Are Jobs So Plentiful?

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

i read all the posts here about new grads, and some older nurses (like about my age) not being able to find jobs. people say they're desparate for jobs, they'll take anything to put food on the table.

and then i see the posts from folks who graduated six months ago and already changing jobs or wanting to change jobs because their manager isn't nice to them, they don't like their preceptor, "er just isn't for me" (truly, after six months, how can you know?), their commute is too difficult or they don't like the hours. if jobs are really that difficult to find, how come folks are looking to quit their jobs for what seem to be frivolous reasons?

are jobs so plentiful in some areas that people can afford to job hop? are they so scarce in other areas that people can't get hired no matter what? wouldn't it be nice if we could spread the wealth around a bit?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.

I've been wondering the same thing, especially because I'll be that new grad in about a year. Lots of posts from new grads and experienced nurses who can't find jobs, then a couple of randoms posts from a new grad that saying, "I have been employed for two months."

Unless we have a spreadsheet showing locations and types of facilities, I don't know if we'll ever figure it out.

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Specializes in acute care.

Yes, it depends on the area. In my area it is wise to hold on to any job you get because you don't know when the next offer will come.

To be honest, it is sad to see posts of New Grads who have had 2 and 3 jobs in a short period of time, and there are other posts of New Grads who can't even get a phone call.

I'm not judging any of the New Grads, I don't think any amount of money can keep me at a job where I am not truly happy.

And I agree. It would be nice to be able to spread the wealth a bit.

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Specializes in Mental Health.

I just graduated this spring and passed the NCLEX in early June. I dunno, it's been tough around here, 2 of the 3 major health systems in the Twin Cities area say on their websites, new grads need not apply. They say "we aren't accepting applications for our new grad residency programs at this time and the posted jobs are for experienced nurses only". The third, although they don't go that far, put "experience required" in every one of their job listings except an occasional part time position in med surge for which they get 100's of applications for.

Despite this, I've gotten 4 interviews with 2 of those out of state (North Dakota and Wyoming).

I had an interview at a LTC facility in my area and an offer, I had an interview at another Hospital in my area outside those 3 major health systems and got an offer, which I accepted, and another offer from a phone interview for a hospital in N Dak. The Wyoming interview I didn't do because after driving 15 hours straight, I got a call that morning with the offer I accepted, so I just went to the hospital in person a few hours before my scheduled time and told them I accepted an offer that morning and thanked them for the opportunity. I didn't see a reason to interview after that.

So the three interviews I did all resulted in offers. The offer I accepted is in the specialty I wanted most of all and at the hospital I wanted to be at more than anything. It's 30 miles from my home, magnet status, top 100 in the country, and treats their employees really well. I start August 30th, I'm so excited!!!!

So out of 100's of applications rejected and countless, frustrating, self esteem shattering hours on the computer for 2 months straight, I sure can't complain. I only need 1 job, and I don't have to move out of state, but I was willing to go anywhere and do anything and applied everywhere I could find. In the end, I got my dream come true. I feel truly blessed.

I must have revamped my resume and approach 10 times. I treated my search like a full time job, and tailored every cover letter and resume on my applications specifically for each job and facility I was applying at.

For all those of you out there still looking, I wish you the best of luck, don't give up! Stay positive and be flexible. Be the candidate you'd want to hire if you had a job for someone. :)

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congratulations wezzie, can you give us some of your tips? Been applying, i have not even landed 1 interview.

Any tips/advise will be appreciated

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

The problem with just accepting any job is that you could end up worse off than before. If a facility is constantly advertising for nurses, there's a reason.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.

Ruby, have to agree with you here. in 15 years, I've stayed way too long in "bad jobs".. with poor management, poor morale or what not (never had to leave with unsafe issues), and I've stayed for the pay, health insurance and benefits. Sure I may look and interview, but not much tops what I'm getting.

So it would be foolish of me to just up and leave for a manager who will be gone next month, a policy that will change back, the proverbial wheel re-invented... again. If you sit tight, it's gonna change again, so why get upset about it.

I simply smile, hunker down, do my 12 hr shifts and go home (I happen to love my peers though very much and this helps). We treat each other well... and as long as we have each other, i can put up with the rest.

So no, I'm not a job hopper, I don't understand the new nurses that bail because of trivial issues. But they also haven't learned the grass isn't greener, management isn't there to make you happy, it's hard work, and others simply may not like you or use the effort to. It's a career that pays the bills.

If I can make a difference meanwhile... that makes my night. I hear ya Ruby, but I've done way too many interviews with noobies having an overinflated sense of 'you owe me'... and I haven't recommended a single one of those to management to hire. I'd rather work short.

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The problem with just accepting any job is that you could end up worse off than before. If a facility is constantly advertising for nurses, there's a reason.

I do believe you have hit the proverbial nail on its head.

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I feel bad when a new grad gets bashed for leaving a job after only a few months. Unfortunately, often times the new grads get the jobs nobody else wanted, and usually for good reason. However, the new grad is desperate to start working, accepts it, and then realizes what an awful place to work (for whatever reason). Sometimes, you have to leave the job to protect yourself, no matter how new you are.

Are jobs plentiful? There are so many variables to landing a job--your area, background, resume, interview skills, etc. Not a simple yes or no to that question.

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Specializes in Flu clinics, Med/Surg, Acute Care.

In my area jobs for new grads seem to be really hard to come by. But we also have 4 major cc and universities pumping out new grads once if not twice a year. That doesn't even include the 5 for profit schools that offer nursing licences or the two major hospitals themselves that have their own RN program and hire from that pool first. So the new grads in my area are in a tough position. There seems to be many jobs. However many want at least one to two years of experience. Most jobs will clearly say, "no new grads at this time". I've been looking for a full time job since mid july and haven't found one yet. I am finding out it is mainly who you know, when it comes to getting your foot into the door. I have two seasonal jobs now, but it would be great to find a full time job with benefits. So I guess I fall under the category of pretty much willing to take anything full time at a hospital or even LTC.

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Some of you guys just don’t seem to recognize what’s been going on nation wide for about two years now. The new grads that are on this board talking about getting hired soon after graduation are most likely new grads that were working in their hospital while in nursing school and at the time they graduated. Their foot was already in the door, so to speak. Unfortunately, many of these newly hired new grads/new nurses fall short of mentioning this in their posts on this board, thereby creating confusion for yourself and others. As I have stated before in threads I have started on here dating back many months, and I’ll say it again, if you don’t already have a position at some capacity in a hospital by the time you graduate, there’s a good chance you are going to struggle for a while to get a job. It is imperative that you already be employed at a hospital before you graduate if you expect to have a hospital job after nursing school.

With regards to the one’s that are leaving their jobs after a few months, well, they’ll probably be in for a surprise, and not necessarily a pleasant one at that.

For all the new nurses that flocked to Texas and Oklahoma in the early to mid part of last year where some hospitals were still taking new nurses at that time, to get that coveted “one year of experience”, some of them may be surprised when they come back home and find that they are still not wanted.

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I have also thought the same thing when reading posts here. And I just love the "follow your heart" advice instead of "be mindful of keeping your job and food on the table" advice. I really can not drum up much sympathy for those who change jobs every other month when something just isn't perfect. I have never had a perfect job and do not expect one. :cool:

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