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

Nurses General Nursing

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Let me be clear: THERE IS NO NURSING SHORTAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so ****** OFF right now. There are literally thousands of new grads, like myself, who are struggling ALL OVER THE U.S. who can't find jobs for the life of them. This is absurd!!

I have applied to over 30 jobs and cannot get a single call back. I have spent numerous nights sobbing in my bed because I can't afford my loans starting in December and might have to consider filing bankruptcy. :crying2::bluecry1::crying2::bluecry1:

And now, to hear that a Florida congressman wants to "import" foreign nursing to "combat the current nursing shortage" is more than I can take (http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_HR_2536.html). Are you serious? Pleas tell me you're JOKING!!!

Why did I foolishly even consider becoming a nurse in the first place (besides it being my childhood dream)? What a waste of time. :banghead:

I just can't take this anymore.................

HHHHMMMMM. Check out the want ads for the greater Detroit area. Lots of nursing jobs, hospital, nursing home, home care... Big bonus in Detroit, lots of affordable homes on the market!

I worked in home care with 2 RNs for whom it was their first nursing job. Currently working in hospice with a new grad.

Relocation may be the key for new nurses.

Yeah, in MI there are a lot of jobs for RNs. I know once I graduate I should have no problem finding a job here.

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Just a thought here... I've been reading your posts with much interest because, in spite of some opinions on this board, I actually do care about out of work nurses no matter where they are and it helps me to see all sides of the picture.

I've seen your passion and attitude in other nurses that can't get a job and the only thing I can come up with is that they/you are TOO eager to get the job.

There is a psychology at play when you are conducting a job interview, there are many qualified candidates that I have passed on during the hiring process because they were TOO eager to get the job. My experience tells me that these people tend to burn out fast or worse yet can be plants from competition to learn about how we do business and steal corporate secrets.

I don't believe this is the case with you, but I do feel that you may be sending off this vibe of desperation when you are talking in interviews or even by the way you phrase information in your resume.

It may be beneficial to have a professional rework your resume; they may not charge much and if you are lucky then someone you know may be able to do it for free.

The interview process should be complete answers to questions but not delving too far into personal information or feelings. Yet you can't be cold.

I know from the posts here that you are actively seeking work, I also know from other posts here and the job banks that I see on a daily basis that there ARE jobs out there. Hopefully with a little adjustment here and there you can get matched up with the job you deserve and need.

I can very much appreciate your point and concern. I am not taking this personally, so don’t take this as me being defensive. These boards are a way to vent my frustration and anxiety about my current situation. Of the 52 jobs I’ve applied to, I have had 2 interviews (and 1 phone interview). Both managers that I interviewed with said that I interviewed very strongly (emphasis was from them), but they didn’t have room/$ to hire me.

When I go in for interviews, while I am sweating and shaking inside, I try to remain cool, calm, and collected outside. I really don’t think I come off as desperate. In fact, in my posts I purposefully didn’t use the word “desperate” because I think it has a negative connotation and while, admittedly, I am desperate to find a job and start my passion, I don’t use that language anywhere but here.

PLEASE PLEASE don’t think I am being defensive or angry – I’m not at all. Again, I can truly appreciate your advice/feedback. I really try to not let them see me sweat or come off as desperate.

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Jobless,

Have you applied to out of state positions ? Seems like the Pittsburgh area have openings.

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Specializes in ICU, home health, med surg, pain management.

Regarding out of state positions, so far what I've found is that in order to apply for a license for a state other than your home state, you have to have had recent (last 5 yrs) experience. If anyone has any other info. please pass it along. Thanks!

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Regarding out of state positions, so far what I've found is that in order to apply for a license for a state other than your home state, you have to have had recent (last 5 yrs) experience. If anyone has any other info. please pass it along. Thanks!

Must say that is a new one for me and I endorsed a license from NY to AZ with no US experience. In fact on the few state sites I have looked at I haven't seen anything that indicates this requirement. I have seen Florida post that they require 2 years if endorsing from another state but others have posted they was able to endorse without the 2 years experience

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Must say that is a new one for me and I endorsed a license from NY to AZ with no US experience. In fact on the few state sites I have looked at I haven't seen anything that indicates this requirement. I have seen Florida post that they require 2 years if endorsing from another state but others have posted they was able to endorse without the 2 years experience

It depends on the state you are endorsing to; some do require a certain period of work experience prior to endorsing, some require that you've lived in the state for X amount of time and if you are a foreign educated nurse then you may have to completely redo the credentials evaluation process even if you've worked for a decade.

The de-centralized process of licensure for the USA is a problem; the Nurse Licensure Compact alleviates some of the issues but that only really works for US born and educated nurses and only for the 22 member states.

It would be nice if there was a national licensure program so that nurses could be more free to move where the skills are needed without having to process miles of paperwork each time.

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Regarding out of state positions, so far what I've found is that in order to apply for a license for a state other than your home state, you have to have had recent (last 5 yrs) experience. If anyone has any other info. please pass it along. Thanks!

If you are a US educated and permanent resident you should have no trouble getting a license. I think the 5 year or recent experience issue is for nurses who have been actively working. The point is your nursing knowledge should be current which it is if you just graduated.

I see you are re entering the work force so this does apply to you, sorry.

