THE HYPE IS O V E R- THERE IS NO NURSING SHORTAGE.
Do your research as to where the future plans
of hospitals/health care facilities are going before you go into massive debt for
a nursing education. If debt is not a problem for you, then consider not putting all your eggs in one basket.
A LOT- of new grads on all levels, LPNs, ADNs, BSNs, MSNs
are having a difficult time finding jobs (or that "dream" job) in all types of health
care facilities. (Lets not forget the experienced nurses having just about the same difficulity finding a job)
I'm not discouraging anyone, BUT, PLEASE If I could leave everyone with some humble advice (which I'm taking as well:)
1. Please avoid loan debt to get your nursing degree to the best of your ability--especially PRIVATE LOAN
(ounce you graduate, sallie mae and her momma (or whoever you owe) will be blowing up your number to pay
her back (rightly so). But if you are one of the many who still haven't found a job 6-13 or more months
after graduating...well get ready to be harrased)
2. Network, network, network is a BIGGY when trying to land a job position. I can't stress this enough
3. Consider applying to other jobs if you're having a hard time landing a nurse position.
For example:
Telemetry monitor
Unit secretary
phlebotomist
medical assistant, etc.
I know those positions may not be appealing to nurses coming out of a demanding program, but you need to pay
your bills and care for yourself and/or family.
This economy is terrible right now.
Yes, there are nursing jobs, but its a catch-22 ( "you need experience" but yet they won't give you a chance)
I'm not claiming that a new grad won't find a job because some do right away- BUT, the majority of the new grads are struggle landing a job because the job market has too much SUPPLY not enough DEMAND.
Specializes in future speciality interest: Nurse Midwif.
As with anything, it depends on where you live. Not every part of the country is as horrible as others when it comes to not finding a job. Keep that in mind.
Correct. I do have that in mind. But the majority of country is experiencing some kind of hardship finding or keeping their career.
Specializes in future speciality interest: Nurse Midwif.
I know you're just trying to give some advice, but I think the people on these boards are passionate about nursing and it's not "just a job" to us. I know the job hunt is going to be terrifying, but hopefully it will be worth it in the end!
Important points, but my focus was not on whether one thinks of nursing as "just a job" or are passionate.
I have a passion for nursing so I'll stick with it.
Those in it for the money I'm not sure what they'd do.
I hope the job hunt will be worth it in the end also.
Specializes in future speciality interest: Nurse Midwif.
Not really. There have been recessions before - I graduated into one in 1990.
It ended. Just like previous ones did and just like this one will. We are already seeing signs of pressure on employers to start hiring. This has to build up for a while longer until a few actually start hiring then the rest will follow like lemmings.
"We live in hard times, not end times."
-Jon Stewart
Hmm, I'm wondering with what degree you graduated with looking for work in the 1990 and how long
did it take for you to find work. Either way, the economy is not what is was in 1990 even in that recession
like it is now.
Ok, lets say the economy does get better and employers start hiring on the increase...
this would not happen tomorrow or months from now. These turn arounds take awhile.
In the mean time SOME people are still not able making ends meet, with their degree
collecting dust. Have you heard that the unemployment claims are rising and are HIGHER than ever before.
P.S. We do live in the end time- That's another story.
Specializes in future speciality interest: Nurse Midwif.
I would say to almost anyone, no matter the field that you want to get into, if you can avoid taking out massive loans, do that. Not just nursing, anything, because nothing is guaranteed. It may take you a while to get your foot in the door so the less debt you rack up, the better off you will be. I would not take out massive loans for any kind of degree at this point.
Good follow-up advice for any field.
But because this is a nursing related forum, I specifically targeted my
thread to those in nursing.
Stay away from as much loans as possible. (even if you think you'll be able to pay the monthly amount)
I know it may be hard to avoid for some like it was for me
Specializes in future speciality interest: Nurse Midwif.
The new company actually had all of us fill out very detailed surveys of what we did for how long pretty much every minute of the day and then basically said "thank you for filling out the 15-page survey" now you, you, you and you are fired! Buh-bye! Not one nurse lost their job, 20% of "ancillary personnel" did.
They wrong for that!
