Honest thoughts on Job Market

Nurses General Nursing

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Was wondering if people who are looking for nursing jobs are getting interviews and offers?

Am curious to know if the economy is improving.

Would like to hear from both RN's and LPN's.

Also, if you had to relocate to obtain the position ?

Thanks and good luck to ALL who are searching!

Specializes in PeriOperative.

In mid-Missouri, there are hospitals hiring new grads by the bushel. They are being hired to specialty areas like L&D, OR, and ICUs. I work in OR, and we've all done a lot of "team-building" work in these units, so I am exposed to their staff on a regular basis. In the December 2009-2010, there was 1 hired to L&D, 4 hired to OR, and 13 to various ICUs in the hospital. I have no idea about the floors, but I assume there are plenty of new grads there too. There are a number of hospitals/PMNR facilities in the region, and I have heard that they are all hiring new grads.

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Specializes in Med Surg.

We have a half dozen "openings" for RNs and LVNs where I work. Will anyone be hired to fill them? NO! I have also seen openings in most of the cities in West Texas as well as various facilities in North Texas and the Panhandle. On closer inspection, many of these "openings" are over a year old.

These are not "dummy" positions used to fish for applicants. Businesses, including hospitals, LTCs, clinics, etc., have a certain number of slots budgeted for each position. When a slot is open they have to make an attempt, real or imaginary, to fill it. If they don't, guess what happens to that slot when budget time comes around. As long as the work is getting done (in management's view) and overtime is cheaper than benefits, they will just not hire anyone no matter how many qualified applicants they have.

It's all a game and unfortunately we are the losers.

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Specializes in Oncolgy, Neuro, Med/Surg.
IMO its all about who you know. Where I work a lot of the hospitals are hiring, if you know the right people to get an interview.

So very true, when I graduated I was working at the hospital as a Clinical Assistant and had a job no problem. All of my classmates that were working at the different hospitals had jobs at graduation while very few of those that weren't working found jobs for months.

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Specializes in Oncolgy, Neuro, Med/Surg.
I'm still a student but the 2010 graduating class from my school had nearly 100% job placement (I don't know the percentage whether it be 95% or 99%, etc.). Also, three major hospitals in our area have probably 70-100 listings for RNs that I can find online. Whether they are actively hiring I'm not sure but from several people I've spoken with, the nursing shortage is alive and well. Unfortunately this hiring situation seems to be highly localized.

The fact is that locality makes a huge difference, here in central Texas there are 4 major nursing programs cranking out 600-700 new grads twice per year. There are 3 hospital systems that hire a total of 300 new grads annually for their respective residencies. I cant say enough that it is all about who you know, or better yet who knows you. I was 39 when I finished school, all through school I worked as a CA at the hospital I wanted to eventually work at as a nurse. I did this intentionally, while taking all of my pre-nursing courses I worked part time somewhere else, as the nursing program started I changed jobs so I would have the inside track on a job as an RN.

I feel bad for all of you that are looking for jobs and those of you that are scared of graduating soon with no prospects in sight. If you haven't taken boards try to get a job as a CA, if you have, see if you can get a PRN or part time position as a companion sitter for the hospital. At least you will be able to meet people and make some contacts. Good Luck!

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NYC market is terrible. It's over-saturated with new grads and experienced nurses that have been laid off from the four hospitals that have closed in the last 18 months. NYC lost Mary Immaculate and St. John's hospital (both located in Queens) in 2009 and St. Vincents and North General have closed this year. Some of these hospitals were union facilities and the laid off workers are in line for spots at other union hospitals but there is no guarantee of placement.

My hospital is a union facility and a hiring freeze has been initiated to help with the placement of the union members but there are not enough open positions available for the laid off workers much less new grads.

It's a very sad situation.

My hospital seems financially secure but I do worry about losing my job. You just never know...it's seems to be a matter of luck these days. Any of us...no matter how hard working can lose our positions. Scary to think....in the past I thought healthcare was as secure as you could get but not so much these days.

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Specializes in med/sug/onc/geri.

Worst I've ever seen it. Moved from a state where hospitals were doing layoffs, hoping to find work easier, took months to find a job here, not even a 'good' job, just ANY job.

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Hi.. I am not a new nurse nor am I currently seeking employment. I am blessed with a great job but as a mother with a 25 year old daughter in LPN school now, I do have a comment to make about the bleak job market currently facing nurses.....new grads and experienced nurses alike. Why do hospitals continue to recruit foreign nurses when there are so many nurses here in need of employment? Please do not flame me for asking an innocent question. I am not biased against ANYONE. But I think we should take care of our own first and foremost. At the hospital I just left, I was the night charge nurse on a PCU floor. Out of the 25 full time night shift RN's, 20 of them were from the Phillipines and 2 were from India. And the hospital...HCA facility...was still actively recruiting more nurses from overseas. Sorry if I am offending anyone. But I do not understand WHY??

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Specializes in Mental Health.

Well, my views have changed from my first posting here. I've had 3 interviews now and 3 offers as a new grad. :)

I was 1000 miles from home ready to do a 4th interview in Wyoming when I got a call with an offer that morning from an interview the week before. It was my 1st choice of specialty, and 1st choice of hospital, I immediately accepted it. :yeah:

So I went to the hospital in person a few hours before my scheduled interview time and told the recruiter that I accepted an offer that morning and I just wanted to meet her in person and thank her for the opportunity. I didn't see any sense in interviewing after that. She was really nice, wished me luck in my new job and said to call if anything changes. I'm certain I would have got an offer from there too had I interviewed.

Then on my way home the next day, I got a call with a 3rd offer from a phone interview I had done. It feels good to be wanted.. lol..

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Wow that is really great news. I have limited my search to the State of Nevada since that is where I am licensed. Did you get licensed in additional states, or are you in a compact state?

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Specializes in Mental Health.
Wow that is really great news. I have limited my search to the State of Nevada since that is where I am licensed. Did you get licensed in additional states, or are you in a compact state?

No, I'm just licensed in MN, and it's not a compact state. I would have just applied for a license by endorsement to the other states right away had I accepted an offer there. Just paperwork, background check, and a fee. Facilities wont disregard you if you have a license in good standing in any state, they know you can get one in their state if an offer is made and accepted. One offer I got was in Fargo, ND. The offer I accepted is 30 miles away.. Soooo happy I don't have to move.. :)

If you're willing to relocate, don't let that stop you or limit your options. No need to pay and get licensed in another state until you accept a position.

Good luck in your search!!

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