Jobs are very hard to get, with 300 or more applicants for each position at some places. It can take years to get your first nursing job. So, if the school is selling you the idea that your going into a "guaranteed" job, your not.
There are thousands and thousands of unemployed new grad licensed nurses who are scrambling to get a job, and the hospitals are upping their standards every day, almost all flat out tell you not to apply if your a new grad, some say if your a new grad only apply if you have a BSN and a 3.5 GPA or better. Almost all positions all the way down the the lowly LTC centers are requiring BSN degrees, and even home health care wont touch you if you don't have 1 year of acute experience, which you cant get unless you have a BSN with a 3.5 average.
If you do not believe what I am saying, then Google "No nursing jobs" and take a look at what people are saying.
That being said, if you still willing to go into nursing, spend years in the most stressful program and then not be able to obtain work when your finished, then god bless you.
The job market may be rough, and it may be tough to find a job in today's market, but I don't care. I, unlike a great deal of people, did not come to nursing for the job security, the perceived money, the benefits, or because I thought it looked cool on TV, I came to nursing because I know in my heart that it is what I am called to do, and because it is something that I have a great passion for. I came to nursing to be the bright spot in a family's darkest moments, to be caring and kind, to heal and to advocate for my patients, and, most importantly, to take care of the critically ill and their families. I don't care that the job market for nursing isn't as good as it has been in the past, newsflash: the job market for everyone sucks, and I don't care that nursing school is stressful, I am very aware of that. I also don't care that I'm going to work long hours, be under-appreciated, and get paid nowhere near enough for the work I do. I have a heart for nursing and helping others, and neither you nor anyone else will stop me from pursuing my goal. So thanks for reminding me of what I already know, and for adding more negativity to an already negative world, but I have no time in my life for people like you, and I think the world would be a better place if so many people stopped trying to hurt everyone else with their negativity simply because they are bitter or angry at the world.
Specializes in Nursing Education, CVICU, Float Pool.
You know, I asked one of my friends, who is going to school to become an Educator, why they would pursue teaching as a career when teachers/ educators have been having some of the toughest times finding jobs? They told me that it was their dream to teach and that despite the bad conditions they couldn't make themselves turn away from teaching. It was then I realized that I was no different, we really had very similar situation. The best thing we can do is to endure and fight til a better dawning is upon us! I may be young and,frankly, I may not know much about the world yet, but I do know that everything that people feel is worth doing is certainly worth, at least that perticular person, fighting for.
My sister's an architect. 60% of architects are currently unemployed. Her firm gets tons of resumes every week, and the architects applying are asking for half of what they made before (they weren't that well paid to begin with, but that's another discussion).
None of us know what will happen tomorrow. We're not in charge of the world. I figure there are people being hired....we read about them when they sometimes post on this forum. I will do my job--I will work hard, do my best to learn as much as I can, and then I will hopefully graduate and will start looking for employment. I have wanted this since I was a young kid, got sidetracked (happily) by a large family, and now I am pursuing my dream. Nothing is going to get in my way. I am not going to worry about two years from now or three years from now. If I am meant to get a job, I will.
LTC nurses or employees are definitely not lowly. It is important to remember that we will ALL be apart of the geriatric population one day. We shouldnt consider any patient population lowly because the reality is that every patient needs us for something. Every patient in LTC has a story. However, I do realize that everything is not for everyone. Okay, okay I'm done lol. I understand that the original post was something like a "reality check" for themselves and not meant to ruffle feathers. But like everyone has said, it depends on where you are, who you are, and what that employer is specifically looking for. Hope things improve for those still on the hunt.
I would guess that you live in a highly saturated area... where I LIVE...every single person that i have known to make it through nursing school has a job..and they had one with in a month of passing the boards.
people should really research what the job opportunities are like in THEIR areas..doesnt sound like you did that.
Here BSN's are not required..heck experience isnt really required...there are tons of job postings that dont require experience.
