Degreed nurses who can't find jobs--moreso ADN or BSN nurses?

[GaMBA]

I'm curious to see how much of a role the degree earned matters in new RN grads finding (or not finding) jobs in this current economy. Please keep opinion out of it, I'm trying to just look at the facts.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I don't have facts, but my observations tell me that it doesn't seem to matter if it is ADN or BSN, it is that many hospitals are laying off, some are even closing. Also, it seems that because there is not much time or financial resources to orient people, they want people with experience who can run right into the trenches.

[Tait, MSN, RN]

I don't have facts, but my observations tell me that it doesn't seem to matter if it is ADN or BSN, it is that many hospitals are laying off, some are even closing. Also, it seems that because there is not much time or financial resources to orient people, they want people with experience who can run right into the trenches.

Yep.

Tait

[goodneighbor]

Most of the postings for jobs are for LVNs or TECHs now. TECHs are wanted most!

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

Most of the postings for jobs are for LVNs or TECHs now. TECHs are wanted most!

They're cheaper, plain and simple - and my guess is (and this is purely a guess) that some hospitals are trying to make up for their RN shortages and inability to hire more d/t funds with more techs. You'd think they'd staff up with LVNs - they'd be a bigger help to the RNs in the long run (not tech bashing here, folks - just saying an LVN's still a nurse...)

I've noticed at my hospital that the last several float nurses we've got have been MLPNs (which is what they are here). And they're positively brilliant!

Of course, I wouldn't trade my night shift NCAs for anything, either - so if you're on here, ladies and gents - THANK YOU!!!!! Couldn't survive a shift without you.

[goodneighbor]

This is to clarify: TECHs are nursing assistants who have been trained, or "Certified", to perform certain nursing functions. So we have "IV certified techs", "dialysis certified techs" "EKG Techs", "wound care techs "etc. These are different than CNAs (certified nursing assistants) who are called aides or patient care assistants (the people who turn clients, take vital signs, change briefs) and have hands on care of ADLs. Techs are performing limited tasks of the nurse, having broken down the nursing process as it were, so that the functions can be done at lower cost probably. TECHs seem to be rated a little higher than CNAs in the scheme of the Hospitals, and for the most part the responsibility resides on the RN. Kind of like an assembly line of nursing care where the worker does a small part without knowing the whole of it. I contend that what is really needed is more RNs with smaller pt ratios to give good care combined with clinical judgement. Its like the hospitals want more "half-nurses". Half is good enough for them. Most techs are very good. However the nursing profession is being slowly eroded, and the reflective, thoughtful part of nursing is becoming obsolete. Tech training can be as short as 8 weeks whereas nursing training is 4 years.