So frightened of the dire job market

PMFB-RN, RN · Apr 24, 2011

i am currently finishing up my prereqs and about to start applying for nursing schools. i am totally perplexed by all the job forecasts saying nursing is where it's at, and then the number of people on here saying they can't find a job. i am in my late 30s and went back to school after being laid off from an admin job, and i was unable to find another. don't get me wrong, i also want to be a nurse and have absolutely loved all my classes. however.... i simply can't afford to go back to school, get an rn, and still not be able to find work!!! are the job projections just behind the times? have they not accounted for all the new grads?

*** i wish that were the case. it's more a case of certain people with a vested interest in a nurse oversupply situation putting out false infomation. these are the exact same people who, back when there really was a slight shortage of nurses, were active in trying to import more nurses from other countries.

i think part of the problem is the stubborn recession- jobs are scarce in every field right now, and companies probably can't afford to hire the staff they need. the job projections also say that there will be 800,000 new nursing jobs by 2018 which is admittedly still a good ways away. i am just hoping this recession eases up soon!

i am not afraid to work in a long term care facility, i will work just about anywhere, because i simply can't afford to be unemployed anymore. i will even leave the country if i have to.

so... am i crazy for going to nursing school?

*** not if being a nurse is what you know you really want to do. if your goal is simply to find a stable job then i would looking into another field. if your desire is to be a nurse then by all means become a nurse. you may have a rocky start but if it's what you really desire you will do fine.

boojum · Apr 24, 2011

*** i wish that were the case. it's more a case of certain people with a vested interest in a nurse oversupply situation putting out false infomation. these are the exact same people who, back when there really was a slight shortage of nurses, were active in trying to import more nurses from other countries.

i don't understand. who would have a vested interest in doing that?

leenak · Apr 24, 2011

Those that employ nurses have a vested interest in an oversupply of nurses. There are also a lot of schools, especially for-profit schools that are making a lot of money.

I am also taking pre-reqs as well but I understand the job market is tough all around. A lot of people that would've normally retired by now didn't due to the economy. A lot of people that lost their jobs decided to go back to school and it seems many people are focusing on the medical field. It means that even when the job market improves, there may be a glut of those with nursing degrees for a while as things stabilize.

anon695 · Apr 24, 2011

By the time you finish nursing school and take NCLEX, the job market will be different from what it is today. No college major is ever a guarantee of a job, so look at this as taking a gamble no matter what. If you've got a friend of family member working as a nurse right now, you'll greatly increase your chances of employment when you graduate - the easiest way to get a job is to know someone and have them put your resume in as an employee referral.

MadpeysRN · Apr 24, 2011

Phew, I have 6 RN's in my family. That's what I am holding on to!

Aly529 · Apr 24, 2011

I am doing my prereq's as well...went back to finish what I started years ago and although I am aware of the job issues I strongly try to not let it get me down. I worked in customer service for the last 7 years and really got fed up. I couldn't be tied to a headset for the rest of my life and wanted to do something I'll enjoy and that will keep me challenged. I have no doubts that if I want this bad enough I will find a job.

Music in My Heart · Apr 24, 2011

I am totally perplexed by all the job forecasts saying nursing is where it's at, and then the number of people on here saying they can't find a job.

Be careful from where you derive your information. Also, be aware that the general phrase "nurse" means a much broader range of work than most people first realize. Most of projected growth is in the home-health and SNF areas so you should certainly investigate those areas.

Recognize also that there're huge regional differences in the availability of nursing jobs. Rural communities tend to have more jobs but they tend to be (a) very remote, (b) poorly compensated by comparison, and © limited in their scope, patient type, and technology utilization.

I am in my late 30s and went back to school after being laid off from an admin job, and I was unable to find another. Don't get me wrong, I also want to be a nurse and have absolutely loved all my classes. However.... I simply can't afford to go back to school, get an RN, and STILL not be able to find work!!!

Many of us are/were in the same boat. Some get luckier than others as far as finding work. It's far from a sure thing but there are jobs out there. The problem is that there are far more new grads fighting for those positions than there are positions to take them.

Are the job projections just behind the times? Have they not accounted for all the new grads?

Agreed with the previous poster regarding the vested interest in propagating the myth of the shortage. Also, projections are just that - estimates based on future expectations... which may or may not prove accurate.

Also, projections are forward-looking, not present-looking.

I think part of the problem is the stubborn recession- jobs are scarce in every field right now, and companies probably can't afford to hire the staff they need.

Something you need to ask yourself, then, is what is the likelihood that the economy will be markedly improved at a given point in the future.

The job projections also say that there will be 800,000 new nursing jobs by 2018 which is admittedly still a good ways away.

Yeah, projections...

I am not afraid to work in a long term care facility, I will work just about anywhere, because I simply can't afford to be unemployed anymore. I will even leave the country if I have to.

Flexibility will certainly help but again, it's far from a sure thing.

So... am I crazy for going to nursing school?

Well... it really depends on how much you want to be a nurse as opposed to doing something else. It can be a great job but it can also be a lousy one. And again, plenty of folks are graduating from nursing school and finding themselves unable to find work.

From what I've seen, at least here in California, the better choice would be to become a Clinical Lab Scientist. Every hospital that I know of is having a tough time finding them and the average age is fairly high. And the barrier to entry is much tougher than for nursing. And once in, you can basically do it forever because it doesn't take the physical toll that nursing does.

Good luck to you.

boojum · Apr 24, 2011

From what I've seen, at least here in California, the better choice would be to become a Clinical Lab Scientist. Every hospital that I know of is having a tough time finding them and the average age is fairly high. And the barrier to entry is much tougher than for nursing. And once in, you can basically do it forever because it doesn't take the physical toll that nursing does.
Good luck to you.

Thanks... I am in CA as well. What is the path to becoming a Clinical lab Scientist? Would that be an advanced degree in microbiology or chemistry?

Also, how about sonographers and rad techs, do you think the job market is better there?

Music in My Heart · Apr 24, 2011

Thanks... I am in CA as well. What is the path to becoming a Clinical lab Scientist? Would that be an advanced degree in microbiology or chemistry?

It doesn't require an advanced degree, only a BS in biology, microbiology, chemistry, or something along those lines. After that, there's a certification process which includes lab time and an exam.

Also, how about sonographers and rad techs, do you think the job market is better there?

Not nearly as big a demand from what I've seen.

Brekka, ADN, RN · Apr 25, 2011

What I've seen so far is not so much a bad job market for nurses, but expectations. Many nursing students come out of nursing school knowing exactly what they want to do with their education, and want to get a great job in that area straight out of school. Some may want to work pediatrics, cardiology, etc. This is great that they know what they want, but at the same time they can limit themselves in the way of job placement.

Some graduate with the mindset that they are going to get a job in pediatrics, and that that job must also pay X amount of dollars, have openings for shift Y, and be in state Z. It is great to know what you want and go for it, but having high expectations straight off the bat isn't going to help.

You've just passed the NCLEX, congratulations! That in itself is a great feat, but now the real learning begins. Nurses who have been in their specialty for decades are still learning their job, though they have amassed a great amount of knowledge at the same time. With acquired knowledge and experience comes better jobs, and new grads usually don't get that amazing job that pays X amount of dollars for shift Y work and is in state Z.

Some of my fellow nursing students and I share one idea, and that is that we plan on applying for several jobs paying at least livable wages within certain set states. We may not get what we want after we get out of school, but we will get a paying job, experience, and the opportunity to look for our ideal job after a couple of years practice. Paying jobs are out there all over, it just depends on how much you expect.