Nursing JOB shortage in Maryland!

U.S.A. Maryland

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Been working ICU, cardiothoracic and addictions, community liaison, case management, home and community care but opened my own business for 3 years (stopped nursing) and nothing but crickets for jobs out there. This has never happened! I've got an app with gov't but maybe 2 months to complete their security checks (I won out of 50 others but not fast enough). Not enough recent exp for agency now i'm panicking!

Never been in this situation in my life! I'm willing to drive 2 hours to work (I'm in the Baltimore area). I've always been asked to work for places...never had to look...been "stolen" from job to job for 2 decades since I was 23.

Everyone wants 2 years recent experience (recent recent) or masters degree (I'm not done with my Bachelors to Masters yet...need a job to restart and finish)

Any suggestions?

Specializes in Pediatric Emergency.

this is kinda scary... maybe it's a not a good time to become a nurse...

It is scary, but I wouldn't let it intimidate you. It's kinda scary right now to be anything!

I have one nagging question about this terrible job environment. I can't help but wonder what makes the difference in geting the positions. I know how awful everyone said last May's grad's were having it locally, but we were told that 50-60% of oour graduating class had positions lined up before graduation. I know several personally who had more than one offer to choose from- and it wasn't always because they were tech's somewhere. They were getting offers from places that others were gtting told were overwhelmed with internal applicants. Granted, these are some smart ladies, and socially graceful, but...why them? Why are some folks getting jobs and some not? Is it really sheer luck? Right place, right time? Knowing the right people?

I got a job in the early 90's in Pharmaceutical sales. It was the job everyone wanted and I was way underqualified. I got lucky though and happened to walk through some cheesy hotel job fair at just the right time and met my future manager. We clicked immediately, and he had enough clout to push through my application even though others looked much better on paper.

Is it a matter of being at the right place at the right time? If so, where are the right places?

Castlegates, I am sure it depends on the area. In my situation, I learned from the mistake that I made. I worked as a tech with an excellent employment record from a hospital. I assumed that I would get a job there upon graduation, and I truly think my clinical director did want to hire me (so I was not completely oblivious.) Up until this time, I put my eggs in one basket. Why you ask? No clue! I wish I knew what I was thinking! Around April I find out that they were not taking any new grads, so it's not like someone was chosen over me. The hospital just did not allow it into the budget this year. Many of my classmates (may 2009) are still unemployed, and the ones that I know of that have jobs, mostly had them lined up many months in advance. Many interviewed Decemberish, when probably no one realized how lucky they were to have jobs lined up, because I don't think we realized how bad this would be. Some days I want to run into every nursing class in every nursing school in MD and yell "don't do it! you will be unemployed!" But somehow, I truly think that it has to get better...

Calm down everyone, the sky is not falling. All boats are lowering right now with the falling tide. You think nurses have it bad right now? I know people with MBAs right now that are doing telemarketing. Legg Mason, T. Rowe Price, teachers, etc are all hurting. So relatively, nurses are gonna be OK.

Yes, hospitals are being cheap bastards and not hiring new nurses. The ones that are not farsighted enough to see past this recession will find that 5-10 years down the road they will have no experienced and dedicated nurses/leaders.

Furthermore, its not that there isn't any need for nurses anymore, hospitals just see nurses as "cost" centers and cut back on them. Patient/nurse ratios are getting worse still and patients are the ones that are going to be hurting at the end. Thats why we need strong unions - for ourselves and for our patients.

Specializes in Addictions, Acute Psychiatry.

Maryland stinks but I got a decent reply in PA so sent out my PA license app today! Soon as it comes, I think I'm in there! Meanwhile another job asked if I can start second week of next month (tentative they said) so that's two--both are in PA, both pay more than MD so I'm moving where the jobs are! First one in the bag is the one I work for.

Yes the sky is falling....mortgage, child support, electric, food, insurance, gas bills don't wait if I'm the ONLY breadwinner in my house!

I can empathize with the "what was I thinking" comment! I opened my own company and had a blast with triple nursing pay working little and playing a lot...then the economy stopped all that. I should have worked part time to keep my skills up. It's being out for a couple years which causes them to view me as rusty

Specializes in l.p.n.

It is for sure knowing the right people.

Specializes in ER, OR, PACU, TELE, CATH LAB, OPEN HEART.

It is all about money. I have 33 years experience and have been applying for one solid year. Managers tell me I'm hired, never hear from HR and when I call they have one excuse after another. I have GOOD, CURRENT experience. They don't want new grads but don't want long term experience either. I went to an open house last week and am keeping fingers crossed to land a benefited float position. Nurses are NOT leaving jobs right now. Many who were retired rejoined the work force this past year. It is not great right now. I turn down no paying assignment, work for several agencies, and PRN at a surgery center. Keep looking don't give up.

Specializes in Addictions, Acute Psychiatry.

After 40 applications and only the decency of 3 to reply, I found a job wayyy up in PA (I was applying here then spreading out as time went). Funny thing the pay is 20k higher (I thought surely they made a critical error). Turns out some places credit you with experience and give seniority for it.

I'm never working in MD again! Buying a house for half price double land in PA and being done with it! I'm looking for one of those gigerbread Victorian houses since many many many of them are 100 years old and better. I can hardly wait!

Anyone want to buy a really nice colonial house on 4 acres with a stream and pond near Baltimore? I'm auctioning it if I have to!

I'll be hoteling it for a while till I dump this place and live my dream job in a dream community! Best thing is everyone has a halo they're so cool! Reputation is stellar, bennies killer and I love my boss and manager! Both are high caliber role models. Wohoooooo!

Specializes in ER, OR, PACU, TELE, CATH LAB, OPEN HEART.

what are you going to do and where are you relocating to in PA?

Specializes in ER, CCU, Admin, Transplant.

I am an RN with 15 years of experience and unable to find employment in MD. I have a strong background in emergency medicine, have applied to hospitals, clinics, outpt centers, you name it, I have applied. I own a home I can't sell, my money is running out! I cannot work agency because I have been out of the "clinical" area for 2 years working in Transplant. I am ready to just walk away from everything and move far away!! Any suggestions? Please?

Just general advice - try networking with your colleagues. From your 15 yrs of experience, you must have tones of ex-coworkers all around the area. Most jobs are gotten by word of mouth. G-luck.

Specializes in Addictions, Acute Psychiatry.

Got a job; 2 hour commute but this is the great recession so what can I say? :o)

PA has jobs, MD doesn't. Very few in MD bother to respond (I've always been the one they were clambering over in the past). I'm just happy to be able to fund my groceries!

I've heard networking gets jobs but I don't know anyone who has actually gotten one that way (despite what the articles say). All my jobs were from the paper or online...then networking may get you brownie points after the interview...not sure.

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