Let me be clear there is NO nursing shortage!!!!!!!!! and now THIS????

HeartsOpenWide, RN · Aug 16, 2009

Not being accusatory here, just a simple question. How many people that have applied to numerous jobs and state that they can not get a call back are making call backs themselves? In a market like today's you have to make personal contact. Again and again. Don't wait for them to call you. And if you get one of those immediate denial e-mails, call and ask when more positions will be available. Have some one professional look over you resume and cover letter. Get excellent letters from instructors. You really have to sell yourself. Its unfortunate that this idea of "you will always have a job in nursing" was fed to so many of us in nursing school because it has given some a sense of entitlement.

On another note: It is frustrating, I know. I read an article in this months Nursing2009 talking about the nursing shortage and how we need to enourage more men and women to go into nursing...I am tempted to write them and tell them how when I got accepted into nursing school in 2006 38,415 qualified applicants were turned away from entry level nursing programs (BSN) in the U.S. --that does not even include ASN programs...In 2006, baccalaureate programs accepted over 71 percent of all qualified prelicensure applications, and diploma programs accepted 74 percent, compared to only54.4 percent accepted by associate degree programs. Overall, Eighty-eight thousand (88,000) qualified applications – or one out of every three qualified applications submitted to nursing education programs were rejected due to lack of capacity.

When I graduated this year over half of my class was without jobs, and not too many have gotten job offers since. Most of who have gotten nursing jobs had above average resumes with extra courses on the side. You can no longer just go through nursing school and expect a job to be waiting for you.

JoblessRN · Aug 16, 2009

not being accusatory here, just a simple question. how many people that have applied to numerous jobs and state that they can not get a call back are making call backs themselves? in a market like today's you have to make personal contact. again and again. don't wait for them to call you. and if you get one of those immediate denial e-mails, call and ask when more positions will be available. have some one professional look over you resume and cover letter. get excellent letters from instructors. you really have to sell yourself. its unfortunate that this idea of "you will always have a job in nursing" was fed to so many of us in nursing school because it has given some a sense of entitlement.
most of who have gotten nursing jobs had above average resumes with extra courses on the side. you can no longer just go through nursing school and expect a job to be waiting for you.

i hope people don't get the feeling that i walked out of nursing school expecting a job - i truly hope i didn't/don't come across that way in my posts. i certainly did not expect to be "beating off recruiters with sticks" (as many of our instructors told us) - i knew that was a load of bull. :nono:

i feel that i do have a pretty strong résumé - i have my bsn, a ba from a very prestigious public university, graduated cum laude, i have worked at 3 of the top medical universities in the country in different specialties and different capacities, i have several hundred hours of volunteer work, i have my bls, acls, and pals, and took care of my critically ill brother for 12 years. i was also a unit clerk in an icu during nursing school.

in additiont o applying to jobs, i have emailed every last contact i have from all my previous jobs and have at least gotten my résumé forwarded to key people - obviously not always with a successful result ("i would love to help/hire her, but we don't have money/room"). i have called nurse recruiters/hr to follow up. for all the jobs that i was rejected from, i calle the recruiter and asked what might be the reason i was rejected and what it is that i can improved upon. i have applied in state and out of state, med/surg and er/icu. i have done everything i can think of. everything. :idea: :banghead:

in other words, i haven't' been quiet. i have definitely been fighting!! i am being as proactive and assertive as i possibly can.

and this is breaking my heart. i'm not trying to be funny. i am unbelievably disheartened and depressed. i don't care about money (i just need enough to make ends meet).

i just want to be a nurse already.....

p.s. - thank you to everyone for their kind words, wisdom, and good luck wishes.:bowingpur

JoblessRN · Aug 17, 2009

bumping this in hopes of getting more people to write to their Congressman/woman and Senator....

work&play · Aug 18, 2009

I'm lucky enough to have gone to high school with a California state senator. Believe me I'm talking to him!

Hushdawg · Aug 18, 2009

Just a few pointers for those who want to talk to their congressmen about the issue either FOR or AGAINST.

The current status of this bill is:

Latest Major Action: 6/12/2009: Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.

At this stage, ONLY the subcommittee members have any influence over the status of the bill.

You need to search out the subcommittee members and address the issue with them directly. If you are not among their constituents then you should be specific when writing to your representative and name the people that you would want him/her to speak to on your behalf.

For example, one of the subcommittee members is Rep Jackson Lee from Texas 18th district; if you live in a different district in Texas and your Rep isn't also part of the subcommittee then you should write to your representative and ask him/her to address your concerns to Rep Jackson. Since they are representatives from the same state there is a far greater chance of them actually talking together nicely than someone from another state altogether. Same party-members and those who work with the representatives in other subcommittees are also good candidates to carry messages on your behalf... but then, only if you make a convincing argument.

Here are some links to help:

http://judiciary.house.gov/about/subimmigration.html

https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

Remember that this is a HOUSE bill and therefore writing to senators will have minimal impact, if any. Most senators will simply state that this has not been introduced to senate yet and as such they cannot act on your requests.

Focus on your representatives.

For international nurses who want to support the bill it is best if you write to minority nurse associations such as the various Philippine Nursing Associations in the USA to get them to petition the representatives to push this bill through. There are literally hundreds of thousands of immigrant nurses in the USA that will fight for you if you talk to them and give them a course of action.

Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN · Aug 18, 2009

I agree with JoblessRN,, we need to keep the pressure up on our elected officials.

Many reasons for doing this. I have high hopes that this bill won't advance. But nurses need to keep the pressure up so it won't be reintroduced next year. By introducing this bill it sends a false message to foreign nurses to keep planning on coming to the USA. President Obama has made his point over and over again he sees no need to import foreign nurses.

In my home state there has been a 25% increase in RNs graduating in the past few years. With the proper funding the US could crank out 30% more nurses per year if needed eliminating the need for special immigration for nurses.

We do have to keep the pressure on, look what is happening all over the USA when voters put pressure on their represenatives.

CapeCodMermaid, RN · Aug 18, 2009

I was the DNS at a facility in Massachusetts in a big city. At least 80 % of the nursing staff came from the Phillipines. Why? Because we couldn't find any local nurses who wanted to work in long term care. I can't tell you the number of new grads I had come in for an interview who scoffed at working every other weekend and holidays. :banghead: They looked at me like I had 2 heads when I told them they passed meds and did treatments. So many new grads are prima donnas and somehow believed all the hype about getting a 'dream' job right out of school. That company had a 6 week orientation for new grads, which around here, is unheard of. I still couldn't fill all the open slots I had. I would suggest that you take ANY nursing job you're offered on ANY shift until you get experience.

Of course, after being in the States for several months, the foreign nurses started to complain about working weekends and holidays....must be something in the water.

work&play · Aug 18, 2009

Interesting point Mermaid.

JoblessRN · Aug 18, 2009

I was the DNS at a facility in Massachusetts in a big city. At least 80 % of the nursing staff came from the Phillipines. Why? Because we couldn't find any local nurses who wanted to work in long term care. I can't tell you the number of new grads I had come in for an interview who scoffed at working every other weekend and holidays. They looked at me like I had 2 heads when I told them they passed meds and did treatments. So many new grads are prima donnas and somehow believed all the hype about getting a 'dream' job right out of school. That company had a 6 week orientation for new grads, which around here, is unheard of. I still couldn't fill all the open slots I had. I would suggest that you take ANY nursing job you're offered on ANY shift until you get experience.
Of course, after being in the States for several months, the foreign nurses started to complain about working weekends and holidays....must be something in the water.

Trust me, I wouldn't even *blink* at having to work weekends or holidays...whatever you want, I will be happy to do!

Sensoria17 · Aug 18, 2009

Trust me, I wouldn't even *blink* at having to work weekends or holidays...whatever you want, I will be happy to do!

I'll take Mermaid's word that people are being choosy about shifts at that particular facility. Myself, I can work any and all shifts but still no takers. In fact, I had always assumed that being a new grad, I couldn't pick and choose what shifts and days I would be given. That's partly why I haven't gone back to school yet. I need to to know what my work schedule would be before I schedule classes.

LockportRN · Aug 18, 2009

I'll take Mermaid's word that people are being choosy about shifts at that particular facility. Myself, I can work any and all shifts but still no takers. In fact, I had always assumed that being a new grad, I couldn't pick and choose what shifts and days I would be given. That's partly why I haven't gone back to school yet. I need to to know what my work schedule would be before I schedule classes.

I'll agree with what Mermaid said in the context of a few years back but as of recently, the new grads that are coming in have done a complete 180. They are really interesting in getting employed as a nurse. Not just as a nurse, but when offered a good orientation, many, many have jumped ship to try and get a job by us because instead of a prefunctory 2-3 day orientation, they get several weeks by me as well as the use of a 'skills checklist' (used to ensure their comfort and patient safety as well as my peace of mind as to their competency-nothing worse than being new and getting orders to perform a task/procedure that u have never done before!).

Another poster spoke about the need for us as nurses to contact our congressman which is sooo important. As a profession, there are a LARGE number of nurses and if we just talk or B&M we'll continue to get the same. But if we put 'out money where our mouths are...' well, there are just too many of us for the g..... to shut up. We CAN enact a change IF we operate as a unit...a whole group of professionals that want things changed for a common good. It is also cruel to the Phillipin nurses that are waiting and waiting in their country to come her only to have the rug pulled out from under them. There are so many here with their ENTIRE family's still in there homeland often with the spouse also a nurse waiting to come here. It is trully cruel. Not intentionally on our parts (there WAS a nursing shortage for the LONGEST time! A time when I did have to negotiate with new nurses to have weekends off etc or where pay was sooo unequitable that it was a shame to all nurses but esp to the older nurse who was, it seemed, penalized for her years of experience, by not being giving the higher pay just so we could staff facilities properly we had to pay the incoming nurses so much more!) sorry runon sentence.... :twocents:

Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN · Aug 18, 2009

Two issues, the new nurses of the 1990's had other options, some went into other businesses that were booming ( real estate or other business ventures) that is not true today. The new grads I see are willing for any opportunity.

Second Issue, we do need to speak up to our represenatives. There are people in other countries promising the American Dream by passing the NCLEX and file an application with the board of nursing. There are cottage industries forming on is to"assist in applying to the board of nursing" ( and I am only speaking about the paper work not visas). I agree it is cruel to give these students false hope that there is an American job waiting for them since US nurses are too lazy to work.