Fed Up With People Saying There Is a Shortage

firstyearstudent · Mar 13, 2009

I graduated from a community college in the Los Angeles metropolitan area two years ago and every student in our class, with the exception of two or three who didn't bother to look, got and accepted a job offer before graduating and passing the NCLEX. Many got multiple job offers and their jobs searches were conducted with minimal effort while they were still in school and took an average of two to three weeks. In some instances, recruiters came to our school. Personally, I was very picky. I wanted a job at a respectable hospital that was union and offered an extended new grad program. I applied for three new graduate positions, was accepted for two, and both of those were on the day shift!

I know the economy has crashed, but have things gone downhill in healthcare that fast? I know that my own hospital, which is union and has a good reputation as a nurse friendly facility, always has multiple job listings, some of those for new graduates.

Jules A, MSN · Mar 13, 2009

As a new grad on east coast, out of 100's of resumes sent out, I have one phone call for an interview. They are not interested in new Grads! So here the new grads sit after years of school and have nothing to show for it. Eventually they will need us new grads, so why not start training us now?? I don't get it.

Unfortunately most times just sending out a resume isn't enough. You might consider getting some face time in with HR, nursing supervisors etc. One nursing supervisor I contacted said he did in fact need a nurse even though HR wasn't advertising for one for his unit. Good luck with your interview.

waitingforthedream · Mar 13, 2009

Unfortunately most times just sending out a resume isn't enough. You might consider getting some face time in with HR, nursing supervisors etc. One nursing supervisor I contacted said he did in fact need a nurse even though HR wasn't advertising for one for his unit. Good luck with your interview.

Thanks for the tip, been there, tried that. I was actually offered a position in med surg but only part time, which I will take if nothing else comes up. A foot in the door so to speak. I will take what I can get at this point.

cruisin_woodward · Mar 13, 2009

First, let me say that I am so frustrated because I keep hearing the same old stuff about how there is a nursing shortage and I'm starting to believe that there is no shortage. I live on the east coast and I'm graduating in a few months. Right now my classmates and myself are in a panic because the jobs out here are so competitive and hospitals are closing left and right in NJ. Also, New York is another story. There are so many people who wants to work in the city. Also, hospitals want experienced nurses. It's so frustrating. People need to know that THERE IS NO NURSING shortage in certain parts of the country. I got into this profession thinking that finding a job would be fairly easy and now I'm thinking that I might have made a mistake.

wow! Come to Detroit! Nurses are the only people around here with jobs!!

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Mar 14, 2009

I know the economy has crashed, but have things gone downhill in healthcare that fast? I know that my own hospital, which is union and has a good reputation as a nurse friendly facility, always has multiple job listings, some of those for new graduates.

Yes, the economy has gone to crap that quickly in some areas. When I started nursing school over a year ago, new grads were getting sign on bonuses and pick of specialty. Hospitals actively wooed us.

Now many new grads cannot get jobs and the hospitals have canceled their sponsored tuition programs. Most hospitals have hiring freezes. Our local news paper did a story revealing that the nursing shortage is "on hold" and that new grads cannot get jobs.

I realize I may have to relocate to another state. I will be grateful to get a job doing so. However, it is an adjustment.

cruisin_woodward · Mar 14, 2009

we just hired EIGHT new grads in the CT ICU...I'm telling you. In Detroit we are the only ones with jobs!! We are turning out new grads left and right...accelerated programs for the "displaced auto workers". Hopefully we don't over saturate here...

