Job openings - act quickly

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

The Hahnemann website has listings for several RN positions. The descriptions vary but in general they are (cut and pasted from the Tenent site):

Qualifications

The RN assesses, plan, implements and evaluates patient care and in collaboration with other health care professionals and in accordance with licensure standards. The RN provides leadership in maintaining standards of patient care, customer service, and direction of the multidisciplinary patient care team.

• Prefer at least one year RN experience in a hospital setting.
  
• Graduate Nurses are welcomed at periodic intervals depending on preceptor availability
  
• Ongoing validated competency as required both generally and within unit parameters as they relate to the patient population needs.
  
• Ability to provide support to patient, family members and visitors in order to enhance comfort and security.
  
• Computer skills
  
• Effective communication and interpersonal/behavioral skills
  
• Customer service orientation skills in problem solving
  
• ACLS certification
  

Note that unlike many of the postings in the Philly area, Hahnemann will at least consider new RNs (experience is "preferred" not "required" as for many postings. Another plus: The posting states that they may even consider graduate nurses - very rare these days. You will need ACLS but that's pretty easy to line up.

Good luck to any who apply.

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

If you apply to Hahnemann, you MUST call HR to follow up on your application. The nurse recruiter there spoke to my class and really values follow-up AND a detailed resume over a brief one.

The postings at Hahnemann have been going up continuously throughout the year, so check back frequently for new postings and follow up with each application.

[NursingBabyJ]

I applied last week and called today after been given advice from a fellow nurse. They returned my call within hours, unlike some hospitals that I've been leaving voicemails for months. The nurse recruiter was VERY helpful. Sounds like a good hospital to get to know... good luck in your search!

[emt123277]

Multiple positions open at Pocono Medical Center, Hazleton General Hosp, Berwick Hosp, & Wilkes-barre General Hosp. If you want to drive, there's positions available. Some of these folks need to spend more time looking and less time lamenting about how there is no jobs for them. LOOK for a job and yes, you may have to commute.

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

Multiple positions open at Pocono Medical Center, Hazleton General Hosp, Berwick Hosp, & Wilkes-barre General Hosp. If you want to drive, there's positions available. Some of these folks need to spend more time looking and less time lamenting about how there is no jobs for them. LOOK for a job and yes, you may have to commute.

I was never opposed to a commute when I was looking, but a 2 hour one way commute is neither safe nor sustainable. I looked out that far but stopped when I really thought about how that would work logistically. That's really more of a relocation than a commute.

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

One reason it seems tough for new grads to find nursing jobs in the Philadelphia area may be because it is.

What the table below indicates is relatively weak growth in RN employment over the 4 year period 2005 through 2009 (the latest year that BLS data are available) but relatively strong growth in the supply of new RN's over the same period. Over that 4 year stretch, RN job growth averaged 230 per year while new RN's entered the market at an average of 1,965 per year. Of course, some of those new RN's undoubtedly would have planned to relocate after getting their degrees, so the supply number is likely to be somewhat inflated. Nevertheless, it appears that the general trend is toward a significant oversupply of new nurses to a stagnant to poor job market.

For the curious, there are 23 programs at 22 separate institutions in the 5 county Phila Metro area producing RN's (one school, Jefferson, has both ADN and BSN programs). I originally had this number at 32 but that included schools outside of the metro area though still within the Phila SMSA.

Year RN’s RN’s Entering

Employed Workforce

2005 43,740 1,822

2006 44,840 1,935

2007 42,420 1,797

2008 42,740 1,986

2009 42,820 2,142

References:

1) US Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment Statistics, Metropolitan Area Cross-Industry estimates (Philadelphia Metropolitan Division, Occupational Code (OCC_Code) 29-1111 – Registered Nurses (for RN employment figures above)

2) PA State Board of Nursing, “NCLEX-RN Performance of First Time Candidates Educated in Pennsylvania who Completed NCLEX in the US” (for New Grad RN’s above)