Just how bad is the job market for experienced Nurses?

realnursealso/LPN, LPN · Dec 15, 2010

Not in my area, Central, New York State. Syracuse has many, many job openings for experienced nurses. One hospital even advertises, asking for new grads.

TakeOne · Dec 15, 2010

Not in my area, Central, New York State. Syracuse has many, many job openings for experienced nurses. One hospital even advertises, asking for new grads.

Beware. In my area, Utah, the hospitals, LTACs and adult care facilities are advertising for nurses constantly too, but they actually hire very few and the experiential criteria can be surreal. They too encourage new grads to apply, but hire them rarely.

Once upon a time, all an RN had to do to get hired was show up and do an application. Those days are over.

By the way, how long ago did you leave the country. Pennsylvania hasn't been known as "Penna." for a few decades

dthfytr, ADN, LPN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-I · Dec 15, 2010

An experienced RN probably will have no trouble getting work as long as they're willing to travel, either commute or relocate. IMHO

BellaRN2010 · Dec 15, 2010

I don't think you will have any trouble finding a job... sounds like you have terrific experience. Just flood the market with applications (which is fairly easy to do with the internet), in all locations and specialities you are willing to work. You will surely hear back.

Best of luck!

carolmaccas66, BSN, RN · Dec 15, 2010

I too am trying to move to another state for a job (not in the US though).

I would strongly recommend that you try to obtain a job before you go over there. Try & get a contract signed b4 moving, see if u can do phone interviews, or go to a cafe/job centre that has skype where they can see u to interview you. Same with your hubby. Otherwise I would tell him to get another job in the UK & try to stay put for a year and see what happens.

Also contact all the nursing agencies in the US. They will probably have work in ur area I would say.

Good luck.

tainted1972, ASN, RN · Dec 15, 2010

Maybe you should try to get on with a travel agency. You can accept assignments close to where you are going to be living.

NewMac · Dec 15, 2010

I hope what I'm about to do isn't a suicide mission.

I earned my BSN in 2007, was in greater Los Angeles Area from late '07 to early '08. Back then, there were still plenty of opportunities, at least that's what I was led to believe in. Then, the economy got worse and because I am not a us citizen, I had to leave the country before my visa expires.

Originally from SEAsia, had an opportunity to work in the Middle East, almost good paying non-nursing job, at least enough for to save money to finance my return to the us and work in a nursing field.

April 2010: took a vacation and went to New York. Same employment atmosphere, if not worse.

Septemeber 2010: 14-day holiday in the Middle East. I flew to Boston. Why? Research: Lots of Hospitals. Also, Lots of Nursing Schools. Nursing Shortage? All the DON and Recruitment Managers I spoke to said the shortage isn't there anymore. Well, at least I'm being entertained in ways I didn't expect. Most of whom were very accommodating.

October-November 2010: Eager to try my luck, took my official annual leave and extended one month more (November). went back to Boston. Fix documents for licensure in MA which consumed most of my time. Had only short period to go from one hospital/nursing home door to another and make phone calls daily. Even considering, moving to Vermont, Maine and NH or any nearby state. One HR director even advised me to check out Texas and Florida. But I haven't really done an in-depth research. Of course, I'd focus first in MA where I'm actually licensed and familiar with the places.

December 2010: back to the middle east and quit my job, dec 31st flying back to MA. talk about being uneconomical, i go to places where i don't know anyone, rent rooms from people I don not know. but I'm desperate to put my acts altogether. It's been 3 years since I graduated and still no real nursing experience. So is my move a good and sound decision with limited savings? maybe not. I have almost zero nursing experience and I will still need an employer willing to sponsor me for a work visa. If it's tough for american nurses, it will be alot tougher for me. But I will take the risk.

It was morning of November 30 when I tried to meet an HR director without an appoinment. I was desperate. That same day I'm flying back to the Middle East. Yet, I was still accommodated enthusiastically. I was honest and so was she. Conclusion: No promises but she will try to do something.

Plans upon return? Lahey Clinic, a teaching hospital just outside Boston, has this reentry program and specialty training programs for new rns and rns who have been away from the work force. I have been communicating with the Program Director and HR manager via email. I plan to attend these programs while continuing my search.

Hope is always there.

againmlg · Dec 15, 2010

Best to have a job before moving.

Also you must check with the BON and hospitals as to any requirements you (possibly) might have to meet before working in an acute setting in the US. It's easy to keep a state license active and in good standing while living away yet not meet the state practice laws or the individual requirements many hospital's have for current US acute care experience.

Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN · Dec 15, 2010

PA isn't the biggest state, but it is rather diverse. There is a big difference between the Philly area, and where my family hails in coal mining country.

Where in PA are you going? PM me if you don't want to post here.

eriksoln, BSN, RN · Dec 15, 2010

I live in PA, and the job market in my area is still in a bit of a crunch. As an experienced nurse, I think if I were to go out looking for a job, I'd find one. Now, finding an IDEAL position (no nights for me, not a pay cut, close to home, in a specialty I actually want to learn etc....) is a completely different story.

I've been doing nights for a number of years now and I've hated every second of it. I tried getting off nights but made no progress. It got to the point where I started applying for jobs in places I really didn't like, just to get off nights. One such place offered me a job, my current employer found out about it and BAM...........I'm working daylight on a new unit in my hospital. So, it took me finding another job to get put on the shift I preferred.

That little story is a good reflection of how it is in my area. You can find work, but most of the jobs that are available are unfilled for a reason. Low pay, bad schedule, poor PTO/Vacation time (the nursing home that wanted to hire me offered one week PTO for the first three years) or lack of benefits. You might have to do as I did, squat on a position and just keep looking for something better.

Noahm · Dec 15, 2010

Hello again,

Thanks for all the replies. We are looking at the Lehigh Valley as that is where I grew up.

The conditions here are pretty bad too. We have no set schedule and have to mix day, evening and night shifts all in the same week...sometimes coming off nights and being on 7 AM start the next day. The pay here is appalling and will be getting cut even more. 2 RNs for a 30 bed med/surg ward with no ward clerk and only very part time pharmacy as well as a shortage of doctors is what we are working with at the moment due to job cuts and hiring freezes.

Point is I am used to appalling conditions LOL.

As long as I can get a job somewhere and my husband can get our house here rented out we are good to go. I will be coming out before he and the kids and getting a job just to be on the safe side. If I don't get a job offer I guess we will have to stay put.

Thanks for all your replies.