hiring freeze?

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Feb 13, 2009

I can remember in the 60's when my own mother went through a job scare, in the 80's too. Nursing has had some lean times in the last 50+ years, we just have to do our best to get through this situation like everyone else in the nation. One thing for sure, people will continue to get sick, older nurses will retire, or go part-time, jobs will open up again, more slowly than we would like but they will be there. We have to put our trust and faith in a higher power and continue to pray for the best.

choosier2003 · Feb 15, 2009

I am a new nurse grad, and was hired at duke immediately , I start orientation in two weeks and havent heard of any freeze or offers being resended.

avillion23 · Feb 20, 2009

High Point Regional is hiring actively right now for new nurses and experienced nurses.

Aneroo, LPN · Feb 21, 2009

Yes. One of the hospitals in my town (NC foothills area) is under a hiring freeze. The job postings finally say again that they're accepting applications, and have hired a few people for depts. that had people leave, but that's it.

truern · Feb 21, 2009

I am a new nurse grad, and was hired at duke immediately , I start orientation in two weeks and havent heard of any freeze or offers being resended.

Rex most definately rescinded their new grad offerings. While WakeMed has not, there are way more applicants than openings.

bonesrn · Mar 1, 2009

Yes, there is a hiring freeze in the Triangle..UNC/Duke/WakeMed/Rex. As the above poster said, just because you see a job listed on hospital web doesn't mean they are hiring for it. My hospital is doing well financially and they are not hiring for anything unless it is a CRITICAL need. They are not filling positions of people who leave, they are counting on their float pool to fill needs. We were told this would be until at least July when new fiscal year starts, but unless things start to change in the economy, it will probably go on longer. I feel for the new grads..LTC might be a good bet, but of course, not the best. Good Luck and don't give up. Be flexibile.

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Mar 1, 2009

I have talked with several young people lately and they have changed their plans about nursing and other health care fields. One said the wait is too long for schools, the expectations too high, and the schedules you have to work when you are a nurse are not worth it anymore. So, I do wonder if this economy slow down will weed out people who were not that committed to being a nurse. Right now here, the big thing is anything to do with physical therapy and lab. Have any of you noticed a trend in the change from nursing?

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · Mar 3, 2009

Beaufort County Medical Center (formerly Beaufort County Hospital) has a hiring freeze. New grad pay is not good - $17/hr, so no real loss.

Pitt County Memorial Hospital (Greenville) is expanding rapidly and is still hiring new grads. In fact, some of the units (especially the new Neuroscience Unit) are still being staffed by travelers. New grad pay is around $21.

truern · Mar 4, 2009

Beaufort County Medical Center (formerly Beaufort County Hospital) has a hiring freeze. New grad pay is not good - $17/hr, so no real loss.
Pitt County Memorial Hospital (Greenville) is expanding rapidly and is still hiring new grads. In fact, some of the units (especially the new Neuroscience Unit) are still being staffed by travelers. New grad pay is around $21.

A friend of mine is a traveler at Pitt...she told me the same thing :)

elkpark · Mar 4, 2009

Yes, a friend of mine who is faculty at UNCC mentioned in a recent e-mail that CMC and Presby have announced hiring freezes.

harlequin_b · Mar 12, 2009

I have talked with several young people lately and they have changed their plans about nursing and other health care fields. One said the wait is too long for schools, the expectations too high, and the schedules you have to work when you are a nurse are not worth it anymore. So, I do wonder if this economy slow down will weed out people who were not that committed to being a nurse. Right now here, the big thing is anything to do with physical therapy and lab. Have any of you noticed a trend in the change from nursing?

I am one of the many who are interested in switching careers into nursing. I've looked into it before, as my alma mater houses an excellent school of nursing, but recently my decision has become cemented since I started working at the VA hospital in western NY as a research assistant in behavioral health.

It seems to be quite the popular direction to go in, as my latest trip to the book store has shown SWARMS of people at the NCLEX studyguide section. Today, the nurses were telling me that the VA is in what appears to be a hiring freeze. I'll be graduating in 2011, and the nurses tell me that it should be better by then. However, it makes me nervous as I feel like I'm one of too few that are looking at hiring trends in the country, as well as anticipating a big change in the healthcare system, and long term effects of that.

I, too, shared the idea that perhaps this would filter out those who weren't all that interested in nursing, but it seems that alot of people are yet blindly pushing forward...

dreamon · Mar 12, 2009

Yeah I'm worried also. More and more going into the military nurse corp is looking like the few guaranteed ways left to get a foot in the door. Downside for me is I'm not planning to get my BSN until after I get my RN, so either way if this keeps up I'll be screwed. I started my prereqs back in 04 after my enlistment was up. I could kick my own behind for not finishing straight away back then. Who would've thought this was going to happen?

I do plan to apply to hospitals in a 3 hour radius if not more when the time comes. I just hope I don't have to move to NC farm country (don't even know where that is) lol. I don't plan to leave the state before getting my bsn.