Does Pittsburgh have grads in December?

K98 · Oct 21, 2009

I believe CCAC and RMU both have grads in December. We have some students in our ICU that are done at the end of 2009. As far as the job situation loosening up, who knows. Health care reform will likely cost jobs, despite what the government says (it is ALREADY costing RN positions), and the economy continues to falter. Allegheny General just settled a three year contract with it's union RNs, so maybe some positions will open there.

Kitty Hawk, ADN, RN · Oct 21, 2009

....interesting

Well I think I'm going to end up joining the ranks and try to find a position at a decent SNF.

I talked to a recruiter yesterday that hand a bunch of positions open, even specifying grads welcome, with the caveat that they must be grads from that hospital's school! I say interesting b/c that wasn't the case with the hospital connected to my school, so I found it interesting there's that loyalty unless it's somewhere in their contracts or something.

Also just spoke with a recruiter at my desired hospital as I trust her judgement and she pretty much confirmed what I have been thinking. Especially now with UPMC Braddock closing, it just made it that much harder for GN's so I'm going to cut bait and run and maybe things will be different come June.

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · Oct 21, 2009

I was just interested in seeing what the job market is like in Pittsburgh. Is it just rough for the new grads or does it seem like it is tough for the acute care setting to?

I've been in LTC so long that I would prob be seen as a new grad to the hospitals. LTCs are always hiring (at least I know a few around me) Just make sure they are willing to teach you and give you a decent orientation.

Kitty Hawk, ADN, RN · Oct 21, 2009

It seems to be a little better if you have experience, though I don't know how that will all shake out b/c of UPMC Braddock closing. The website seems to have had new daily postings for a while, now it's been 4 days and nothing new. Not to mention what was said about AGH union stuff...I can see if there are jobs they may also be in competition with nurses with many years of experience. Not to mention those that have the ability to relocate since some states are really bad.

My classmates that jumped on things in December had offers in Feb. There was another group that waited until the Feb thru April timeframe and they all got jobs. Those of us that grad in June and waited until passing the boards seem to have the most difficulty right now. Every now and then someone will post here that they got a job at Children's or whatever but this board seems to be slow at times.

I took the advice of a friend who graduated in the class before me and told me to take the boards 1st b/c her thoughts were that you are treated much diff as a GN on the floor if you haven't passed yet and that adds to the stress. Plus it took me longer to accept looking at the one hospital system as I had it in my head I wanted nothing to do with them. To my surprise I have a really good rapport with one of the recruiters that I plan to stay in touch with, even more so than the one from my school's hospital whom just gives the "sorry, keep trying check every day etc..."

Maybe it was a mistake to wait, but I'm a big believer in "you're where you are supposed to be" at any given time, so I keep my mind/heart open to that. Who knows maybe I'll like SNF more than I think or maybe it will be a stepping stone. At least there are some super close to my house, as long as I can get a decent orientation that's better than some fields have it.

allnurses Guide · Oct 21, 2009

UPMC has a hiring freeze on until they inventory their Braddock staff and find them new jobs elsewhere. I heard this should take about a month then things will open up again. Children's seems to be hiring all the time.

K98 · Oct 22, 2009

UPMC has a hiring freeze on until they inventory their Braddock staff and find them new jobs elsewhere. I heard this should take about a month then things will open up again. Children's seems to be hiring all the time.

AGH isn't hiring until they relocate about 100 nurses displaced by the move of the OB/GYN and Psych units to other hospitals in the WPAHS system.

My son was recently an inpatient at Children's. A beautiful facility to be sure, but the staff we had contact with seemed uniformly miserable. They knew that my wife and I were RNs, and they vented about everything from pay to parking.

allnurses Guide · Oct 22, 2009

AGH isn't hiring until they relocate about 100 nurses displaced by the move of the OB/GYN and Psych units to other hospitals in the WPAHS system.
My son was recently an inpatient at Children's. A beautiful facility to be sure, but the staff we had contact with seemed uniformly miserable. They knew that my wife and I were RNs, and they vented about everything from pay to parking.

Do you know any nurses who DON'T dog about pay and parking?? Heh.

I agree that many of the CHP nurses are less than thrilled with the new hospital, which surprises me - having worked there a few times, it seems much better than the old one.

K98 · Oct 22, 2009

Do you know any nurses who DON'T dog about pay and parking?? Heh.
I agree that many of the CHP nurses are less than thrilled with the new hospital, which surprises me - having worked there a few times, it seems much better than the old one.

You have a point .

baylor06 · Nov 12, 2009

Maybe someone will be able to help me here... I'm a med/tele/surg/little bit of everything RN, just relocated to Pittsburgh... having trouble finding a job!!! Any thoughts??? Would love to get into an ICU or ER but can't seem to get a foot in the door anywhere... in TX they love to take med/surg RNs into higher levels of care and teach them, but this doesn't seem to be the case here. I am a little lost, as I am SO bored in med/tele!