I'm sure nursing programs started to sprout and crank out as many nurses as they could to meet the demand, and what we're seeing now might be the perfect storm of supply catching up with demand and simultaneous nastier than usual downturn in the economy. I can tell from reading these boards that (though not a regular trend throughout) it's tougher for a new nurse to find a job now as opposed to prior recessions by huge numbers. Like several hundred applicants for one job. Like a new grad spending $700 for a plane ticket to a far-off city just for an interview. Uprooting and moving to another state. I just don't see a fix for that occurring in the foreseeable future.
Yes! the supply is catching up with the demand.
I mean really, not everyone has the finances to be moving to kentucky or Illinois (like some have mentioned is filled with new grad openings) Nor can I just take myself out my family duties.
Specializes in future speciality interest: Nurse Midwif.
Great info ELK.... Question I have. Seems to me not only do you as an educator provide reasons at your level why there are educating issues (hence nursing employment issues real or perceived). Many other persons at all different levels of health care state similar concerns. Let's be honest we are getting closer to socialized medicine (if we are not there already). I as a previous business owner say we are in a Global economy where everything is being shared. Are there countries that "train" Nurses cheaper and more efficiently than America?... In my book RNing is a vocation just like Electrician... Somehow there needs to be a more efficient way to train Nurses. If I was a hospital and competing for the almighty dollar as president of the corporation would I not want that for my shareholders? Efficiency at all levels to compete. (YES I know we are talking about human patients) So let's say more efficeint and better service providers. After all at the lowest level that is what the nurse and the facility you work for is providing a "service". The health care facililities spend millions on advertising. It is Krazy... Bill Boards of Robotics, Pictures/Banners of JHACO awards. Hospitals that are built to be museums as apposed to the efficient Venues they should be. Why? To coerce the patient to come to there facility as apposed to going to one in another town that might offer the same or better service at a cheaper more affordable cost that would be better for all taxpayers of america...... Here in Central NJ we have 2 systems that are growing by leaps and bounds in the number of facilities they are taking over by "mergeing" and "partnering" with the individual hospitals' Hence increasing the number of consumers um no patients they are seeing and billing. They will in the name of $ merge services. To become more efficeint. I am almost depressing myself as I am making choices in my life to enter this field of Health care. But to be honest I not only want to provide a "Touch" of hope for one, I really would like to provide the best quality of care in the most efficient manner for a better america and world...... Many facets of american health care I think need fixing And I think what has happened to many of our manufacturing and servicing companies are the precursor of what is going to and in fact is happening to health care. In the name of the almighty dollar we shall need to be prepared and embrace the technology and I think we have just tipped the iceberg to a changed American health care system. OK I am tired right now back to reading but my simple point is ... The medical system is a service business one that at this moment pays very well. For many reasons it is the target as one of the greatest jobs in the world (It may be as I have been privy to parts of the inside of it and the many rewards inc Wages, bens, perks, security and emotional it offers are awesome) More than any other time in history I believe qualified persons are going to be competing for those rewards to include female, male, domestic and foriegn of all ages after all we are now in a global society.... Oh and by the way as our ability to pay for all the seniors retiring and about to retire honestly we are not at this stage of our economic position as a country not able to afford to service them as we do now without either providing them less service or becoming more efficient in providing great health care. or guess what the result might be? I do not want to think about that...
Want a great job.. Very Serious .. Strong suggestions... Saint barnabas health care system and meridian Health In central NJ They are huge hospital systems in NJ HUGE. Very big in central new jersey (the best places to live) Super affordable in Ocean County little bit more pricey in Monmouth county. They are always hiring and they have there hands in all rn specialties . They are very diverse and offer great salaries, great bens, great perks :) awesome facilities that are beautiful and always upgrading. They have best of Both worlds Big money clients in northern facilities and large senior population in Ocean counties . Both hospital corporations are buying and merging all the local hospitals. Huge potential here for all nurses all specialties. Get your feet in the doors here as they are hiring and are planning for huge growth in health care.
At my former school, they are now telling student nurses that: "there are no jobs available for ASNs." This is to students who have spent one year in the program. I have also read comments that it takes approximately 1 year for a fresh BSN to obtain a position. Everyone is having difficulty here.
EXACTLY 
Nurse-One
158 Posts
Ha ha. Thanks for the sarcasm