I know the economy is tough and it would be a blessing if you're hired or have a job. I'm currently in my 4th quarter of my program and have been working my way up since I was in high school. I started off as a volunteer at a hospital and later became a nursing assistant. I worked in many many group homes and assisted living places. Lately, I've been looking for a job that would help with my newly acquired nursing skills. I've been really wanting to work at a hospital now because you being in that environment, you learn so much. I've been applying since the beginning of this year but... you know how that goes.
I got job offers from 2 of my old bosses - one at a group home with disabled patients and one for an assisted living company. I met w. both of them. At the group home, I'm great with my old boss (and I got the job on the spot) but I wasn't "excited" about it. I couldn't sleep that night...and on top of that, they were trying to pressure me into working not only weekdays but weekends. That's so draining on all levels and only reminded me why I quit after a few months. I went to the assisted living place today with a group interview. I spoke with the nurse (who also interviewed us, one on one) and her demeanor and attitude changed compared to when she was speaking to us as a group. It only reminded me how much they use their "impressive interior decorating" as marketing to grab more caregivers. It's very hard work. I know in my heart, I won't be learning anything new - I'm not saying I know everything (because I don't) but it's just a waste of my time and energy to "go back". I just don't feel comfortable "going back", especially to the same position from 3 years ago. (If it was a different position, it would be different). I just feel like going back to these jobs is like going back to a mediocre relationship with an old boyfriend - it ran it course, there's nothing to learn or gain from it anymore because you've grown from it. I sound stupid but I just don't feel right about it.... should I still go for it? (the paycheck wouldn't mean much... i'd be miserable). I'm actually feeling desperate now and am thinking of going back to the first job... just for the money but... I don't know... and I feel like the only people who wonder understand this dilemma are people who have worked in healthcare - it's very EASY for others to say "oh just do it" but little do they know how draining it can be... should i just say "no" to both and find a temp job for now while applying to hospitals? I don't think I'll plan to work during this coming fall quarter (it'll be a FULL load)...
I know that no job is perfect but being back at the same position as a CNA... I feel like I won't learn anything new or that will help me... I think I'm just craving a hospital job. I see my colleagues who work in that environment and they learn SO much just from observing. At these jobs, it'll be the same thing, over and over...
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Where do you live? Are RN jobs really that hard to find? I see a lot of people posting about how hard it is to find a job, but at my local University Hospital there is at least 25 staff RN positions open. And they have been open for awhile. The same goes for the two smaller hospitals in my area, about 5-10 spots each.
Just because there are a lot of jobs posted does not mean it's not hard to find a job. I am an experienced nurse, and I've been actively looking for another job for four months, with no luck.
Yes, RN jobs really ARE hard to find right now.
You have to consider that for every job opening, there are probably about 20 candidates vying for it.
Just because there are a lot of jobs posted does not mean it's not hard to find a job. I am an experienced nurse, and I've been actively looking for another job for four months, with no luck.
Yes, RN jobs really ARE hard to find right now.
You have to consider that for every job opening, there are probably about 20 candidates vying for it.
Where do you live?
I'm not saying you're wrong by any means. But as an example, I have been doing some research on CRNA's. And some people in these discussions claim that it's so hard to find a job, while other's seem to have no problem. As it turns out, some people having a lot of trouble finding jobs live in Philadelphia, where they have around 8 CRNA schools.
I think people should start at least listing their state, and maybe even city, in these types of posts. If you live in Miami then yes you will most likely have more trouble finding a job because it's a very desirable place to live.
By the way, I live in Iowa. And I would like to hear from other's that live in Iowa about the shortage or lack thereof. All I can say is on the floor where I'm a tech I have seen over six NG's start in my unit alone. And I've only been here for four months.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Where do you live?
I'm not saying you're wrong by any means. But as an example, I have been doing some research on CRNA's. And some people in these discussions claim that it's so hard to find a job, while other's seem to have no problem. As it turns out, some people having a lot of trouble finding jobs live in Philadelphia, where they have around 8 CRNA schools.
I think people should start at least listing their state, and maybe even city, in these types of posts. If you live in Miami then yes you will most likely have more trouble finding a job because it's a very desirable place to live.
By the way, I live in Iowa. And I would like to hear from other's that live in Iowa about the shortage or lack thereof. All I can say is on the floor where I'm a tech I have seen over six NG's start in my unit alone. And I've only been here for four months.
A quick glance in the IA nursing forum indicates that several people are searching for several months before securing jobs, and that many facilities had or have a hiring freeze.
Where I work, we regularly hire new grads also. But that doesn't mean that it's not difficult to find a job. Before actively job searching, I saw tons of posts on our local Craigslist and Monster for RNs. Based on that, I would assume that there are actually tons of jobs and that a nurse with experience shouldn't have any difficulty finding a job. But once I entered the job search, I realized that I was wrong, and even though there are tons of job postings does not mean that it's a simple thing to get hired. Like I said, for every job posting, there are a ton of candidates.
Five years ago, a nurse could find a job within a week of looking. Probably multiple job offers. It's just not true anymore.
A quick glance in the IA nursing forum indicates that several people are searching for several months before securing jobs, and that many facilities had or have a hiring freeze.
