Lack of nursing jobs

Published

I wonder where everyone is from that they are having so much trouble locating nursing jobs. I moved from a small town where I had full time employment and they had many open positions, to a large city. I found a job quickly (even before moving) and see multiple jobs listed at all hospitals. Is it the hours, the place, or really no jobs?

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I wonder where everyone is from that they are having so much trouble locating nursing jobs. I moved from a small town where I had full time employment and they had many open positions, to a large city. I found a job quickly (even before moving) and see multiple jobs listed at all hospitals. Is it the hours, the place, or really no jobs?

It really does depend where in the country you are.....the East coast is very tight even for experienced old broads like me:rolleyes:........younger nurses with higher degress and less experience for administration jobs and my bedside experienced is "outdated" and lets face it costly when compaired to less experienced nurses......even though I have always kept ACLS BLS PALS current for that "just in case"......still looking:up:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

At this point it is very discouraging. Whenever I look at the prospects of a new graduate getting a job I regret going to nursing school. This is because I want to use the skills and knowledge that I have gained but no one wants to give me a chance. I get so annoyed when people state that I should be able to find a job easily because I am a nurse. These are the moments I have to educate people that the plethora of ads they see for RNs are for those with at least 1 year experience.

At times I am jealous of those with great connections because they may not be the best person for the job but they end up getting the position because of who they know.

Due to the job shortage in nursing I don't tend to recommend nursing school to friends and family as I did in the past, especially if they tell me that they want to go into nursing for the money.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yep , No Jobs for new grads in atlanta!!! and there are several nursing programs in the area that keep churning out fresh nurses.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB, NICU, Nursing Education (academic).

New grads are being hired left and right in Eastern KY.......I think just about all our new grads from the class of 2010 have a job/job offer.

Location is everything.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds, PACU, ICU, ER, OB, MED-Surg,.

Thanks everyone for your input. Seems like the old saying is proved true again... "Location, Location, Location."

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
Thanks everyone for your input. Seems like the old saying is proved true again... "Location, Location, Location."

You got that right. I'm working in the DC area and got 3 job offers in the last six months but as others have mentioned it is easier with experience. Good luck to everyone looking.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

My godmother's youngest kid is a new grad RN. She got a job with some nuns in Camden, New Jersey. In exchange for 1 year working in their medical clinic, she gets room, board, health insurance, and a small stipend. Of course, she has to live in Camden, New Jersey.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think just about everywhere is feeling the crunch. I'm in Miami and have been an LPN for over 10 years. I'll be starting my 4th semester of an RN program in 2 weeks. I have experience in several areas, but have been working with an agency, as a hospice nurse, since last May when I started the program.

During my recent 8 week break from school, I wanted to work some extra hours. But to my surprise, for the first 3 weeks I had NO work at all. The agency said that the census was low for hospice. So during that time, I filled out about 12 applications (of places that advertised). I figured I would just go on staff somewhere, as per diem or part-time. That way I would know I'd have guaranteed work, even when school started up again.

I did not receive a single call from any of those places. Not even one interview came out of it. I even called a few other agencies, that I heard about in the past, where work was steady. But even they said they weren't signing on new nurses! And through all the years I've been an LPN, I have NEVER heard of an agency not accepting applications. I remember being able to walk into a nursing home to fill out an application, and walking out with a start date. Those days are gone.

This was a real wake-up call. Now I'm worried about what I'll be able to find once I graduate in December. I know some places will take into account that I was an LPN. But I am still very concerned. Not to mention that over the past few weeks, an LPN friend of mine was having the same problem. She just graduated a BSN program and is waiting to test. But no one has called her for an interview, even for the LPN positions. And a few other nurses I know who work per diem, haven't had much work either. So not even the ones with experience are guaranteed work. It's very scary!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

so true Honey Bee. Back in '95 I was an experienced LPN graduating from RN school. I found occasional work in agency, but not enough to pay the rent. 8 months later I landed my first RN job at a home Health Agency, but ONLY because i had been an LPN for 9 yrs. I stayed 18 months and was then laid off. Imagine that? You get experience where you can. I even worked as a private sitter to pay my bills. Yet, I did not want to work in a hospital full time. I was lucky enough to have enough LPN experience to know hospital work was not what I wanted. I had 4 years of that and was absolutely miserable the last two. Best of luck and know that many of us have been thru the hard times.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Everyone is right about location. Also would like to point out that I would no longer recommend new nursing grads move to land a job. From my personal experience moving from Nj to the southern Nc and nothern Sc area the recruiters made it clear(and not so clear) they would rather hire locally then an experienced nurse from somewere else.(even though I was living in the region at the time I guess they wanted to hire Nc natives).

Also,beware of the areas where the shortage of nurse are concentrated. I know down there starting pay was 18.00/hr for med surg for an experienced nurse ,and making that much I would have struggled to pay bills.not to mention the fact those states are non union. I have read on this board about the southern Texas area and the fact its highly litigous.

There is a reason they have a shortage while every other place is having a glut.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Uh oh, smartnurse 1982, being a born southerner I think you got caught up in something else. I don't want to go into it because that's another whole thread. However, your presentation may not have been generic enough. NC/SC is still suspicious of "yankees". no joke. They will never tell you, but I have lived here most of my life and the rumor is; yankees are too mouthy, they express opinions they should keep to themselves. No matter how untrue, some things linger on. $18.00/hr is great pay in Louisiana. unions are basically null and void, or worse, neutored in the south. Believe it or not, cost of living is less down here, perhaps not to you. Best of luck, and try to network.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Uh oh, smartnurse 1982, being a born southerner I think you got caught up in something else. I don't want to go into it because that's another whole thread. However, your presentation may not have been generic enough. NC/SC is still suspicious of "yankees". no joke. They will never tell you, but I have lived here most of my life and the rumor is; yankees are too mouthy, they express opinions they should keep to themselves. No matter how untrue, some things linger on. $18.00/hr is great pay in Louisiana. unions are basically null and void, or worse, neutored in the south. Believe it or not, cost of living is less down here, perhaps not to you. Best of luck, and try to network.

The point is new grads and nurses from other parts still have to weary when moving to other parts of the country. I'm from the city and I moved to a rural part of Nc and Sc. They would rather still hire locally. I'm a quiet person,but I guess my strong Nj accent gave me away.I have heard it from the army wives around here who have had a hard time also.but now I've applied to jobs back home and I've already got 3 offers within 2 weeks so off I go.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion