Louisiana Nurses--Need Info!

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Hey all. I need a little info about nursing in LA. I'm thinking about getting my RN endorsement in LA and need a little information. How long does it take to receive a temporary and permanent license? Also, what's the job market like for new nurses in the Slidell/New Orleans area. I, like many other new grads, cannot find a job in my area, so I'm looking elsewhere. I live about an hour from Slidell, so driving won't be problem. Any info would be great. Thanks!

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From what I understand, it takes about 3 weeks from the time your transcripts are sent to to the LSBN until your temp license comes in. Also I don't think the job market in the NO area is great right now. They're talking about 7% salary cuts and hiring freezes. I'm not sure if all of the hospitals are affected, but in general it's not looking great right now.

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Specializes in ICU-Step Down, Cardiac/CHF, Telemetry, L&D.

I got my RN endorsement for LA last year in June. It took about a week, after everything was turned in to recieve the actual license. I did not apply for the temporary permit.

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i got my rn endorsement for la last year in june. it took about a week, after everything was turned in to recieve the actual license. i did not apply for the temporary permit.

how did you get your packet together? did (moderator edit of name - please do not post names of individuals in your nursing program per tos) send you everything? i can't find a lot of the forms on-line.

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I'm from New Orleans and will graduate in December 2011. From what I'm hearing from the recruiters in the hospitals, the nurses that I know in the hospitals, and from the recent graduates, the market for new graduates is saturated. Only 1 of my friends who graduated this past December has found a hospital job and he was the super star nursing student. Like snickersM mentioned, some of the hospitals are having hiring freezes and are cutting salaries. I also heard that most if not all of the hospitals have cut the tuition reimbursment programs with the last year. It's very discouraging for the locals who have gone to school here and who are from here because most of us want to stay and the jobs just aren't there. Even if you know someone, it's difficult, but it seems like you have to know someone to get an interview.

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I would do an internet search for NOLA, Slidell, Covington, Metairie hospitals. I'm not sure if I can mention hospital names.

Anyway, you would view their RN positions and determine if your meet their criteria.

Like Su said, the market is highly saturated. We have 7 schools off the top of my head right in the NOLA metro area.

There ARE jobs but the requirements vary and mostly want seasoned RNs.

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Just between Charity, LSU, Holy Cross, Our Lady of Lake, and William Carey....they are cranking out HUNDREDS and HUNDREDS of new grads every 6 months. Then you have to consider that we no longer have Charity hospital so thats at least 2,000 nurses that have filled position at other hospitals over the past 5 years. I know some of the new grads have had more luck getting positions at nursing homes, but that's quite different from the hospital setting.

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Specializes in icu/er.
Just between Charity, LSU, Holy Cross, Our Lady of Lake, and William Carey....they are cranking out HUNDREDS and HUNDREDS of new grads every 6 months. Then you have to consider that we no longer have Charity hospital so thats at least 2,000 nurses that have filled position at other hospitals over the past 5 years. I know some of the new grads have had more luck getting positions at nursing homes, but that's quite different from the hospital setting.

and its really no different across the river in mississippi. every community college (15 of them) and many of the 4 yrs schools are pumping new grads out by the thousands q yr..the market is just full up right now. id hate to be a new grad now and for the next few yrs.

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Go somewhere else. There are jobs (not many), but they want experience. You would be hard pressed to even get a CNA job right now. And nursing homes are even be really picky with RNs or saying LPN only. This is NOT the place to look for a job right now.

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If the hospitals are not hiring then why do they have jobs posted? There is a particular hospital (on the northshore) who's job openings change regularly. I always thought that the posted positions were getting filled and then new positions were opening up, are the hospitals just hiring from within? It makes me very nervous b/c the only two careers that I could see myself enjoying (nursing or teaching high school science), both have terrible job outlooks :(

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Specializes in icu/er.
If the hospitals are not hiring then why do they have jobs posted? There is a particular hospital (on the northshore) who's job openings change regularly. I always thought that the posted positions were getting filled and then new positions were opening up, are the hospitals just hiring from within? It makes me very nervous b/c the only two careers that I could see myself enjoying (nursing or teaching high school science), both have terrible job outlooks :(

since there are so many applicants in the pool now, hospitals can afford to take their time and go after the "perfect applicant". hospitals are notorious for taking their sweet time during the hiring process. then as a new graduate ( if you are one) you have to contend with exp. nurses applying for the same spots or intra facility transfers. im sorry to say the outlook may be tough for new grads for the next few yrs or atleast till supply and demmand is more balanced.

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