If the job market is so terrible right now...

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...would it make the more sense for prospective nursing students to wait out the job slump?

I keep reading about how new grads cannot find jobs... eventually they are no longer eligible for new grad programs. And to top it all off, for each semester they remain jobless, more fresh grads are being pumped into the labor market, which makes the competition progressively worse and competitive.

So what's a nurse to do in that situation?

As a fresh university graduate (22 years old), I'm currently deciding between accelerated, second BSN (2-year), and diploma programs. As many of you know, diploma programs have a waiting list (of maybe 1-2 years) - and not only that, but it seems like if I want to work at a hospital, I will have to do an online bridging program which may take another 1-2 years?

By that time, it might be 2015 before I am working as a BSN. I know that sounds crazy, but could that in any way be smarter -- to wait out the terrible job market? Or is that simply a waste of time?

Would it make more sense to work now until I get off the waiting list (would have enough to cover tuition and graduate from a hospital program debtless), and then perhaps work in a position that does not require a BSN (ie, not in a hospital) -- until I get the BSN?

It's just very frustrating to read about the job market -- is it really that bad? Is waiting in hopes of the market rebounding worth it? Maybe hospitals will finally be willing to train nurses, maybe more nurses will have retired? Are any other students in this position who are afraid to enter nursing? Any experienced nurses have any advice?

Thank you.

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So... are you saying you are just recently degreed but are wanting to change and go for nursing now?

If so, and especially if you already have debt I would not pursue any more edu that you cannot self fund. Nobody knows what the market is going to be in a few years. You are correct several 100's of new nurses graduate twice a year in just my general location. You cannot know who is going to keep stabbing at trying for a job, and who will be forced to leave nursing behind.

Debt is a bad thing. If I were you I would get a job if you can to fund your further edu. Probably make more faster outside healthcare. You could check out and see if tuition reimbursement is still available at hospitals in your area, become a care tech and work at that, but you will be quite poor, and it will take you much longer to reach your goal.

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Sorry --

I should add that though I recently graduated, I have graduated free of debt.

My main issue is whether or not to "purposely" take longer to obtain a BSN in order to wait for a better job market (also I will end up free of debt if I take that route, since diploma programs are cheaper and I will accumulate enough money to cover it while on the waiting list) -- of course at the cost of waiting almost 5 years as opposed to 2.5-3.

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If you can afford to start Nursing School now, I'd say go for it. The job market for EVERYTHING is bad right now, and there is also no way to predict what it will be like in 2 years when you graduate. Usually people work when they get their diploma and pursue the bridge BSN while working, so you wouldn't be adding an extra year that way.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Yes the job market is that bad....the thing with nursing......this too shall pass

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Just a side note - hospital-based diploma programs are pretty much extinct in most parts of the country. Professional nursing education is college-based and many hospitals are raising the bar... hiring BSN grads only. Tuition reimbursement is very low in healthcare... most generally less than $2k per year, so don't count on this as the main way to fund an education.

What type of degree did you (so recently) get? Have you even tried obtaining work in that field? It would seem that you have everything going for you since you don't even have any student loan debt to pay off. Why not go out and experience the 'real world' for a while rather than prolonging student-hood?

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There are still some diploma programs out there. I'm in a hybrid hospital based diploma/associate program. The hospital-based school works with the local community college as a partnership, it's great.

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I graduated from my BSN program in May and am still looking for a full-time job/internship, so yes the job market is horrible right now! If you have the funds to start a nursing program I think you should but def go for a BSN because I've seen many positions requiring a bachelor's. And if possible I would work as a tech while in nursing school because that's your best bet on getting a job when you graduate. good luck!

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I graduated from my BSN program in May and am still looking for a full-time job/internship, so yes the job market is horrible right now! If you have the funds to start a nursing program I think you should but def go for a BSN because I've seen many positions requiring a bachelor's. And if possible I would work as a tech while in nursing school because that's your best bet on getting a job when you graduate. good luck!

I'm finishing my pre reqs to enter a competitive RN program, that I may not get into. As back-up, I've applied to a tech school to get my LPN. So, either way I'm working towards my goal of becoming a nurse. So, here's my question: What is a "tech" and how do I go about getting that type of job? I have my CPR certificate. What is required?

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Yes the job market is that bad....the thing with nursing......this too shall pass

What I figured! So wouldn't it be smarter to delay my BSN a year or so, rather than risk graduating in a bleak market?

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Just a side note - hospital-based diploma programs are pretty much extinct in most parts of the country. Professional nursing education is college-based and many hospitals are raising the bar... hiring BSN grads only. Tuition reimbursement is very low in healthcare... most generally less than $2k per year, so don't count on this as the main way to fund an education.

What type of degree did you (so recently) get? Have you even tried obtaining work in that field? It would seem that you have everything going for you since you don't even have any student loan debt to pay off. Why not go out and experience the 'real world' for a while rather than prolonging student-hood?

Yes, I'm aware that BSN seems to be becoming the "standard." This is why I'm comparing a diploma + RNtoBSN route vs an accelerated BSN or 2-year BSN route. I'm not really relying on tuition reimbursement, I can pay off my diploma RN easily without getting into debt since I'll have accumulated enough money by the time I get off the waiting list. If I go straight for the BSN, however, I will have to take out loans. By doing diploma + RNtoBSN, I'm hoping I can avoid debt and maybe the recession will have improved. Is that crazy?

I have a degree in sociology. The problem is that the job market is terrible everywhere! Haha. I'm currently working food service in a retirement home and hope to get into the assisted living department or something by the end of the year. Unfortunately, I did not do much in the way of resume-building/acquiring experience throughout college. It's a long, personal, complicated story, but this is where I am at right now. Entry level jobs seem few and far between in this economy, it's competitive, and I'm not a strong candidate. I would consider non-profit work but I doubt I could get a position. Besides, I've long wanted to be a nurse/go into healthcare, and did get into the nursing school of my choice 4 years ago, but decided to major in something else to see what else was out there -- 4 years later I realize the helping professions are where I belong. Haha. So I don't necessarily have a problem with "prolonging student-hood."

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If you could land a decent job, I'd recommend that so that you could continue to be debt free. Plus, that would give you time to research the various schools and types of nursing out there - so you don't end up graduating with another degree that you're not sure how you want to use - as well as added debt and lost income. Having a more focused goal could also make the choice of nursing program easier as well since you could find ones that would best meet your goals.

The bulk of RN work available out there is bedside nursing. Volunteer, take a nursing assistant course, ask to shadow any RN acquaintance you can get hold of - see if that appeals to you. If not, nursing still may be for you, but again, you could use the "wait time" to research other areas of nursing and start getting toehold through related volunteer or coursework. That way, you'll have so much more to offer a potential employer than an untested license and a general desire to help people.

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