Hiring freeze?

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Hi. I was wondering if anyone can give me information regarding the job market for RN's. I am currently going to school for my BSN and it seems like the faculty makes it seem as though there are vast opportunities for new grads. However, I keep hearing about hiring freezes across the OKC metro as well as other states. I am just wondering how difficult it really is to find a job upon graduating (and one that is desirable). Also, I was reading that starting salary for new grads was like $18.60 per hour or something like that. I thought that LPN's made about $15-18 per hour. Maybe I am wrong, but if so there doesn't seem like a very big pay gap between an RN and LPN. Hopefully someone with some experience can help me out in answering these questions. Thanks

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Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.

A lot of the hospitals ARE having hiring freezes, that is true. To get an idea what that means look at the hospital websites (some have more jobs than others....OUMC, Saints, Baptist, etc).

Starting salary for new RNs ia about $18-$19/hr yes. It IS low starting pay but after about 5 years experience here you can make good money. I work with RNs that are making $30-$50/hr (that seems to be about the max here though). I'm an RN with 1.5 yrs experience and make $23/hr just to give you an idea. I started with $18.65/hr at OUMedCenter. I have a BSN.

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Specializes in Med_Surg, Renal, intermediate care.

It depends on where you work. LPN's don't start off at $15-18 in the hospital. I've heard that hospitals are having a hiring freeze too. However, the classifieds tell me something different. Also, that $18.60, you have to factor in shift diff and weekend diff too. So sometimes the hourly wage seems low, but it's more to it than what you think.

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Specializes in ICU.

I work in Tulsa. As you may know, the economy in Tulsa is doing better than most of the US.

I got hired in the ICU as a new grad in 2007. Starting pay for no experience with a BSN was $18-19.00

I work night/weekends, and have my CCRN which is a little extra. I will take home about 26-28 bucks an hour after taxes and insurance.

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There are always hiring "slows" more than freezes.

That has to do with budgets and what not.

The truth of the matter is,

every single unit in every single hospital is short staffed.

Sure, they make do.

Nurses take more patients or they call in float pool.

But most often than not,

nurses just get overloaded or the unit doesn't accept admits.

It's one of the main reasons why ER waits are so long.

So, whether or not you have heard that a hospital has a "hiring freeze"

or even if the "vacancy" notices are short,

apply.

Apply and go find that nursing manager.

Make her notice you and take your resume.

My hospital had a sparce vacancy list 6 to 8 weeks ago.

Now, every single unit almost has an opening.

My point is,

the nursing shortage is real.

The "freezes" are temporary at best.

So, get your name out there, meet people and you will be surprised.

There is overtime available.

New nurses don't have to start out at nights.

New nurses have so many options in units.

OKC is starting new nurses between 19 and 20 last I checked.

Experience or PRN status changes that figure by quite a bit.

Benefits are outstanding and with shift diffs and more hours than you can handle,.. the doors of opportunity are wide open.

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Specializes in med-surg.

I am a 15 yr lpn who is about to enter my 3rd semester in RN school. Keep in mind, however, I live in rural SW oklahoma My last job prior to entrance in RN program was as a home health field LPN. I was making $17.00/hr at that time, and new hire RN's @ $25-28. Of course, your HH always pay better than hospitals. However, I never have really cared for home health. (Just a personal prefrence) I have also been pounding the pavement looking for a hospital job to get throught the xmas break. No such luck. Low census everywhere you turn. It seems to me that the new school of thought is leaning more toward keeping pt's out of acute care and more in-home nursing management. Which is rather scary for those of us who prefer hospital nursing. If home health is something you might like to pursure, they do pay considerably higher than the hospitals. (in my area, at least). You might also want to consider a state job such as Health dept, ect. The pay scale isn't that of other areas, but the retirement and benefits are UNBELIEVEABLE. The world is your oyster.

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Destin05, Don't you have recruiters coming to your schools to talk to you? We have them at our school every month. They always tell about the job market, salary, shift difs, scholarships, and externships. I also notice a lot when I am on clinical about how the staffing is. Every time I have been to clinical the floor has been full with new admits coming in as soon as someone is discharged. It seems like the nurses are always overwhelmed and they are always calling in one or two nurses to help. In fact, a couple of times we have joked that we don't know how the floor survives when we, the students, aren't there.

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Specializes in Med_Surg, Renal, intermediate care.

I will say this: low census doesn't last forever.

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