Experienced Nurses: Economic/Job Market Trends over the course of your Careers?

[SDBella82]

Everywhere you turn, there is talk about the economic recession and it's effects on nursing jobs. I'm a pre-nursing student (finishing up prereqs) and am concerned about the job market like everyone else. While there's no way to predict the future, I think that looking at past trends is a good indicator of what we can expect in the future. So, this question is for nurses who have experienced previous recessions first hand: What exactly happened at your hospitals before/during/after previous economic lows (1973-75, 1980-82, 1990-91 & 2001)? I'm particularly interested in the staffing/hiring/job market trends you've experienced over the course of your careers and how they compare to our current recession. All insight is appreciated! Thank you so much!!

[oramar]

I am just going by memory, but the way I remember it was each of those periods you named were associated with a tight job market for nurses.(Been a nurse since '67) The current tight job market is by far the worst I have ever seen. The first three tight job markets were followed by sever nurse shortages. If you had a license and were breathing you could get a job. If someone would let me wager on it I would bet my house that the job market will improve within two years and the shortage will return in about five. Come back and read this in five years and you will probably see my prediction is very close to what happens. Three to four years ago I predicted another tight job market, it just seemed to me that the cycle was due to turn again. Jobs were growing on trees back then and everyone thought I was crazy.

[Flying ICU RN]

The first three tight job markets were followed by sever nurse shortages. If you had a license and were breathing you could get a job. If someone would let me wager on it I would bet my house that the job market will improve within two years and the shortage will return in about five

And I would say that this particular future shortage will be the most severe ever seen. I base this opinion on published government census and employment outlook projections.

So hang in there to all experiencing the squeeze. RN will mean "Rich Nurse", mark my words. :)