LTC doesnt require a BSN either...not where I live. Im not just making this stuff up either...i have a lot of RN friends and family and some that work in hospitals and some that work in LTC..and some that teach... so ive got a pretty good idea of what its going to be like for ME.
while it sucks for some people to find jobs...it doesnt for others..its all regional.
Where do you live? It's been 2 years since I've graduated, I'm itching to get back in the hospital.
So not true! I know very many ADNs who got hired as little as a week after graduating!
Jobs are like realsate. Location, location, location.
If you live in the middle of nowhere, where there is one or two schools pumping out graduates, yes you will find a job. If you live in a metropolitan area in a expensive and crowded state or area, no you will not get hired right away. If those one or two schools in the middle of nowhere are CCs then yes the ADNs will get hired.
ADNs here are not getting jobs, neither are BSNs but if a hospital had to choose, it be the BSN hey choose. Unfortunately its true
That's just it though - what you're spouting is not the reality everywhere. I graduated in December and I'm already working for two facilities (with nothing more than an Associate's ). 90% of my graduating class is employed or were employed before graduation. I guess your research should probably extend outside your immediate area if you want to claim to be presenting the "truth". Give it some time, most other professions are in a slump right now too, not just nursing.[/quote']
I may sound very desperate at this point but I don't care! I WANT TO WORK! Please let me know what state you're in.
I live in California around the Los Angeles and Orange county area. My friend who only has an ADN (as I have an ADN and bachelors in psychology) just got hired on a med surg telemtry floor. That's one of many. I have friends who gotten hired in ICU DOU Psych labor and delivery ER and peds. One girl in my ACLS class got a job offer in ER at one hospital and as we were sitting there got a call from kaiser ER to interview which she did and just advised me she was hired, she graduated in December. I am currently interviewing inTexas for an ER position. No it's not as easy as it once was but not impossible. I don't live in a remote village in the desert I live in Orange County and went to school in San Diego and my friends are getting jobs in all these counties. I myself am more picky and want ER and want to move to Texas which seems like it's going to happen. You must make friends with HR and call nurse managers directly, ask if they are hiring and sell yourself. If you grafuated a year ago and dont have at least your ACLS and PALS you ar not marketable! Just sending in a resume along with thousands of other people is not going to get you a job. You must network and show face. This is what our instructor taught us last semester in school and everyone who has followed her instructions along with putting together a portfolio has been successful.
I know of, just the opposite, bunch if BSN grads who have jobs (and don't)while other ADN people don't. I don't know, maybe those ADN people aren't trying?
I don't know. Just my belief that when I apply and graduate with my BSN eventually, I know I will have to work hard and stand out but for now, it just is what it is.
). 90% of my graduating class is employed or were employed before graduation. I guess your research should probably extend outside your immediate area if you want to claim to be presenting the "truth". Give it some time, most other professions are in a slump right now too, not just nursing.[/quote']
NCRNMDM, ASN, RN
465 Posts
The job market may be rough, and it may be tough to find a job in today's market, but I don't care. I, unlike a great deal of people, did not come to nursing for the job security, the perceived money, the benefits, or because I thought it looked cool on TV, I came to nursing because I know in my heart that it is what I am called to do, and because it is something that I have a great passion for. I came to nursing to be the bright spot in a family's darkest moments, to be caring and kind, to heal and to advocate for my patients, and, most importantly, to take care of the critically ill and their families. I don't care that the job market for nursing isn't as good as it has been in the past, newsflash: the job market for everyone sucks, and I don't care that nursing school is stressful, I am very aware of that. I also don't care that I'm going to work long hours, be under-appreciated, and get paid nowhere near enough for the work I do. I have a heart for nursing and helping others, and neither you nor anyone else will stop me from pursuing my goal. So thanks for reminding me of what I already know, and for adding more negativity to an already negative world, but I have no time in my life for people like you, and I think the world would be a better place if so many people stopped trying to hurt everyone else with their negativity simply because they are bitter or angry at the world.