I was a Corpsman in the Navy and my experience influenced me wanting to become a registered nurse. Nursing is my passion and calling in life, but what's the point if there's no job for me in the end? I live in Southern California and the majority of the human resources department and experienced nurses have stated that SoCal is oversaturated with nurses. Schools are pumping out more graduates which exceeds the demand for them. I heard its rare for hospitals to hire a new grad w/o any experience. I currently attend USC's business school along with UCLA's nursing school. I'm not really stressed about taking the course load from both schools and I'm doing very well in each field. I am very optimistic with my double major in Business because I know many executives from the Big Four Accounting firms and have finished my paid internships in San Francisco over the summer. But, I have no experience with the field of Nursing with the exception of the clinicals we are required to do alongside with our labs/lectures. How does one go about gaining experience in Nursing if nobody is willing to hire? Military? Peace Corps? VA?
I still would like to do Nursing, but with all the bad news I keep hearing about nurses not gaining employment. Some have recommended me to relocate (which isn't a problem at all) to Texas or some other state. But, with all the new grads already relocating to these locations, I don't think there would be a job at all by the time I graduate. Some have even told me not to waste my time in Nursing. The economy doesn't seem like it will recover
anytime soon nationally, and specifically for CALIFORNIA! Education, health care, social security is all being cut etc.
Are there any recommendations/advice/suggestions that you guys may have for me? Any informative information would be highly appreciative.
EVERYONE was hit hard by the economy, but the fact is that nurses and other healthcare providers were not affected as much as other professions. of course, jobs still got affected and people who lost their jobs in other fields or couldn't find jobs went into nursing when they otherwise probably wouldn't have.
jobs are out there - it's just a matter of your willingness/ability to go and get them. there are nursing jobs where i live which played a big part in why i chose nursing as a 2nd career. there are job fairs all the time (including today) and people moving from all over the country to take them. i do NOT live in a big city so my guess is there aren't enough educated people living in the area to fill the positions and people aren't dying to relocate to a "small town."
Get your BSN and go back into the navy as an ensign.
I think this is a fabulous idea :)
As a Corpsman did you get acute care experience? If so, you should get your LVN license while you're in school, and perhaps start working as an LVN - it's a great way to gain experience and make connections. I was a Corpsman and every employer that has hired me since (as an LVN and RN) said that my military background and experience was key in their decisions to hire me.
I say quit listening to everyone's horror stories and find out what's out there yourself. If nursing is your passion go for it. Best of luck to you.
I live in southern california... orange county... I have 2 friends who just graduated from Cal State Long Beach and both found jobs within 2 months after graduation... these friends were really smart and networked well and had high grades, so it can definitely be done. Hoag Hospital just opened up and they are opening a Kaiser as well... Seems like there are jobs available just have to keep a positive attitude and go for your dream... Nursing is a second career for me, I am getting ready to start school in the fall. I don't care what the state of the economy is like I am going to pursue my dream. The way I see it if I go through nursing school and can't get a job well then guess what I am in the exact same situation I am now... I have nothing to lose!
I think that the fact that you are a BSN with a double degree out of USC as well as a corpsman should put an end to your worries. It's the ASN nurses who seem to be having the most trouble finding jobs, as thier preparation is less than yours.
HOWEVER, no new grad is really seen as desirable, since the quality of education of RN candidates has fallen in the last 10 years. NOT my opinion, ask any preceptor.
OTOH, SOME less desirable institutions WANT new grads, as they feel they are more naive, therefore more malleable to practice care paths; which forego critical thinking and promote rote responses to clinical situations.
Is anybody else as sick of this whining about nursing jobs as I am? This feeling of entitlement is totally killing me. Nobody is guaranteed job in this country at all, and we may yet live through even worse economy than we have now. Regardless of what happens, being a nurse is a respectable profession that is portable and actually has one of the better chances of finding jobs right out of college. But this constant complaining about inability of some new graduates to find jobs makes me think that people just slept through 2009-2010. Maybe this is a news to some folks but economy crashed and burned, and is still smoking.
I don't find it "whining" when someone who has invested 2-4 years in an education and is now worried about not being able to secure employment. I disagree that there is a feeling of entitlement. I'm sorry but when you finished nursing school did you not expect to get a job and work? I think you might be singing a different tune if you were in a similar position.
To the OP, try using the military for possible connections to employment. There are a lot of nurses out there that are military reserve and still working. You might be able to be put in touch with the right people.
Is anybody else as sick of this whining about nursing jobs as I am? This feeling of entitlement is totally killing me. Nobody is guaranteed job in this country at all, and we may yet live through even worse economy than we have now. Regardless of what happens, being a nurse is a respectable profession that is portable and actually has one of the better chances of finding jobs right out of college. But this constant complaining about inability of some new graduates to find jobs makes me think that people just slept through 2009-2010. Maybe this is a news to some folks but economy crashed and burned, and is still smoking.
I'm guessing you have a job???
I was fortunate to get a job 3 years ago right out of nursing school, but feel sorry for those who went through school and are now unable to find decent employment. I find your comments harsh and rude. Perhaps you're a burned out nurse? Try to see this from others point of view!
I say if nursing is truly what you want, then go for it. If you are openminded, able to make contacts, and willing to relocate, then a job will come up somewhere. Yes, the economy is bad, but nurses are still hired. Most of my friends, including myself had to relocate, or else we would have been unemployed. Also, for some reason, it appears that many people are still set on hospital work. Well, clearly, there isn't enough to go around, so it may be time to consider other avenues of nursing, such as:
Flu clinics, doctor's offices, schools, camps, occ health, public health, psych, LTC, homecare, OR. And before anyone says that new grads don't get hired for OR, that isn't necessarily true. I had a placement in the OR and was offered a position. It just depends.
In addition to the typical hospital units...
Good luck. The other thing to consider is rural nursing. Very few people want to go to small towns. They usually always need a nurse :)
I was fortunate to get a job 3 years ago right out of nursing school, but feel sorry for those who went through school and are now unable to find decent employment. I find your comments harsh and rude. Perhaps you're a burned out nurse? Try to see this from others point of view!
Duh! It was supposed to be harsh. We are all adults here.
Mulan
2,228 Posts
Get your BSN and go back into the navy as an ensign.