Where I work, we regularly hire new grads also. But that doesn't mean that it's not difficult to find a job. Before actively job searching, I saw tons of posts on our local Craigslist and Monster for RNs. Based on that, I would assume that there are actually tons of jobs and that a nurse with experience shouldn't have any difficulty finding a job. But once I entered the job search, I realized that I was wrong, and even though there are tons of job postings does not mean that it's a simple thing to get hired. Like I said, for every job posting, there are a ton of candidates.
Five years ago, a nurse could find a job within a week of looking. Probably multiple job offers. It's just not true anymore.
While I'm not debating that the job market is tighter than it was a few years ago, which can be said for many professions, I'm asking people to be careful with the bold claims. When people say " There is a surplus of nurses everywhere", they need to be careful. Those words carry a lot of weight, and may affect someone's decision on whether or not to follow a career path that they may very well be happy with for the rest of their lives.
I think you would be hard pressed to find a career that still gets offers right out of school like nurses used to get. But does that mean that nursing is a bad choice? No. Not many people get those offers any more in any field, so I wouldn't used that as reasoning not to go into nursing.
Also almost every recent post in the IA nursing section of allnurses.com is at least 3 years old. And a post I did find from 2011 says that one nurse got hired after a month. And two others had to wait a few months.
In my opinion and after a lot of life experience..I wouldn't settle for a job, a man, a woman, a town, a haircut that didn't suit me..you get my point..you may have to work one of these position until you can get something else but if you can go w/o working and keep looking then do - but whatever you do NEVER SETTLE. Settling is a decision most people live to regret.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
And nowhere have I said that that nursing is a bad field to get into. I only said that one cannot judge the ease of finding a job by how many job listings there are on a hospital's website.
While I'm not debating that the job market is tighter than it was a few years ago, which can be said for many professions, I'm asking people to be careful with the bold claims. When people say " There is a surplus of nurses everywhere", they need to be careful. Those words carry a lot of weight, and may affect someone's decision on whether or not to follow a career path that they may very well be happy with for the rest of their lives.
I respectfully disagree with you because I do not think these are bold claims people are making. Of course there are some places in the country where new grads might not be struggling. But it appears that they are few and far between. I have not seen people posting such general statements such as "there is a surplus of nurses everywhere", just a unanimous outcry of frustration from all the people across the country who have been searching so long for a job. As one of the lucky new grads who got exactly the job I wanted right after school but watched some of my very gifted peers struggle, I feel sad when there are people who do not seem to understand the reality of the situation and even deny it simply because they have not experienced it themselves. Also, I certainly hope that people do not base their career decisions off of an online message board, I love nursing and nothing people say here could have ever or will ever make me give it up.
I, truly believe that the difficulty many experienced nurses are having with finding/changing jobs is related to this:
In this economy where employers get many applications for most positions and many posted positions do not actually exist..the experienced nurse is being less sought after. I had one place that interviewed me, and I knew the manager and my references knew her also and I still did not get the job I was highly qualified for, explained to me off the record. she could not hire me with over 20 yrs exp when a RN with 2-3 yrs experience would be okay and alot less pay!!!
And location does matter.. the more new grads coming into a flooded market in one city will mean harder to get a job, then if you live way out and no flood of new grads, better shot.
The OP's original question is should she settle..IMHO she should not if she can afford to take that lifestyle.
I, truly believe that the difficulty many experienced nurses are having with finding/changing jobs is related to this:
In this economy where employers get many applications for most positions and many posted positions do not actually exist..the experienced nurse is being less sought after. I had one place that interviewed me, and I knew the manager and my references knew her also and I still did not get the job I was highly qualified for, explained to me off the record. she could not hire me with over 20 yrs exp when a RN with 2-3 yrs experience would be okay and alot less pay!!!
And location does matter.. the more new grads coming into a flooded market in one city will mean harder to get a job, then if you live way out and no flood of new grads, better shot.
The OP's original question is should she settle..IMHO she should not if she can afford to take that lifestyle.
I'm not here to argue with anyone. But can someone give me an example of why some job postings are listed if there is in fact not a spot open. I just can't get my head around why employers would do this.
Employers do this to get applications/ resumes that they can use to fill a job quickly if the need arises....they also like to see what's out there. This is what a HR person told me. Also we have a local hospital that posts regularly at least 20 different jobs and yet they have a Hiring Freeze! But if they find a great candiadte they will interview with the statement of there being hiring freeze bu they expect this position to ope soon. If you are a great fit, magically the Big Kahuna in control agrees to open position.
Also employers are not filling positions where a nurse leaves, they just delegate more work to employees who remain.
Employers do this to get applications/ resumes that they can use to fill a job quickly if the need arises....they also like to see what's out there. This is what a HR person told me. Also we have a local hospital that posts regularly at least 20 different jobs and yet they have a Hiring Freeze! But if they find a great candiadte they will interview with the statement of there being hiring freeze bu they expect this position to ope soon. If you are a great fit, magically the Big Kahuna in control agrees to open position.
Also employers are not filling positions where a nurse leaves, they just delegate more work to employees who remain.
Thanks for the Clarification BrookeeLou. I hope some stuff clears up before I graduate in 2-3 years so I don't have to deal with these shady tactics.
klone, MSN, RN
14,857 Posts
Just because there are a lot of jobs posted does not mean it's not hard to find a job. I am an experienced nurse, and I've been actively looking for another job for four months, with no luck.
Yes, RN jobs really ARE hard to find right now.
You have to consider that for every job opening, there are probably about 20 candidates vying for it.