Jobs, No Jobs, Career Options

invernessfl · Jun 7, 2010

i second that, there's a huge nursing shortage and its only getting worse. Remember as the baby boomers retire a whole lot of them will finally get health insurance through Medicare where historically they haven't had health insurance. So you're looking at an increase in the number of patients and you'll need more nurses to take care of them

smartnurse1982 · Jun 7, 2010

i second that, there's a huge nursing shortage and its only getting worse. Remember as the baby boomers retire a whole lot of them will finally get health insurance through Medicare where historically they haven't had health insurance. So you're looking at an increase in the number of patients and you'll need more nurses to take care of them

This is the stuff I don't like. Please tell me you did read about all the new grads on here who can't find jobs.there is no nursing shortage,actually there is a glut. Are you a nurse? I'm sure you see it at your place of employment that there are no openings.

Its getting worse,but for new grads and even experienced nurses.

As for joing the army,they have met their nursing quotas. A lot of people can't join because of family obligations. I wasn't to join but guess what? I'm too fat,at 250 lbs. Do you know if they would still want me in?

Sorry,have to add they only want bsn's.

smartnurse1982 · Jun 7, 2010

Perhaps it is the sections that I tend to look at (LPN, Private Duty, HomeCare), but I seem to be reading alot about there being no jobs for new nurses, that the new jobs you can get are pretty ucky and there is a general malaise in the professional. But don't worry, new nurses only last about 8 years.
(I'm confused,please care to explain how this relates to the rest of your post?)
Huh?
What nursing school did you go to? Mine told me that there was a nursing shortage, and that I was embarking upon a career that would make me feel like Florence Nightingale. And I would be forced to hire a financial manager because I was going to make fantastic money.
Surprise,there is no shortage,not at this time.
Well I am still waiting for my lemons to taste like lemonade but I don't get what all the belly aching is about. I suspect I am a bit older than some but I have a hint. Your country needs you, and it is probably the best nursing experience out there you will ever build your career on. I am NOT talking about the VA system, although that is getting better, but I am talking about doing a few years in uniform.
How do you know if they haven't tried the military route?
I wasn't a nurse when I was in boots (105 mm gun bunny) but I wish I was. My instructor was a army nurse and her command presence reflected it.
If you have talked to someone about what military nursing offers new grads, please share it. I suspect you do not need to be a GI Jane to enlist but what are they looking for?
Oh, and why isn't there some PSA's on this website that point visitors to a site offering more information about this career option?

As I wrote before,you have to have a bsn and be physically fit to join the military. Do you have any information so you can pass it on instead of ranting?

bunsterj · Jun 7, 2010

i think there is a limited nursing shortage...the ads i see are frequently for experienced icu, ccu, nicu, er, and or nurses. i don't have experience in any of those areas.

many of the other ads i see require one year of current experience. most of those jobs are part time (which i would definitely take at this point) and prn (i need to be able to support myself and assist my son until he is done with school). my experience is not current, but i have taken the local refresher course.

i believe the cut off age to join the military is 44. i do have a general application in for a civilian nurse position at the local base and clinic...they do not have any posted jobs that i would be qualified for on usajobs.

when i got out of nursing school there indeed was a nursing shortage (the 80's); honestly, you just picked the hospital you wanted and if all your ducks were in a row, you were hired. all of the larger hospitals near me had extensive "new grad" programs; that's not happening now. i can tell you, because i have been trying to get a job for more than a year. one am last week, i received seven rejection emails...not how i want to start my day.

Bobbkat · Jun 7, 2010

Perhaps I am misreading or misunderstanding the point of this post, but as part of the group that you are targeting this post at I'm feeling very defensive right now, as I interpret your tone as both abrasive and confrontational. Are you trying to say that we new grads are collectively 'making up' the employment freeze out? Are you saying that we have no right to vent unless we have looked at all theoretically possible options? Sure I have a BSN and would meet the physical and age requirements of the military, but I also have a toddler and a securely employed husband. Theoretically, the armed services are an option for me to look into, but am I supposed to leave my family?

I've submitted approx 200 aps (I stopped keeping exact count long ago) and finally am going on my first interview later this month. Things were different just a few short years ago for new grads, and I sincerely hope that they will be different again very soon. In the meantime, if I don't vent about the experience that I'm going through, bad things will happen to my soul.

LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN · Jun 7, 2010

My school had so called "recruiters" come and speak to our graduating class and among them was somone from the military and as they all went around saying that yes their various companies do hire new grads, so we asked them do you hire ADN nurses becuse we were a ADN program then all the recruiters started to backpedal. :eek:

The military recruiter said that they only take BSN or higher in education and that they have met their quota for this year unless you know a BSN with 5 years ICU experince. Why was he even there talking to a graduating class of ADN nurses I will never know.

The only "recruiter" that said yes we hire new grad ADN nurses is the LTC, everyone else stated that they would perfer a BSN, or if we went through an internship program, but non of the facilites that they were representing were planning to have any internships coming up. :confused:

Sad, when these are "recruiters" for the area:down:

then of course everyone that I run into, always asks the same questions, arent you about ready to graduate? ...yes...

oh so you have a job already lined up, because there is a nursing shortage........... :uhoh3:

Gerry1888RN · Jun 7, 2010

Thanks for the nice post. I respect your frustraions, but it is hard for new grads to join the military due to many not having their BSN's and not having experience. I think a lot of new grads need to look at LTC facilities, and look into relocating these days. One has to be flexible to be competetive. I graduated last month, and take my NCLEX in 2 weeks, and I do have a job as an RN lined up 70 miles from where I stay as I am willing to be flexible. Also, Army will always need nurses in the near future.

luvNpassion4nursing · Jun 7, 2010

hopefully this shortage will be short lived

aura_of_laura · Jun 7, 2010

While I sort of agree with the OP's sentiments, the military isn't really the refuse bin for nurses who can't make it anywhere else. They have a very competitive application process, as well as strict physical and mental health requirements (kidney stones? can't join. flat feet? can't join. history of treatment for mental illness? good luck.).

I am excited about joining the Air Force - it'll be both an honor to serve, and a reward for sticking out the year-long application process. I've still got some waiting to do, but I'm confident it's the right career move, even though I haven't ever had trouble finding a great nursing job.

smartnurse1982 · Jun 7, 2010

Does anyone know why you have to be physically fit(I guess code for skinny" to join as a nurse? Are the nurses on the battlefield itself? Accorfing to my sister,whe said they had large nurses in the army and that it wouldn't matter because you aren't on the battlefield,so I don't know but would like to find out.

cb_rn · Jun 7, 2010

does anyone know why you have to be physically fit(i guess code for skinny" to join as a nurse? are the nurses on the battlefield itself? accorfing to my sister,whe said they had large nurses in the army and that it wouldn't matter because you aren't on the battlefield,so i don't know but would like to find out.

it is a rigorous occupation.

you still have to pass the physical fitness tests each year and be fit for service. and the nurses get deployed to areas like guantanamo bay where you are working with the detainees and deployed other potentially hazardous areas. nurses are commissioned officers, meaning they are in a position of authority. they wear armed forces uniforms and have a duty to represent, as an officer, the standards that they hold all members to. including physical fitness.

to people that do not qualify under the regular armed forces standards, the army has a civilian corp of nurses http://www.civilianmedicaljobs.com/?id=13 that work in many different areas that may hold an alternative for you.

the armed forces does offer a option for nurses with bsn or higher that are able to meet the requirements and are able to relocate and deploy. however, for those of us with established families, it may not be a valid option. we are a military family and i have met several nurses that did rotc to pay for their school. as a matter of fact, my sister in law is a navy nurse and enjoys it very much. however, she is single and able to tolerate the work schedule (which is sometimes for than 3 12 hour shifts a week because you are a salaried employee). my favorite instructor was also a career navy nurse that took up teaching on retirement. however, they do not accept all people that apply and the list of items that can exclude you from serving is extensive.

i would suggest that anyone looking to join or for more information to bypass your local recruiter at first and go directly to the army, navy, airforce, or marine website for nurse officers and use the contact button. the recruiter is more familiar with the process of enlisting an "enlisted" person who is typically young and just graduating high school. the officer process is different and you could save yourself a lot of potential misinformation by contacting directly and then going to the recruiter once you are informed.