Nursing is not recession proof

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The concern started when I was laid off from my CNA job half way through my last semester of LPN school. My employer discontinued weekend package when I needed it most. I was given unemployment to live off of while I searched for a new job. I graduated LPN school in December of 2008. I passed my boards in the beginning of February only to hear that my fellow students were having trouble finding a job as an LPN. The head of the nursing department at our school said it was the first time in years that new graduates hadn't been able to find jobs. During clinical for my first semester of RN school we listened quietly as nurses at the hospitals talked about hiring freezes, forced furlough days, and hours being cut. Nervously we checked the job board posted in the hospital cafeteria every time we walked past it. We were disappointed at the lack of jobs posted for internal applicants and no jobs posted for external applicants. Meanwhile, my LPN job search continued. I finally found a job at a nursing home in May while other students decided to stay at their CNA jobs.

Things seemed to be looking up in my last semester of RN. The board in the hospital cafeteria was posting more jobs. We were all becoming more optimistic. Then in October my hours were cut from full time to part time at the nursing home. Everyone's hours were cut at the nursing home. I was laid off due to low census the Monday before Thanksgiving. I wasn't too worried though. I was sure that I'd be able to get a job as an RN. I graduated in December of 2009. I passed boards in February. I started applying for hospital jobs immediately. As a month went by I started applying at doctors' offices and home health care. After another month went by I started applying for jobs in nursing homes and other LPN jobs. I have been applying for jobs all over Iowa. Being as I live in a state that belongs to the Nurse Licensure Compact I have now started applying for jobs in other states. We will see where that gets me.

Mercy Hospital in Des Moines says that they have never had so many applicants for one job, averaging 20 applications a job. Nurses from Des Moines are applying for jobs at hospitals up to 40 miles away. This doesn't bode well considering there are three big hospitals in Des Moines. The hiring freezes have taken their toll. With four nursing schools in the area and the hiring freezes starting over a year and a half ago many nurses have found themselves unemployed. As summer approaches another semester of nurses will be sent out into a tough job market. If you learn anything from this thread please learn that nursing is not recession proof, but the economy will eventually recover.

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hospitals in my area have had hiring freezes for quit awhile, even though they managed to make millions last year. I dont know how it is at nursing homes, but im sure they are not having to look very hard for nurses. it is only going to get worse because we will be graduating more nurses next month. good luck with your search.

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I actually live in Des Moines...I graduated in 2008 and started at

Mercy. I currently work at the VA we had some openings recently..and new grads got hired. Check out the usajobs.gov website and apply anything you see. Hope you find a job soon.

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Thanks for telling us your story. I like these personal stories better than very general newspaper articles because the information is more up to date and accurate.

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

Freezes are going to be in for awhile I'm afraid.

Because of the shortage from previous years, there is an inundation of new grads. I am afraid this is going to be like this for a good long time.

My hospital system "grows" our own....so the outside grads...have no chance...

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Specializes in CVIC, ortho surgery.

On the unit where I work I have seen a few nurses increase their pointage due to a spouse loosing a job. I can see how this would have an effect on new positions not coming available.

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I guess you're darned if you do, and darned if you don't :crying2:

So many of us want to go back to school and do something "better" with our lives but you begin to wonder if there is a "better" out there with such a bad economy?!?!

*Sigh* Okay, all venting aside.....I'll start my program in May and I'm going to keep my head held high. I know that things aren't going so well and that there's a chance I may not find a job right away, or for a long time, but....I have to try. I have to believe that by choosing to do something good with my life that there will be rewards and that it will pay off in the long run. Without a doubt there will always be a need for nurses, there will always be sick ppl, and no matter what they can't get rid of us all together :yeah: So I guess that's something to hold on to.

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Hi all, I feel the frustrations of being a new grad looking for a job and not finding any. I was in the same position, I graduated in May 2009, passed my board in September and started applying for a job, did online, job expos, networking, etc. I did'nt get hired till February 2010 at an LTAC hospital. What did it was my persistence and stopping by every month and checking on my application status, and lo I came at a time when one of their nurses has just relocated, I got lucky but the CEO said, she likes my persistence (or maybe just luck). I would say that keep your hope and be more persistent and aggressive in your job search.

There are job postings but they require 1 year experience or more experience. I still have friends who are still looking for an RN position. It is this economy that's affecting everyone. Now, like on of the posters stated above, there are graduates this May who will be joining the pool of jobseekers. The reports that nursing is recession proof is a lie. I've commented on irresponsible articles that continue to report such a thing!

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Specializes in NICU.

I feel your pain. We have 9 nursing schools in our area that crank out RNs every semester. The most recent new grad program had over 1600 applicants for about 30-40 positions, and they wont have another program until next year. So. Cal is inundated with jobless new grads, and I don't expect it will get better here for a long while. I'm doing everything I can to get noticed, and I am still hoping I'll be one of the lucky ones that gets a job this year.

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Freezes are going to be in for awhile I'm afraid.

Because of the shortage from previous years, there is an inundation of new grads. I am afraid this is going to be like this for a good long time.

My hospital system "grows" our own....so the outside grads...have no chance...

I should have taken advantage of that window when I was receiving a call a week from your hospitals recruiters back in 2007/2008 but I definitely see the rationale for this.

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On the unit where I work I have seen a few nurses increase their pointage due to a spouse loosing a job. I can see how this would have an effect on new positions not coming available.

And it cuts down on the available shifts for the casual/float pool nurses.

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I continue to get calls from recruiters for travel positions all over the place. Not sure if youcan find one without experience though.

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