Nurses who were new grads during the last nursing glut - how did you get thru it?

sunshineyday · Apr 2, 2009

I know what you mean. The only interview I've been offered is four states away and they aren't paying for travel expenses. The flights are $400.00. I'm depressed.

fengshuiheaven · Apr 3, 2009

Is RN job prospecting really that bad out there??? So much for a nursing shortage! :cry:

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Apr 3, 2009

I graduated in 1994. I applied on every pediatric posting that came up from June of that year until May of the following year. I also applied to a private nursing agency that provided private home care and staff relief to area hospitals and nursing homes. I got an interview with the agency in January 1995 and they hired me. It was NOT a great opportunity; there was a lot of shady things that went on. Finally in May 1995 I got an interview for a casual position in an intermediate care nursery that I was able to promote to a series of temporary positions before I finally got a permanent position in March 1998. What made it that much worse was my husband wasn't working at the time either and we had three adolescent kids. We're finally in a good place.

hope3456, ASN, RN · Apr 3, 2009

For those of us living in the 'glut' areas, it would probably be a good idea to email/notify the president of our college about the job situation facing the new grads in your locale. It costs colleges alot to educate nsg students and what is the point if the students aren't getting jobs. It will be even worse for the students graduating in 1-2 years. Yet the news media is still preaching 'shortage.'

llg, PhD, RN · Apr 3, 2009

For those of us living in the 'glut' areas, it would probably be a good idea to email/notify the president of our college about the job situation facing the new grads in your locale. It costs colleges alot to educate nsg students and what is the point if the students aren't getting jobs. It will be even worse for the students graduating in 1-2 years. Yet the news media is still preaching 'shortage.'

I doubt it will be worse for new grads in 2 or 3 years. I think their job prospects will be better. I think the group that is going to "have it worst" are the ones graduating now ... December 2008 and May 20009. Hospitals have been (and remain) in the midst of a process of reducing expenses by reducing staff. So they are not hiring. Also, with the general economy so bad, nurses currently in the system are not leaving their jobs or reducing their hours as much as they would in a "normal" economy.

In the next 1-3 years, 2 things will probably happen:

(1) Hospitals will have reduced their staffing numbers to as low as they will go. In some cases, that has already happened. They may not hire to increase their staff, but they will start hiring a little to replace those who leave.

(2) Some nurses will leave or reduce their hours as the economy recovers -- maybe not in a mass exit, but there will be a first a trickle of resignations and hours reductions requests as families gradually get on with their lives. Husbands will be transferred to new cities. People will have babies and switch from full time to part time. Nurses will get old, injured, or ill etc. and retire or reduce their hours. The economy will "re-set" itself with new prices, new wage scales, etc. and a new norm will be established. As that happens (gradually), people will gradually resume the normal life process that create "normal" turnover of the staff nurse population. Eventually, the underlying demographic conditions that are responsible for much of the "shortage" will become apparent again.

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Apr 3, 2009

Honestly, a lot of nurses left here and went to states with a high demand for nurses, that is not so easy these days. But, if it is possible, then Texas seems to be hiring a lot of places. Mississippi? Wyoming? Washington,DC? I was talking to a girl the other day, she took a terrible job to be close to home, worked it for 8 months, now is traveling to Maryland for weekend work. She is driving 4 hours to do this, but she says she does 2/16=32 and gets paid for 40.

Spacklehead, MSN, NP · Apr 3, 2009

When I graduated in the 90s, I had a similar problem getting a job. I graduated, sat for and passed the NCLEX in July and couldn't find a job until November. I applied to several different hospitals/nursing homes and couldn't even get an interview. Luckily, one of the hospitals in my state was offering a critical care internship for new grads which I applied to and was asked to come in and interview. I did not get that position, but the manager of the tele unit really liked me and hired me instead (she was one of the interviewers).

All I can suggest is just keep trying. Unfortunately, so many hospitals are having a hiring freeze right now, even though they are short-staffed. This happened in the hospital I currently just resigned from. Have you tried doctor's offices? I know that they tend to pay a lot less, but at least it is something for the time being.

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Apr 6, 2009

I graduated in 1989, there were no jobs, and I worked per diem for 6 years, while I got my BSN, then moved out of the country for a full time job. I spent ten years there and moved back 2 months ago. The area I originally applied to is now crying for nurses, and willing to pay relocation expenses.

If you are willing to move try the northeast, they are currently experiencing a shortage.

If I had no ties I would move up north, or go overseas with an aid mission. Unique experiences look good on a resume and are huge as far as letting you know you can think your way out of problems.

Trauma Columnist · Apr 6, 2009

I also graduated with an ADN in 1994. There were NO JOBS ANYWHERE. Fortunately, I was an LPN so I continued to work as an LPN for six months before I got an RN position.