Seeing as it was hard enough to find a job made me see that there was no nursing shortage in my area...heck, I just went agency and still fighting to get 2-3 days a week.
So the other day, when I was feeling very low about not working...I went to the grocery store to get a few needed items (with just enough money to get those and nothing else!), when I talked to two check out people that are in nursing school. This seems to happen where ever I go! "Ohhhhhh your a nurse, I am in nursing school!".
Guess since we have three nursing schools in the metro area that can happen...but then my hubby came home from work...he is a paramedic. He said "holly cow, either all my patients were, or their mother/wife's were nurses!"...considering he had a busy day...uhggggggg!!!!
Is it that we have a shortage, or is it more like most Nurse's are fed up with some areas of nursing and avoid working there? I know my last workplace can't find a nurse to replace me to save their skins, yet any of the hosptials...despite running job ads...seem to be full of nurses so I had to go agency (which I love by the way...just won't be able to continue if I don't start getting at least 30+ hours a week!).
Well here in new york I managed to get an ICU critical care training program only to not have it work out.
So now I'm out looking and let me tell you ....... there is definitely no shortage based on what i've been seeing. Open houses are NOT drawing alot of people and those that do come are finding slim pickings for any type of work.
I've been looking in CT and Mass but haven't been seeing much plus the pay is quite different from New York. But I"m not seeing the standard of living being all the much higher there.
Where is Mass are these jobs suppose to be? My feeling is the shortage is for EXPERIENCED nurses primarily NOT new nurses.
Where is Mass are these jobs suppose to be? My feeling is the shortage is for EXPERIENCED nurses primarily NOT new nurses.
I'm in the Boston area. Plenty of jobs here, even for new grads. The cost of living here is absolutely ridiculous though. The highest in this area of the country.
We went through a phase here in the late 90s when jobs were hard to get and new grads were scrambling for jobs.
Now jobs are relatively easy to get in med-surg and long term care, especially night shift. Right now our day shift is fully staff, and we have techs graduating in May that will probably cover the turnover we have between now and then.
I'm looking in my area, looking for a place to apply. Seems everywhere wants 12 hours (which I think would kill me) and night shift (which I know would kill me). One hospital does have 8 hour shifts, and I will try for 7-3 or 3-11 on as needed basis.
The big corporation has ads a mile long in the paper but they only want 12 hour nights. Wouldn't you think if they need staff so bad that they would be willing to work with a person and offer a little flexibility? Seems like it's their way or the highway.
Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.
HOPE3456...you get what I am saying!!!!!!!!!
okay for those in Oregon..yes I live near but not close to the Portland area...and well good jobs...oh heck! If you are flexible in what you are doing..great..if you want to get into specalties!!!!!!! OH LORD! Be good..be very very good....
Sorry! I did all the things people told me too..and I got stuck with ACLS, Trauma, peds, cardiac and the lot..and HI!!!!!!! Then all the sudden BANG!!!!!!Welcome to long term care to pay my bills! I did trauma...wound up doing geri by necessity...so never be overconfident!
BTW..geri actually taught me a TON that I really needed for emergency and acute...so somewhere I think it was a path I needed to take..I was an upstart mind you! Not overdone..but...well...cocky!
but that one position that I had...was in school! Outside of school...ZIP...and I am trained!!!!!!!!!!!! I know my stuff..well did...need a patient or two to refresh..but it is so there.....
I predict that in in 2010, there will be a nurse plateau. I don't know if I've heard that somewhere or what. I'm actually picking that year because I'm considering the situation of retiring nurses, the huge popularity of nursing in the last couple years, and the country responding in certain ways.
It is true that there are areas that don't need nurses! Believe it or not, nurses will tend to migrate to areas and jobs they find desirable. Seems like I've heard of many job protections and wanted benefits in Oregon (probably not true everywhere, just trying to figure this out), this has probably led to many nurses moving there/sticking around.
Good point..... I live in a town that has 1 of the 2 'magnet status' hospitals in the state of CO. It is also in a really nice geographical location - near the mountains, nice climate and good schools, ect. I worked at the hosp. in nsg school as a tech and it did seem that alot of RN's moved here from out of state - basically b/c they wanted to work at a 'magnet' facility, and many said that this is just a really nice place to live. Many also said that it was the best hosp they ever worked at.....hence very low turnover and no jobs avail when I graduated!
i am not that picky on where I live - i just want to get into a hosp RN position, preferably CCU. My husband doesn't want to move - and says he will NOT move to a city. I envy the single travel RN's right now.
Well the other side of this conversation is, does the area you're working in pay a decent wage? Do you have much discretionary income? Or are you just making ends meet? In the suburbs of new york city you can make over 60K a year. But upstate new york you're lucky if you make much over 20 an hour. has anyone found information on which areas are the best paying with the largest need for nurses? And if the area has alot of need are they willing to teach new nurses in a way that supports their growth and with compassion enough to make sure they will stay long enough to learn the job?
Nursing Shortage? Columbus, Georgia has NOT received the memo!!!
Local hospitals are being VERY demanding on their PRN, RN's. Not being flexible AT ALL!!!!! This is why they are loosing NURSES!!! We do have families to take care of and flexibility works!!!! Requiring holidays, weekends, and 12 hr. shifts are NOT ways to work with families. Most RN's are caring folks who would like to work but need the flexability.
CRNAorBust
83 Posts
Well here in new york I managed to get an ICU critical care training program only to not have it work out.
So now I'm out looking and let me tell you ....... there is definitely no shortage based on what i've been seeing. Open houses are NOT drawing alot of people and those that do come are finding slim pickings for any type of work.
I've been looking in CT and Mass but haven't been seeing much plus the pay is quite different from New York. But I"m not seeing the standard of living being all the much higher there.
Where is Mass are these jobs suppose to be? My feeling is the shortage is for EXPERIENCED nurses primarily NOT new nurses.