Are jobs becoming more available

caliotter3 · Mar 31, 2012

The short answer, at least where I live, no.

AnonRNC · Mar 31, 2012

Not here. Throughout the region nurses are stuck on nights for 3+ years because on the rare occasion that a day nurse leaves, the FTE is cut.

MedChica · Mar 31, 2012

I don't know the situation in other spots and only hear of difficulty in rumor. Not necessarily where I am, but in other areas/states.

There are jobs in my area. I'm in S. Texas.

Most of us, have jobs lined up.

LVN positions.

Average pay: $19.00.

Mine will be $19.50 (ltc psych). I've another friend whose position will be $20.00/hr (ped psych facility). Another classmate is working at the base in the maternity area. I don't know of pay, but it's sure to be good.

I would've liked to work at the hospital. In the beginning, you've all these notions of medsurg/icu experience. Now? I'm not willing to slave away in an LVN position for $12-13/hr.

That's ridiculous. Most in my class feel the same.

I think i'd be afraid if I sought a job w/o being a cna/tech/med aide first, though.

allnurses Guide · Mar 31, 2012

Yes, in that some places that were not hiring at all are now hiring experienced nurses and a minimal number of new graduate RNs. Unfortunately still not even close to enough to have a job available to every RN who would like to find work.

beeker · Mar 31, 2012

In my area, jobs are hard to get and there are hundreds of applicants per slot. There is also a new trend I noticed during my job search in which you end up going back and forth for like 4 interviews. Ridiculous waste of time. In order to find a nursing position as a new grad, I had to give up my current job while hunting due to all the last minute calls of "can you come tomorrow?" from hr. It happened repeatedly. And if I couldn't make it, too bad for me no new job. When HR calls they want you to jump and be available at whatever whim they have. But when you call them, they rarely return the call. Most of my classmates have yet to find their first position, so I am very thankful to have landed a pretty good one. There were a LOT of hoops though. The hiring process took almost 2 months.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Mar 31, 2012

Not in Southern CA.

sue11 · Mar 31, 2012

Hi MedChica,

It's good to know you are in Tx.

I am LPN/LVN with 2 1/2 yrs experience working in LTC, my family and I are planning on moving to Tx around San Antonio area. Do you have any idea what's the pay rate in LTC for LPN/LVN with 2 1/2 yrs experience? Right now, I'm making 16.25 here in WV ( WV don't pay much compared to other states). I'm also concerned if there are jobs availlable in that area. Thank you.

llg, PhD, RN · Mar 31, 2012

In my area ... yes, it is improving. But the job market is still tight and only the top applicants are being selected. We are hiring more orientees than we were in 2009 and 2010. The 2011 hiring was up, and we are seeing that continue into 2012. However, there are still a LOT of applicants for each available position. So the increased hiring is not being "felt" by the majority of the people applying.

Another interesting thing we have seen ... is that some of most experienced nurses and some in leadership positions are starting to change jobs. During the height of the economic crisis, those people were afraid to take risks and try a new job. They seem to be willing to try something new, now -- and/or have just gotten sufficiently fed up with their old jobs to leave.

OnlybyHisgraceRN, ASN, RN · Mar 31, 2012

I do think there are jobs readily available. Both as a new grad LPN and RN I applied to jobs that wanted experienced nurses, yet I would never have a problem interviewing and getting hired. Nurses need to be more proactive in their search. I know many new nurses who were able to find jobs all because of their determination and creative ways to get their names out there. Sending in the good ole resume does not cut it anymore.

wetzoo · Mar 31, 2012

I do think there are jobs readily available. Both as a new grad LPN and RN I applied to jobs that wanted experienced nurses, yet I would never have a problem interviewing and getting hired. Nurses need to be more proactive in their search. I know many new nurses who were able to find jobs all because of their determination and creative ways to get their names out there. Sending in the good ole resume does not cut it anymore.

Care to share some of these tactics? I'm sure these unemployed new graduates would love to know where these readily available jobs are and how to get them.

pat8585 · Mar 31, 2012

I agree...just sending a resume be it online or paper isn't going to cut it!

I have read on here many people have good luck when they go in person

to drop off their resume.

also, ask your friends, family...what places are hiring that they know of.

networking can open a lot of opportunities!