Hiring new grad RN freeze

L8RRN · Apr 11, 2010

Where do you live? There are plenty of new grad opportunities here where I am in upstate NY. It just depends on where you live.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Apr 11, 2010

Does anyone think by the time i graduate in 2-3 years, job scarcity won't be an issue and again we'll see RN's getting signing bonuses again?

There's honestly no way of knowing what it will be like in 2-3 years. If you think about it, 2-3 years ago when employers were chasing graduate nurses for jobs and bonuses flowed left and right, I bet no one saw this economic downturn coming...but it did. So all you can do is take your chances and hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.

And FYI: nursing jobs are not the cash cows that many people and especially new grads think that they are. You may make more money than your current job when you first start working as a nurse...or you may be taking a pay cut. Depends on the when and where you're working.

As far as opportunities, where you live is a factor because some places have more opportunities for new grads than others. But what you are WILLING to do is another factor: if you're holding out for only your dream speciality/facility/hours/salary, then unless that one-in-a-ten-thousand miracle happens, you'll find yourself unemployed. But if you're willing to compromise on one or more of those factors--at least for the first job--then your odds of being hired will improve.

jorjaRN · Apr 11, 2010

I agree that it does depend on location, but as someone who looked in a pretty wide range of locations, I have to tell you oppurtunities are incredibly slim in most places right now. There might be job postings in a lot of places that aren't really hiring, but are still looking to build an applicant pool, so don't be fooled. We're a loooong way away from being "guaranteed" a job right out of nursing school.

Also, I can promise that if the only reason you're interested in nursing is because you think you're going to be making good money and have an easier time finding a job, it's not going to take long for you to be unhappy in this career either. However, if it's something you really want to do, and have an interest in pursing for other reasons, I say go for it. You'll find a job eventually.

This downturn in job oppurtunities is completely related to the economy right now, and who knows when things are going to turn around. No one can tell you if things are going to be better in two years or not. Without knowing your fincancial situation, I can tell you that it's really difficult (although not impossible) to work full time while in nursing school, so if you can't afford to take a couple of years working just part time, plus the extended time it might take to find a job after graduation, you might want to hold off until the job market is a little more promising.

Best of luck with your decision!

kcochrane · Apr 11, 2010

Where do you live? There are plenty of new grad opportunities here where I am in upstate NY. It just depends on where you live.

I can verify this. :) I live in upstate NY and had two jobs offers when I graduated last December. They are still hiring new grads at my hospital.

So it depends on the area you live in. It will also depend on if the economy picks up.

If you really want to be a nurse, go for it. But don't do it just for the money. As you can see, nursing is not recession proof.

lizv · Apr 11, 2010

I live in Arkansas, my parents whisked us away due to poor job opportunities and I have been stuck here for over 8 years. I am so ready to move out, live life, and explore! I have looked around for job openings, and most hospitals in this area are only hiring RNs with ding ding ding! 1+ yrs experience.

I graduated from college and by some miraculous luck, found a decent job. I like my job right now, I have a lot of autonomy, sometimes I get a lot of downtime, but there is no room for advancement. It was an entry level position so I am barely making enough money to support myself!!! After graduating, I had to relocate...I didn't know anyone, had to get a new car, etc so I was living paycheck to paycheck with $20 in the bank after bills. I don't mean to bore you guys with my situation, but my point is, monetary compensation is a major motivating reason as to why I decided to pursue nursing. I would never be able to enjoy the finer things in life (and believe me I am NOT a materialistic person) I think it's safe to say, job security and monetary compensation are BIG factors but not the only ones in deciding career paths although there are exceptions to this.

Anyways, I have always had a keen interest in healthcare. I took a medical assisting course and I LOVED the little things we were able to do. Of course the scope of practice is very minimal, but I think I would love to have more hands on with procedures. Nursing is such a big field and there are so many opportunities in it that I don't think it would be a limiting field so much that I wouldn't be able to find my "niche." Ultimately, I would want to pursue an advanced degree in the future. I don't think I would be too picky in specialty, with experience I can choosy. I would just avoid LTC at all costs. I was a CNA for a short bit, loved socializing with the residents. But I hated the nurses/cnas, the system, the environment. I would never put my parents in such a place and hope I never step foot in a nursing home again.

I am single, no kids, none anytime soon (this i am sure lol), not getting any younger so I do not want to delay any more time in my education and career. I am 24, almost 25 and I would like to have kids one day. If I delay this, I am sure I would never find the time to go back to school...

I think a lot of people have preconceived notions that RNs don't ever have problems finding jobs because of this professed "nursing shortage" we always hear about, which makes nursing such a lucrative career choice. I myself didn't think it would be a problem but when I hopped onto the boards, so many were having a tough time and that is definitely worrisome. I just didn't want to make the wrong choice, rack up on even more student loans just to graduate and be jobless, it would be devastating! I guess there is really no way to be able to tell for sure if this is the right decision to make, I was hoping to get some of my fears cast aside, but I know that no one can tell for sure if the job market will improve. Heck, a lot of college graduates are having a tough time period! I hope for everyone the economy improves. Good luck to us all and thanks for the replies! :)

dimples4321 · Apr 11, 2010

Where do you live? There are plenty of new grad opportunities here where I am in upstate NY. It just depends on where you live.

