Jobs scarce for nurses

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As an unemployed new grad RN I was wondering why you hear so much about the "nurse shortage". Then I came across this article. Turns out there is an over supply of new grads nurses. Even experienced nurses around Virgina are having trouble finding jobs. See Washington Post and Baltimore Journal articles:

Demand for Nurses Lessens During Economic Downturn - washingtonpost.com

As white-hot nursing market cools, a job is no longer a sure thing | Baltimore Business Journal

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Hello. Hope you find a job soon! Yes, it seems to be a challenge to accurately assess what is going on in the job market for RN's. For example, at one time there were national news articles saying that with the newest hot job market was going to be for nurses in home health because hospitals were discharging patients from hospitals more quickly. I have learned, however, that there is a significant limit to RN nursing jobs in home health because health insurance companies are tightening the financial belt on how long they approve coverage for home health care. Have you considered checking out nursing job opportunities in the military? Best wishes!

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Yes good luck in your job search. The military might be a good idea if you like to travel.

You are right that the "RN shortage" is a myth I'm starting to think about going back to school to retrain for something with more job options. I'm wondering if there is a related field where jobs are more plentiful. OT or PT maybe. Anywhoo good luck in your job search LDubois.

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Specializes in Professional Development Specialist.

"No ****, Sherlock," is what comes to mind. One of my mom's favorite sayings. I'm coming up on a year in sub acute rehab. While my patients are sicker than what I often saw in nursing school on med/surg, my experience is still considered long term care. Now I'm closing in on a year and find all hospital jobs now say 2+ years acute care experience. When I graduated last December they all said 1 year. Since my nearly 1 year isn't counted as experience at all I am stuck and grateful to be employed. Or trying to be grateful, depending on the day. :D

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

Anybody notice that Johnson and Johnson has started up those ads of theirs again? They're playing a lot in my area again. Totally irresponsible.

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Specializes in Correctional Nursing, Orthopediacs.
Anybody notice that Johnson and Johnson has started up those ads of theirs again? They're playing a lot in my area again. Totally irresponsible.

Yes they are playing here too. No shortage here hospitals are still barely hiring. You can in the midwest get any nursing home job you want. Getting in the hospital is a problem though you need to know someone.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

While the message is still clear and still true, those articles are nearing two years old now. I would love to see some written recently on the subject to compare where things stand now.

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Specializes in pediatrics.

You are correct - jobs ARE scarce for nurses. I'm including Johnson and Johnson's link here, as I see they have relaunched their nursing ads in my area as well. It's time we let the know that there is no longer a nursing shortage.

http://www.discovernursing.com/

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

Well, I sent them an email:

Are you people crazy? Do you realize that there are new graduates and experienced nurses all over the country who can't get jobs right now because hospitals are not hiring? Nurses who graduated up to two years ago are still trying to get hired.

Why are you suddenly restarting this campaign to get people to enter the nursing profession? It is totally irresponsible when there are so many new and experienced nurses who are desperate for work right now.

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Specializes in med/surg,ortho, tele,.

The JnJ ads run all the time in my area. "There has never been a better time to be a nurse." I know a lot of unemployed and under employed new grad RNs who would beg to differ. The over saturation of nursing programs cranking out new grad nurses here is ridiculous.

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.

I seriously doubt J&J actually cares about advancing the nursing profession's best interest. My hunch is J&J cares about how they appear to the public to be caring about nurses who care for the public, their customers. It's PR, not reality.

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Specializes in m/s,tele.

I can't help but think some jobs for new RNs would open up if all states would implement safe nurse/pt ratios. But I don't think that will ever happen as hospital corporations are too powerful.

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