lacedmm1

No, my hospital has been full to the capacity for the last few weeks, I mean every bed in a 1000 bed hospital is full and the ED is still extremely overcrowded. We are a level 1 Trauma teaching hospital so we get people from all over so maybe that's the reason we aren't seeing low census. Sorry to hear that others are being called off due to low census, especially in these economic times.

Yes, the starting salary for a new grad is $21.50. I work at a large teaching hospital in Tampa and that's the starting pay. Hope this helps :-). BTW, my mom works in California and was pretty sure she would be able to get me a job after I grad nursing school on her floor, not even with that connection could I overcome the hiring freezes and the "please no new grads" on job postings. Try to get your experience in first then think about the move. Also, another new grad moved from NYC to here because he couldn't find anything in his entire state.

Hey, I'm from Tampa...where do you work currently? I know if at least one person (even though he is a new grad) who had to move to Tampa because there was no work in NY/NYC. He said all the hospitals had hiring freezes. Good to see that there's a fellow Tampa resident on this forum

I got a job at a large teaching hospital in Florida. This hospital has an amazing CC program. What I did was I started applying for jobs in March even though I was graduating in mid-June. I also worked in a CCU (NOT at the same hospital) for 2 years while in nursing school. The hiring manager told us that she job 200 applications for the 16 positions and she narrowed them down by: 1) applicants that worked in a hospital during nursing school 2) applicants that worked in an ICU. From there she interviewed people and the ones that seemed genuinely excited about the program and the position were hired. She said she didn't even look at the people who didn't work during nursing school. Also, grades didn't mean anything to her, she said some of the greatest ICU nurses were "C" students in school. So, that sums it up. HAPPY JOB HUNTING ;-)

Congrats to you!! I start my Critical Care Rotation Program in less than a month, I am super stocked to say the least.

I started applying before I graduated and kept my options open. I figured the early bird catches the worm and I did. I haven't taken my nclex yet because my school just sent the paper work last week, but my job is hiring me on as a GN so they understand the situation. Keep searching diligently, I found that job fairs in my area was a waste of time. But I kept looking and found the perfect job.

bump!

*Bump*

Hi everyone, I was wondering if anyone could direct me to a nice neighborhood close to downtown Austin? Im ok with a 20min commute so that's my distance requirements, I guess. I may be accepting a position at a local facility in the downtown area and would appreciate the help. I will be renting for the first year at least so a nice community with either houses or apartments will do. Just trying to get my ducks in a row. Thanks a bunch!!

Im not a nurse yet (6 more months, yay), but I work as a tech on a CICU (really called the "Dump unit") so we get a bit of everything and I gotta tell you there are definitely ups and downs to this unit. The unit is very exciting, always something interesting going on and to learn about. On the other had we get a lot of long timers - you know the ones that should have been outta there a long time ago, but for some reason (depression or fear), refuses to be weined off of the vent and eventually start deteriorating. That is the worst part of the job for me and that's why I think I would do better in a Cardiac Surgical unit instead. But like the other posters said: try out the one that you are drawn to first and if you love it stay, if not move on.

I think what the problem is, is that with the economy being the way it is now, the older nurses that were set to retire or did retire, stayed or went back into the workforce. So, the expected nursing shortage was really dependent on that. The main problem causing the nursing shortage, wasn't that there aren't enough nursing, but the fact that there aren't enough WORKING nurses. Any hospital would rather hire an experienced nurse than train a new grad, that's just economics. Unfortunately, I'm in the same boat (graduating in a few months and not sure if I'll find a job right away), but I'm more than willing to move to areas that are still feeling the shortage - these places still do exist.

Yes, that sounds right. I am not a nurse yet (in last year of nursing school), but I work in Florida Hospital Orlando campus as a tech and that is the going rate for new grads in our hospital. So, there it is. Cost of living has gotten a little high but if you have a roommate or a spouse you can be ok.

Well that sucks, good thing I have at least 2 years to go, maybe then they will get there act together. I wonder what the reason was. I thought it might be hard to have all of the clinicals off-site and still get approval...not saying that's what it was, just a thought.

Love the Napoleon Dynamite reference :chuckle!!!

Nevermind, I found the website with the info I need. Thanks a lot. If anyone else has any information on adults, that would be great. Thanks!!!