Ruby Vee, BSN · Mar 14, 2009

i know the economy has crashed, but have things gone downhill in healthcare that fast? i know that my own hospital, which is union and has a good reputation as a nurse friendly facility, always has multiple job listings, some of those for new graduates.

there is and has been a shortage. now, however, with the economy in freefall, jobs aren't opening up at the rate they used to, and nursing managers are no longer allowed to overhire in anticipation of turnover.

sally's husband lost his job. now sally, who has been working here for 15 years doing her 12 hours per week just to have a day away from her four unruly children is the sole support of her family. now she wants to work 48 hours/week instead of 12. mildred has been talking about retiring for the past four years, counting off the minutes until retirement at the start of each shift. but her investments tanked and now she's contemplating her future as a nurse -- for 12 more years. betsey worked in our unit for years while her husband made millions churning people's investment funds. then she left to "stay home with the kids." hubby's out looking for work as a gardener now, the mansion has been foreclosed, the millions are gone. betsey's coming back to work next week -- good thing one new grad got fired, or there wouldn't be a place for her. tootie got accepted into crna school, but her partner of 12 years lost her job, and now tootie, who was counting on lindalou to support her while she was in school, cannot afford to quit her job and go to school. she's supporting lindalou on about half of what lindalou used to make.

the economy will turn around, and there will be jobs again. eventually.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Mar 14, 2009

I agree with Ruby that a lot of it is about the economy. When the downturn started a few years ago and people got laid off in other professions, they lined up to become nurses. Or as younger people looked at things they realize nursing is perhaps a good field with good job aspects and they got in line too. Schools are cranking out new grads like never before.

Also it's true that nurses are upping their hours, or are coming out of sabbatical to supplement their income or to be the sole provider. I work with at least two people whose husbands have lost their jobs and they are the sole providers and went from part time to full time/overtime.

People also due to lack of confidence in the economy aren't job hopping like they used to. Turnover in my facility is the best it's ever been. Gone are the days when people would just up and quit knowing a new job was only a phone call away. We're thankful for jobs when so many people are unemployed and we're holding on to them.

I think the long-term prospects are still good for nurses. However, right now people are going to have to be flexible and take jobs they might not really want, work hours they might not really want, and even relocate to areas they might not want to move to just to get their foot in the door. Gone are the days when a new grad could ask for and get whatever they want, but the futures still bright and the demand for healthcare workers is going to stay high.

meluhn · Mar 14, 2009

First, let me say that I am so frustrated because I keep hearing the same old stuff about how there is a nursing shortage and I'm starting to believe that there is no shortage. I live on the east coast and I'm graduating in a few months. Right now my classmates and myself are in a panic because the jobs out here are so competitive and hospitals are closing left and right in NJ. Also, New York is another story. There are so many people who wants to work in the city. Also, hospitals want experienced nurses. It's so frustrating. People need to know that THERE IS NO NURSING shortage in certain parts of the country. I got into this profession thinking that finding a job would be fairly easy and now I'm thinking that I might have made a mistake.

I feel your pain. I have been a nurse for 16 years with a spotless record and I am having trouble getting in at a med/surg floor, nevermind ICU. Yet I keep hearing how short everyone says they are working. I think that hospitals know what they are doing. They can run the floors with a skeleton crew so why bother training anyone new who might quit anyway. They would rather take an experienced traveler or Philipino nurse(no offense intended) than higher a new grad or someone who hasn't worked in that specialty area. It doesn't make sense.

PS I live in NJ too

Pfiesty · Mar 14, 2009

I am in the midst of brilliant colleages. There are very smart comments on here.

There has never been a shortage of licensed nurses - anywhere. There has been varying degrees of actively working licensed nurses.

I left hospital nursing. Now with the economy, and the subsequent downsizing of the program where I worked, I am back into hospital nursing. We're (non-active nurses) are returning in large numbers.

VivaRN · Mar 14, 2009

Something that hasn't been mentioned is that APN jobs have decreased also, and some of my classmates who weren't able to find APN jobs are hanging on to their RN jobs until something comes open. Some are also working both APN and RN jobs to supplement income. Not sure how much this may be contributing, but it's another spot closed to a new grad.

allnurses Guide · Mar 15, 2009

There are jobs if you are willing to go to where the jobs are. True in any industry/trade/profession. Many ads I see in nursing magazines offer relocation bonuses.

Be open to trying something new! Go rural! Go to a school district! Go somewhere you've never been before and see what's out here!