How are local hospital's are doing

Kabin · Jan 1, 2009

Where are all the snowbirds? I haven't seen them. And this is our normally busy season and it's just painfully slow.

Yep, there were fewer snowbirds this year for sure and it adversely impacted local healthcare jobs. It will be tight times in 2009.

catmania · Jan 2, 2009

I'll be graduating from a radiography program in May and we have the same concerns as you nursing people. A glut of x-ray techs being churned out by various programs plus cutbacks/freezes at hospitals is making the employment picture rather bleak for us at the moment. Older techs have been telling us that this is cyclical, there are always good times and bad times and sometimes the bad times are *really* bad. But we've been told that there is *always* something. You may have to be willing to travel farther, take a couple part time or pool positions, or otherwise rearrange your ideas of what you thought you were going to do. I would think it must be the same for nursing.

Good luck to all of you!

Hoozdo, ADN · Jan 3, 2009

Official hiring freeze just began at my hospital. This includes everyone, even nurses. I am at a nonprofit in northern AZ. :down:

inthesky · Jan 4, 2009

No slowdown in behavioral health. More and more people with lost jobs and homes =(.

Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN · Jan 4, 2009

Layoffs and hiring freezes here in the Boston area. Times are tough.

smallnurse10 · Jan 4, 2009

I don't know why people keep talking of coming to Las Vegas because there are no jobs here! One hospital just layed off a lot of nurses. The economy is horrible here, plus there are 8 nursing schools here so we have plenty of new graduates and not enough new graduate positions. I am a little sore with everyone thinking that coming to Vegas is a guaranteed position. It isn't and us locals are having a difficult time.

Wicked Wahine · Jan 4, 2009

You can't count on contracts with hospitals anymore either.

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Jan 4, 2009

And this is our busy season!~

And I've been called off so many times that I don't even have any sick time or vacation time left...

Can't wait to see what the summer brings. But I see layoffs in our future as well...

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Jan 4, 2009

You can't count on contracts with hospitals anymore either.

Isn't that the truth! Here's an article from today's Arizona Daily Star:

TMC now lacks jobs for its nurse grads

Recession, retention mean the nursing shortage is on pause:

When TMC started paying to put students through nursing school, it didn't anticipate a time when it wouldn't need new registered nurses.
"This particular program was put in place several years ago to fill the pipeline for years to come," Wojtowicz said. "What's happened in the last several months is the nursing shortage is not quite as severe as it was."
TMC works with the University of Arizona's College of Nursing, Grand Canyon University, Northern Arizona University and Pima Community College for its training — spending $10,000 to $30,000 on each student depending on the program.
Upon graduation the nurses must work for TMC for two years, or they're in breach of their contract and must pay the money back. But if graduates are willing to work for TMC and not offered a job as a registered nurse, they won't be in violation if they choose to work elsewhere, Wojtowicz said.
That's the bright side for the graduates who don't get nursing jobs, Wojtowicz said: Their education is complete and paid for, and they're free to work where they want.
http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/274262

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Jan 4, 2009

Wow!

This is just awful. At least they don't have to pay back all that money....

Wicked Wahine · Jan 4, 2009

But it sure is late in the game to suddenly find one needs to start applying elsewhere! Good luck finding something anywhere else.

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Jan 4, 2009

Oh, that's so true. So many new grads on the market. Like I said, it's even hard as an experienced nurse to find work!