Where upstate NY are you?

thefullbug · Apr 12, 2010

Let me tell you, you are making a big mistake if you are going into nursing primarily because you want a high salary and such. The big secret in nursing is that THERE NEVER WAS A NURSING SHORTAGE. There's always been plenty of people with RN licenses, but there has been a lack of people who would do these nursing jobs and tolerate the environment.

Among the people who graduated before me, more than 50% of them talked about days they spent crying during their orientation. Co-workers were sometimes cruel, patients ungrateful, and preceptors who couldn't understand why you didn't already know how to do most things.

I've spent more than 6 months looking for a job and I've still never even gotten an interview. I've turned in hundreds of apps. New grad nurses are costly for facilities to train and they have a high-turnover rate. This was always nursing's main problem, after people become a nurse, they find any way to do something else ..... It starts with an education system that increasingly denies the hands-on aspect of nursing (i'm not denying the importance of theory, but nursing programs' obsession with credentials, degrees, etc has a downside....nursing students simply don't even stay in hospitals very much by the time they graduate). So students graduate and are dumped into the workforce, and the expectation is that hospitals will pickup this problem. But hospitals can turn on nurses on a dime (look how easily they can reject new grad nurses even though they might be needing them in the future!, look at how they'll expand nurse to patient ratio as much as possible to cut costs).

On another note, there's masses of nurses out there. Who knows how this economic situation will turn out, but if everybody thinks we'll be returning to "the glory days" of 2005, they better think again! This economic recession has changed a lot of things about America, so who knows.... we might continue to see a tight-market for new grad nurses for a long time! It's hard to say, but now we know that many institutions simply want to hire anybody they can plug-into the job as quickly as possible, so you are not very valuable to them as a new grad. Therefore, your future career will depend much more on "who you know".

So in short, you better be careful about joining nursing unless you actually have some knowledge about what nursing is. I think you'll just be repeating your same story another blog in 5 years, but for a different profession. Don't believe media hype about the nursing shortage, nursing salaries, the sanctity and greatness of nursing. Shadow a nurse or somehow learn more about its content, not its status for salary range and job security.

lizv · Apr 12, 2010

Hi thanks for the reply. I've done my own soul-searching on my decision to go into nursing. I have my own reasons and I don't need to justify them here on this board to everyone.

I think we have reasons as to why we want to do something, career-wise. If we could all do what we wanted to do and not worry about job security and salary, we would all be happier. If I could sit on a corner and sell peaches and apples for a living, I would. But I would not be living a life I always thought I would, and be able to support my parents and I and any future children. Isn't the goal at the end of the day is to be able to put food on the table? Are you saying you didn't pick nursing for a salary? Job security?

As I said, nursing is a lucrative field. The salary is not bad, but I'm sure you are worked like a horse, get no respect, get stepped all over work long hours etc. Therefore there IS a nursing shortage because the turnover is so high and people leave the profession. I don't expect nursing to be my career, but a stepping stone to my career. I work with nurses in a clinic, I've scribed in a hospital ER, I've volunteered at a hospital alongside nurses, I know what the work entails. It is not sexy work, and people leave nursing due to the stress and everything in between what goes with nursing.

Regardless, my issue in this thread is not about my decision to go into nursing so lets not get into that, I don't need any lectures. I have thought about this to no end, and it's a personal decision. :) My issue is that I don't want to invest in something if it is unstable. Why would I major in psychology, rack up 20,000 student loans and only make 10 an hr? But like i said, there really is no telling when the economy will get better, I was hoping for some answers to make me feel better...money rules everything around us. I guess I just need to take some risks!

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Apr 12, 2010

My issue is that I don't want to invest in something if it is unstable. Why would I major in psychology, rack up 20,000 student loans and only make 10 an hr? But like i said, there really is no telling when the economy will get better, I was hoping for some answers to make me feel better...money rules everything around us. I guess I just need to take some risks!

Unfortunately, that's all you can do: take the risk.

If you're concerned about debt, look at the type of programs offered. You could do a community college diploma or ADN program for much less than it would cost to do a regular or accelerated BSN. Then after you're licensed and working, if you still enjoy the field of nursing you could always do a RN-BSN bridge program, maybe even on your employer's dime. As far as the "you need a BSN" argument that will probably spring up here after I posted this, for some jobs that may be true and yes, a BSN offers you many opportunities beyond the bedside...but in reality I see just as many unemployed new grad BSNs as I do new grad ADNs/diplomas, so having a BSN is no guarantee of a job either.

Another option is to see if your local hospital has a program where they'll spring for the degree, and in return you give them X years of service as a RN. The downside to this is that you will be committed to this facility for that job...and if it turns out you hate the place, you're stuck there or you need to repay them.

Best of luck.

greytRNtobe · Apr 14, 2010

Where in upstate NY? I have applied to a bunch of places and have not heard anything from anyone. :banghead:

waitingRN · Feb 20, 2012

Would you please tell me what hospitals in upstate NY that you got two offers? I am right now too desperate. I need a job to get rid of the "inexperienced smell".