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I don't know if this is possible but is it a possibility for the nurses without jobs to apply and accept Tech positions in the hospital to get a foot in the door? Then you could transfer within the hospital. I don't know if this would work though. It is just a thought. Maybe this could be done until a RN position is offered so that there is some income being made and some nursing skills are being used.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
I don't know if this is possible but is it a possibility for the nurses without jobs to apply and accept Tech positions in the hospital to get a foot in the door? Then you could transfer within the hospital. I don't know if this would work though. It is just a thought. Maybe this could be done until a RN position is offered so that there is some income being made and some nursing skills are being used.

Not all hospitals will employ a RN as a tech (this is what I have read here on the site. Some have lost jobs once they qualified) Plus you will always be held accountable to your highest qualification which would be RN .

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Not all hospitals will employ a RN as a tech (this is what I have read here on the site. Some have lost jobs once they qualified) Plus you will always be held accountable to your highest qualification which would be RN .

Depends on the state and the BON. I know some states you can work as a tech or CNA and work only at that level. Once YOU step beyong that bounds of that job title, they you can be liable for the higher level training. But if stay within those bounds of the title you were hired as, you are fine. I know in NYS when I ride as a basic EMT, I have to stay within those bounds. I am not allowed to use any of my training as a nurse if it isn't in my EMT protocols. Doing so can set me up for liability and/or get me booted off the ambulance.

Bottom line..it can be kind of tricky IMHO. But I would also think in most cases you would need a CNA certification to work as a tech.

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Depends on the state and the BON. I know some states you can work as a tech or CNA and work only at that level. Once YOU step beyong that bounds of that job title, they you can be liable for the higher level training. But if stay within those bounds of the title you were hired as, you are fine. I know in NYS when I ride as a basic EMT, I have to stay within those bounds. I am not allowed to use any of my training as a nurse if it isn't in my EMT protocols. Doing so can set me up for liability and/or get me booted off the ambulance.

Bottom line..it can be kind of tricky IMHO. But I would also think in most cases you would need a CNA certification to work as a tech.

It's not that simple. The problem is that, while the employer holds you to the job description of the "lower" (lower level of licensure/certification) role, if anything goes wrong and you end up in court, it is well established that the courts will hold you to the highest level of education and licensure/certification you hold, regardless of what your job title was on that particular day. You don't get to forget what you know in another, "higher" level role just because you're working in a different job description on a particular day; you're still responsible if a client is in trouble.

Working in a lower level position than your licensure/certification presents a variety of potential legal and ethical conflicts, which is why some employers simply won't hire or allow people to work in a lower job classification, and many professionals won't do it. If you're going to do it, you need to understand the risk you're taking.

Here is one reference, from the Maine BON -- I'm sure there are plenty of other sources out there (emphasis mine):

"Practice Below Level of Licensure

A licensed person who agrees to be employed in a position which requires less knowledge and skill than that for which s/he is prepared may find several problems:

1. S/he may be expected to perform at the level for which s/he has been prepared even though classified at a lesser level; and

2. S/he will be held to the standard expected of the higher licensure level should legal problems occur in that health care facility, no matter what the job classification.

The practice of employing licensed individuals to work below their level of preparation, as defined in the LAW REGULATING THE PRACTICE OF NURSING, places that licensed nurse in potential legal jeopardy and is of serious concern to the Board. (1985)

[The DATA BASE /The Bulletin /Spring 1985]"

http://www.maine.gov/boardofnursing/questions/questions_general.html#practice

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It's not that simple. The problem is that, while the employer holds you to the job description of the "lower" (lower level of licensure/certification) role, if anything goes wrong and you end up in court, it is well established that the courts will hold you to the highest level of education and licensure/certification you hold, regardless of what your job title was on that particular day. You don't get to forget what you know in another, "higher" level role just because you're working in a different job description on a particular day; you're still responsible if a client is in trouble.

Working in a lower level position than your licensure/certification presents a variety of potential legal and ethical conflicts, which is why some employers simply won't hire or allow people to work in a lower job classification, and many professionals won't do it. If you're going to do it, you need to understand the risk you're taking.

Here is one reference, from the Maine BON -- I'm sure there are plenty of other sources out there (emphasis mine):

"Practice Below Level of Licensure

A licensed person who agrees to be employed in a position which requires less knowledge and skill than that for which s/he is prepared may find several problems:

1. S/he may be expected to perform at the level for which s/he has been prepared even though classified at a lesser level; and

2. S/he will be held to the standard expected of the higher licensure level should legal problems occur in that health care facility, no matter what the job classification.

The practice of employing licensed individuals to work below their level of preparation, as defined in the LAW REGULATING THE PRACTICE OF NURSING, places that licensed nurse in potential legal jeopardy and is of serious concern to the Board. (1985)

[The DATA BASE /The Bulletin /Spring 1985]"

http://www.maine.gov/boardofnursing/questions/questions_general.html#practice

Don't get me wrong, I totally agree people need to understand the risks. Some states like North Carolina's BON state you get hired but you must still work to the scope you are trained/licensed at. Other states BON, like Washington, state you can get hired and work at the lower scope of practice UNLESS you yourself step above that scope, then you must continue at that level. It could be very tricky in any case, but if you had to put food on the table, it might be an option.

I would be more comfortable doing this in a state where I know the BON supports it in case it does go to court. And I would be more likely to do it as a RN working as a LPN. As a matter of fact I will keep my LPN once I get my RN - just in case.

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