Economic crisis affecting new nurse hires?

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Specializes in OR.

Am I going to have difficulty finding a job? There was a nursing shortage while I was in school...now is there a bigger shortage by a hiring freeze or are we still ok for jobs?

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The economy will not have an effect on nurses

There will always be a need for a nurse, that much is for sure.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Yes ... the economy always has and always will have an effect on the nursing job market. In some places, new graduates are already having a very difficult time finding jobs -- any jobs.

As the economy worsens, hospitals feel the financial pain and start to tighten up on their hiring to save costs.

Perhaps more important, nurses who are already employed by the hospital volunteer to work extra shifts because their family needs the extra money. Spouses get laid off, food and gas prices increase, etc. People who once were able to work only part time now want to work full time, etc. etc. etc. That gives the hospital the ability to cover its needs without having to hire a lot of new people.

Browse this website and you will read about lots of nurses having trouble finding jobs these days. However, the particulars do vary from location to location. Some areas are hit harder than others.

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The economy DOES have an effect on nursing jobs. It's already happening at my facility. They took away our wound care nurse and cut staffing on one of our units. The nurse's are fighting for their OT now whereas it was flowing like milk and honey just a few months ago.

When my husband was laid off from his IT job I was pulling extra shifts to make ends meet. Luckily, he is back at work but think about it this way. If I another nurse each work two OT shifts per week (8 hour shifts) does that not take away a job from a new grad?

Of course it does and our employer is glad to pay us to work OT because even though we are getting time and a half for it our employer doesn't have to pay for the benefits of an extra employee (huge savings).

Employers read and watch the news just like we do. Even if they are not really being affected by the economy they will happily pretend that they are so that they can work us to death and use the excuse that these tough times are calling for staffing cuts.

I suggest that anyone who has more than a year to go before graduation do your very best to try to get a CNA position somewhere. If you're a senior kiss butt at clinicals and start networking right NOW if you want to have a position lined up for Spring '09 grad date.

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Specializes in Ortho/Uro/Peds/Research/PH/Insur/Travel.
The economy DOES have an effect on nursing jobs. It's already happening at my facility. They took away our wound care nurse and cut staffing on one of our units. The nurse's are fighting for their OT now whereas it was flowing like milk and honey just a few months ago.

When my husband was laid off from his IT job I was pulling extra shifts to make ends meet. Luckily, he is back at work but think about it this way. If I another nurse each work two OT shifts per week (8 hour shifts) does that not take away a job from a new grad?

Of course it does and our employer is glad to pay us to work OT because even though we are getting time and a half for it our employer doesn't have to pay for the benefits of an extra employee (huge savings).

Employers read and watch the news just like we do. Even if they are not really being affected by the economy they will happily pretend that they are so that they can work us to death and use the excuse that these tough times are calling for staffing cuts.

I suggest that anyone who has more than a year to go before graduation do your very best to try to get a CNA position somewhere. If you're a senior kiss butt at clinicals and start networking right NOW if you want to have a position lined up for Spring '09 grad date.

I think you have A LOT of accurate and great advice. Remember, new grads, however, that working at the bedside isn't your only option. While working for a health department may not be your first choice, they seem to always be hiring, you'll probably have a M-F/9-5p schedule, and you'll often help some of the neediest cases in your community. : )

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If you get laid off from one facility at least you could still find work somewhere else in this field ..My mom lives in las vegas and read something totally different than you guys. Everyone is different I guess..2 people who graduated last may started working right away (July and August). Im not worried oneeeeee bit.

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I won't be working in NY anytime soon, but I don't think it is time for anyone to panic yet. NY won't be hit as hard as other places, new grads may just need to lower their job search standards a bit. High costs/standard of living are driving people to move from NY to NC, VA, FL, SC, etc.

If you keep your eyes and ears open eventually the job you want will open up.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Contrary to popular belief, nursing is NOT recession-proof.

During the recession of the early 1990s, some nurses would remain unemployed for 6 months or longer as they looked for jobs. This 'nursing surplus' continued into the middle 1990s.

During recessions, patients avoid having elective surgeries because they are afraid to take the time off work that is needed for full recovery, which results in low hospital census. More people become unemployed during these rough times and, as a result, lose their health insurance. Uninsured people are not inclined to seek healthcare unless it is a dire emergency.

While it is true that nursing jobs can never be outsourced, remember that these jobs can be "insourced" by recruiting foreign nurses to work at US hospitals.

Many part-time nurses accept full-time positions during recessions to make ends meet when a breadwinner spouse suddenly loses his/her job. Many retired nurses are activating their nursing licenses and returning to work due to the high costs of food and fuel, and the effects of dwindling retirement funds.

I am blessed to be employed currently, and I hope the blessings continue.

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There are hospitals in Michigan that are laying off nurses because census is so low, people don't have jobs and can't pay their bills there for the hospital can't pay their bills...blah, blah blah...anyhow. Nurses are being laid off at at least 2 hospitals that I know. We are very fortunate to have a job if we have one. This will affect all of us...unfortunately is is just a trickle down affect and we are most likely some of the last affected.

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If you get laid off from one facility at least you could still find work somewhere else in this field ..My mom lives in las vegas and read something totally different than you guys. Everyone is different I guess..2 people who graduated last may started working right away (July and August). Im not worried oneeeeee bit.

Well, atleast you have the option of moving to Vegas if you can't find work. The OP may not have that option.

To the OP,

I don't think for nurses the job market is as dire as IT, or the financial industry. We have it way better. It just may take you a few more weeks or you may not get the "dream shift you desire". Either way your better off being in the healthcare field then any other.

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Specializes in Telemetry.
Either way your better off being in the healthcare field then any other.

I completely agree.

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Yes ... the economy always has and always will have an effect on the nursing job market. In some places, new graduates are already having a very difficult time finding jobs -- any jobs.

As the economy worsens, hospitals feel the financial pain and start to tighten up on their hiring to save costs.

Perhaps more important, nurses who are already employed by the hospital volunteer to work extra shifts because their family needs the extra money. Spouses get laid off, food and gas prices increase, etc. People who once were able to work only part time now want to work full time, etc. etc. etc. That gives the hospital the ability to cover its needs without having to hire a lot of new people.

Browse this website and you will read about lots of nurses having trouble finding jobs these days. However, the particulars do vary from location to location. Some areas are hit harder than others.

I can definetly agree that the economy is affecting nursing, hours have been cut drastically on my med-surg unit and no overtime is available hospital wide, I would get 16 hours OT each pay period but now i'm lucky to get my regularly scheduled 36 hours per week. I'm looking to do some travel nursing but with no telemetry experience and only one year of med-surg that is looking pretty bleek also, so I would suggest that if you have a decent job right now stay put, because hospitals are definetly being impacted by the economy. :loveya:

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