Hope for New Grads in the Future

lifelearningrn, BSN, RN · Jul 31, 2010

Nursing is not a profession that will go obsolete nor can it be outsourced. While there may be times of hiring freezes and such.. the future lookout for nurses, imho, will always be for the most part stable.

Right now, it's a low.. it won't (can't) last forever.

Tankweti · Jul 31, 2010

I am a new grad myself and having a very hard time, searching with no response, honors BSN grad 5/10. I don't know about the answers re: economy from personal experience except for the fact that, from Spring 2009 to May 2010 we all noted a 50% drop in hospital census numbers across the board on all of our clinical rotations with the exception of Mental Health rotations, which were jammed with patients. In short, because of the recession people have lost jobs and insurance. We suspect that people are putting off going to the doctor because of cost. When Obama's new Health care plan comes in in 2014, everyone will be legally mandated to have insurance by hook or by crook, so at that time things may improve. Otherwise, economic pundits on CNBC and the like are advancing the theory that hiring in general will not improve until 2015. If people are not working then, whether it is good for them or not, they will not be able to get healthcare which will lessen the need for staff. I know on some of our rotations, we witnessed nurses either being asked to go home or volunteering to go home because of lack of patients. Of course, another hospital possibility is to start closing down units which I understand they are loathe to do as that is an expensive proposition.

Ambi Dextrose · Jul 31, 2010

Honestly, don't quit your job. Save yourself some time & money and look at other careers. Nursing is so saturated right now that 300-500 applicants per 10-15 position. Whats worse...more nursing students are graduating every year. If you are skill skeptical, read what others have written in this site.

RNrobert · Jul 31, 2010

It is tough out there right now but this will change. The average age of the nursing workforce is reaching fifty plus, and while new grads are having difficulty finding jobs experienced nurses have little difficulty finding employment. The economy will pick up sooner or later, older nurses will retire or go back to part-time, hospitals will start spending the money it takes to train novice nurses, and census will shoot way up. There really is a shortage of nurses that will only get worse over the next few years. Even in these tough times employment can be found if you do the necessary footwork and aren't especially picky about where you take your first job. I was lucky, I made a great contact at my local hospital who got me in with the director of emergency nursing. Start making contacts early in your schooling, volunteer, work as a cna, student nurse worker, tech, or ward clerk, and do things that make you stand out and be remembered. As with most things in life, if you are passionate about what you want and work hard to achieve it, you will get what you want.

Faeriewand, ASN, RN · Jul 31, 2010

If your accelerated BSN isn't going to cost a ton of money go for it if you really want to be a nurse and don't worry about the job market. :redpinkhe I'm questioning the ABSN because in San Diego, SDSU's program costs about $43,000 and I wouldn't want to be in debt that much when I graduate. Many have played it smart and just attended the local community colleges even when they had prior degrees, several had Master's already.

In two years you would be graduating and the outlook on the job market should be better. :) Plus you don't have to throw out your family while going to school. :uhoh3: :twocents:

Good luck whatever you decide. :redbeathe

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Jul 31, 2010

I believe nobody can accurately predict how the nursing job market is going to shake out in the future. We will only know when we get there.

us2uk4u · Jul 31, 2010

I will be graduating in 2011 and trust me I am nervous as well. However, every profession goes through this lull. I can guarantee you that finance, elementary education, law and art majors (just to name a few) are also having a hard time looking for employment right now. There is no such thing as a "recession-proof" occupation (well maybe a funeral director). The job market goes through a cycle like everything else, and like everything else it will bounce back. If you really want to pursue nursing go for it.

redessa · Jul 31, 2010

My mom's been a nurse for over 30 yrs and my dad for close to 20. They've seen the job market's highs and lows many times over the years. The current economic climate is just plain bad for everyone right now and there may be sectors that never fully recover (due to jobs being shipped overseas or whatever else). But healthcare is an area that seems to always bounce back. How long it's going to take is anyone's guess. The average age of nurses is rising and they can't put off retirement forever. And people who are putting off treatment will eventually get to the point that they have to seek help and will probably be more acute for having waited. I think it won't be too many more years before there will be plenty of jobs again. But again, it could be 2 yrs, it could be 5 or even 10.

I think whether or not you go into nursing depends on how bad you want it. And there are areas that are hiring. Are you willing to move or work in a department that's not your first choice? These are the things you have to consider if you find the market is not recovering by the time you graduate.

ECRN 4085 · Aug 1, 2010

The thing I learned is you cant look at nursing like a job. It sounds cliche but it truly has to be a passion. If you feel truly called to be a nurse, go for it. One problem I notice with a lot of new grads is the sense of entitlement. Many enter undergrad schooling with the goal of immediately obtaining work an ICU for a year to transition right to anesthesia. Most I talk to hold out for that job forgetting that they need experience, they need to learn how to be a nurse!! Thats not to say why the market is poor in some areas, just an observation.

If you want to be a nurse for the joy of the profession and passion you feel toward it, at least in my neck of the woods, there are PLENTY of nonhospital jobs, look for nursing home jobs, hospice jobs, skilled nursing facilities, outpatient surgery centers etc all that pay great (again, in my area). This acute care hiring freeze will subside, jobless new grads hang in there!! And dont be afraid to look for jobs in places other than hospitals!!

neutrophil · Aug 1, 2010

It is very hard. I tend to agree that, this is a job that is not for everyone, so not everyone can do it. It can't be outsourced. I know about roughly 40% of the nurses have two jobs. It is because when there was a shortage they were called and they took the jobs and got used to the money and working those long hours. I myself have a full time and part time job. If all these two job nurses would have only one job, it would be easier for others. But it will come back again. As I stated earlier, nursing is not for everyone. If you don't have the heart for it. The money will not matter. Make sure you are doing it for the right reasons.

DPSGraduateNurse · Aug 1, 2010

I believe there will always be something for nurses whether economy bad or good. I think for starters, too many nurses are so used to having overtime that's no longer there. For those who are graduating, if you can go back to school do it. If you are able to move across the country for work, do it.

This is why I will be keeping my to-date full-time job and going to school. That way when I'm done with school, I either A. keep my current job while I look for nursing job or B. quit current job and work immediately in my field.

Things will bounce back. It's just a matter of time. I know its harder for others who can't find jobs and have kids/family to support. If I had a cure for that, I would fix it.