How's the Economy for RN's?

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Is it really as bad as CNN makes it out to be out there?

Anyone having trouble finding work? So many of us looked to nursing for stability. We keep hearing there is a desperate nursing shortage. How is that holding in this economy?

Any thoughts?

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Specializes in FNP.

Where I am (Boston, MA) there are no openings for new graduate nurses and there is surplus of us in this area. Per diem nurses are looking for part time/full time work and cannot get the hours. Full time nurses are getting canceled because of a lower census count on the floors. I've been looking for a full time job as a new grad since May. I think the nursing shortage exists in other parts of the country but not here.

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In my area it is looking pretty grim for new grads. Hospitals only want experienced nurses. They are health care agenices who require at least 1yr med-surge experience. How is one to gain expereince if no one is hiring new grads? i'm so sick of seeing commercials for colleges about earning a nursing degree and based upon the department of labor in the State of ?, makes x amount a year.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, ER.

I also live in Boston, MA...graduated in May of 2008 and still no job....not for a lack of trying either. Was offered two positions that both got rescinded for the same reason. Low census and no budget. We new grads are really suffering out here and the more time that passes the less of a chance we have of being hired as new classes graduate.....

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Personally I have always felt that the media inflates things to make them more exciting. In my area things have definitely tightened a bit ie. no more OT, cuts in agency nurses etc. but thats about it. I'm in the DC area.

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Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.

I live in the south and there are plenty of nursing jobs here :) In fact I just got a new job and am making more money and have better hours. My husband also just got a new job (he is a police officer), so we are doing well thankfully. My heart goes out to those who are struggling and have lost their jobs, etc.

I think it depends on where you live.

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Specializes in pulm/cardiology pcu, surgical onc.

Luckily I got hired before the end of the year as now the hospital system has a hiring freeze. Another hospital system in Portland who is the largest employer is laying off 1,000 staff this year. And another hospital system is notorious for call offs d/t low census. I feel for all the new grads being cranked out of the 8+ schools in the metro area (most of them BSN).

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Here in Sacramento I'm still waiting to get hired got my RN license last july'08 and just like some of you really scared now and the more time passes by the less chance of being hired :uhoh21:

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I am also in Boston. Graduated BSN, with honors, in May 08. I am still looking for a position.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I've never had any trouble finding a job, not even last fall when the economy was really beginning to unravel. On the other hand, there aren't nearly as many ads in the newspaper as there used to be..........the Medical/Dental section used to take up at least half a page on Sundays, and today there were only eight ads for healthcare workers. Eight, when there used to be 20 or more on any given Sunday.

Don't know about anyone else, but I'm hunkering down where I am and riding this out..........I'm 50 years old, not in great shape, and I don't want to go back to management so I think I'm better off just staying put!

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Things are not good in Toledo, Ohio..there are so many graduate nurses that have no leads at all here, some have accepted positions that require an hr and half drive and a couple even decided to take weekend only positions at the Cleveland Clinic, which is over a 2 hr drive from here. There are alot of hospitals in Toledo..they just are not hiring like they use to.

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Specializes in ER.

I'm in Dallas, Texas, and here, things are pretty good. Pretty much everyone in our class had jobs by middle of October and didn't graduate until Dec. 10. We just about all got into internships (ER, ICU, PCU, OR, L & D, etc.). So far, Texas has been lucky in escaping this economic downturn, but I suspect it won't last forever. Good luck to everyone out there struggling!

Yang

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