding jobs in general but my friends in healthcare have been doing pretty well in the area. I think I was just shocked to hear that Nursing wasn't as bulletproof as everyone makes it seem.

It's just a little scary because at the moment I am trying to do the right thing and research the heck out of what I want to do, which is leading me to positive and negative feedback. I usually go with my gut and follow my heart so I have to make some big , bold decisions quickly. Quitting my job to go back to school is easier said than done so I need all the information and advice I can get, thanks for your response.

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU.

I'm starting an accelerated BSN-MSN program at Jefferson in Philly this September and I do have the same concerns about not being able to find a job in the area when I graduate. When I went to an open house at Jefferson back in March, a few professors and admissions counselors told us that getting a minimum of a BSN is the only way you can really secure a job in the Tri-State area. However, every school loves to promote their own programs, so I really don't put much stock into that statement. I have heard that Jefferson Hospital is very good to Jefferson graduates, so I'm really hoping I'll be able to get a job come May/June 2014. I guess we all just have to take risks in life sometimes when we are passionate about doing something. Hopefully it will pay off for all of us in the end!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Nursing jobs outlook is pretty much in the dumper right now. Maybe this will even out in a few years, as the word gets out and people stop the stampede to nursing schools. I just recently read that 36% of 2011 nursing grads still don't have jobs... this is a national average, so some areas are better, but many are worse.

Healthcare in the US is in turmoil. As reimbursement rates drop (slashed by congress to make up for spending in other areas), hospitals will continue to cut RN jobs just to stay afloat. Hospitals are the biggest employer of nurses, so you can do the math for yourself. The ongoing uncertainty related to extreme bi-partisan legislation pretty much means that each party just wants to eliminate each and every thing that the other one does.... there's no logic or understanding of long-term consequences. One thing's for sure, nursing jobs will become more difficult unless there is legislation to control staffing.

You say that you don't like the idea of pharmacy - fair enough. But pharmacists in acute care settings are becoming much more involved in patient care. In many hospitals in my area, clinical pharmacists provide direct support to nurses & physicians, including making rounds and evaluating treatment plans. Take a look at the therapies (PT, OT, ST). They all require Masters for entry level, but you can become an OTA or PTA with less education.

Best of luck to you.

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I'm starting an accelerated BSN-MSN program at Jefferson in Philly this September and I do have the same concerns about not being able to find a job in the area when I graduate. When I went to an open house at Jefferson back in March, a few professors and admissions counselors told us that getting a minimum of a BSN is the only way you can really secure a job in the Tri-State area. However, every school loves to promote their own programs, so I really don't put much stock into that statement. I have heard that Jefferson Hospital is very good to Jefferson graduates, so I'm really hoping I'll be able to get a job come May/June 2014. I guess we all just have to take risks in life sometimes when we are passionate about doing something. Hopefully it will pay off for all of us in the end!

I just looked back on this post and realized you would have completed your program by now. Hoping everything worked out well for you! Good luck with job hunting.

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