How is the job situation for RNs and LPNs near Philly area/suburbs?

[missa8182]

I'm starting classes this fall, hoping to get accepted into clinicals for next fall, so I'd be graduating (God willing) around May 2014. I'm just getting a little nervous about the job situation for RNs and LPNs (I'm going for RN, but just curious about LPNs as well). I'm just wondering what the job situation is like in PA...I'm currently in the Reading area but would like to relocate back to Montgomery County where I grew up (Grand View Hospital, Doylestown, Bryn Mawr, etc)? Is it really bad out there?

[catlvr]

I'm an LPN in Philadelphia. If you want to be a nurse, go for it - 2014 is a *long* time away - not sure that it can accurately be predicted what the job market will be like then!

Good luck with your studies,

e

[mlclove]

I just graduated from an LPN program in January and I've been looking for a job since then. Most places in Philly want at least a year or more of experience so if you could volunteer or try to work in the field in some capacity. It will help you greatly and good luck!

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

The job market in 2014 is not going to be the job market of right now. It seems like things have been getting better since 2009/2010, but it's still rough. Who knows what it will be like in 3 years.

[lovelymama]

Not sure on the other hospitals you mentioned, but at least for Bryn Mawr, (which is part of Main line Health, along with Paoli, Lankenau, and Riddle), they announced a while back that they were only hiring BSN, so you won't be able to find a job there as RN/LPN.

[chuckster, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

The best advice I can provide is to go for your BSN. I think Doylestown and Chester Cty are also part of the Main Line system and so are now "BSN required" hospitals. Crozer is also seeking magnet status and will soon also apparently require the BSN for Taylor and Delco Memorial as well as CCMC. The Philly area does have a lot of hospitals but also has a lot of nurses, many of whom are experience and also looking for jobs, so it's pretty tough for new grads. Speaking of which, did you know that there are roughly 32 nursing programs in the Philly area? So each May results in literally thousands of new nurses looking for jobs. Odds are that by 2014, things will have eased a bit but I still think you face long odds of finding a nursing job as a new grad. You will shorten those odds considerably as a BSN rather than an ADN though.