So, what happened to all the nursing jobs?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Can anyone tell me. "What happened to all the nursing jobs." For the last few years all you read was that there will be a nursing shortage till, at least 2020. That getting a nursing job was as easy as shooting fish in a barrel. Articles were saying that even in a recession nursing would be immune because people still need healthcare.

So, what happened. Is it really the economy? Have all the vacancies been filled? What about the huge bonuses nurses were getting to sign with a hospital? Some of my own relatives got these bonuses so I know they were real. Now some of them are seeing their hours and benefits cut. Besides the recession (which is a big thing) are there other factors involved?

The nursing profession is starting to remind me of when they encouraged everyone to become programmers...and then the outsourcing began. You can't really outsource nursing, but it's the same situation. Encourage young people in droves to go into a profession, but then a few short years later the field dries up. It's a shame, really.

Ray

Specializes in being a Credible Source.

Darn it, I can't get at any of the actual studies, only the articles that reference them. It would be nice to understand from where those numbers derive.

I wonder what would account for the apparent dramatic rise in cost of orientating new nurses.

Also, while you're right that it's not "pocket change," the $100,000 number does seem to be significantly inflated.

It should also be noted that the costs of hiring experienced nurses is also not zero.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC/Skilled Care/Rehab.

So what can be done to decrease the amount it takes to train a new grad? I would be willing to work for less for a year or two. I just want to work in a hospital/LTC/clinic. I would actually prefer med/surg. I feel like I wasted years of my life and thousands of $$$. It seems like everyone is putting down new grads like we are totally worthless. Is the same happening to new doctors? Instead of taking a chance on new nurses, hospitals would rather take a chance on a nurse who hasn't worked in nursing for many years. Who is to say that nurse isn't going to leave once the economy gets better? I keep hearing that it will get better but when with that be? Now that the newer grads are graduating soon us older unexperienced grads are really going to have problems finding jobs. Is it all over for us? Should I even bother to renew my license?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

We were told not to ask for med-surg as we were supposed to be "following our passion" and that showed a lack of real interest in the field. That we hadn't really applied ourselves. By the end of ns school we should know exactly what we wanted to do . The recruiters , only 6 in a major metropolitan area, who bothered to show up to our school's job fair all seemed programmed to this. One from the menlo park VA actually told me they did not have med-surg! I think she was responding to the wrinkles on my face as it was listed on the handout in front of her. To be fair it was all a sham as they had all told the organizer that they didn't need anyone and they only came to the job fair as a favor to her. A few months later another school could not get anyone to come and called in the army recruiters. 2007-2008. I was told it costs about $30k to train a new grad by a private hospital. The army had some amazing perks but a 2 year trip to Iraq.

I think the old plan of med-surg then specialize is best. But then what do I know as I am a stale new grad.

I look forward to the day I do not have to hear the phrase "what is your passion". It's silly and annoying.

I hope it disappears after the hiring process at the very least.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU/PACU.

Hospitals are trying to save money, cut costs so of course they cut their nursing staff. I still saw shortages in staff. No way were we fully staffed, but the job openings ended. It's all about money.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

princessa please renew your license! do you want to take the nclex again? It would be good to study I guess. You only need one job right? Who knows what opportunity may come your way so you need to be ready. So keep that license up.

If even half of us would demand there be no new H1B visas until the current citizen new grads get jobs we might see some improvement. Fully one out of five nurses are foreign trained . That is definitely having an impact. Do they ever go back and alleviate the personnel shortage in their countries?While if I were more financially set I would love to serve in a distressed country, I don't blame them really for not wanting to make the sacrifice to return. And it's not like we can over to their country and take the jobs they don't want. Other countries are very protective of their citizens livelihoods.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, Acute care.
princessa please renew your license! do you want to take the nclex again? It would be good to study I guess. You only need one job right? Who knows what opportunity may come your way so you need to be ready. So keep that license up.

If even half of us would demand there be no new H1B visas until the current citizen new grads get jobs we might see some improvement. Fully one out of five nurses are foreign trained . That is definitely having an impact. Do they ever go back and alleviate the personnel shortage in their countries?While if I were more financially set I would love to serve in a distressed country, I don't blame them really for not wanting to make the sacrifice to return. And it's not like we can over to their country and take the jobs they don't want. Other countries are very protective of their citizens livelihoods.

Are foreigners who are new graduates getting hired before US citizens? I'm not asking you for hearsay but would like something fact-based if you don't mind.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

SENSUALBLISSINFL and other who may be single and thinking of relocating from urban to rural area: Don't do it, or do it temporarily to get a job, then move on ASAP would be my advice. Unless you are an outdoorswoman who really likes being alone a lot, it, rural will be a real bore and more lonely than you imagined. Might also be considerably lower socioeconomic and very poorly educated compared to you and the kind of people you are used to hanging with in the cities. Definitely do not move to a truly rural area and buy a house right away. Rural areas are married and staid and women's primary role there is childrearing. It may be difficult to find women friends to do activities with because rural women are the ones who always stay at home with the kids. Ask any woman in my small rural town what she does for recreation, and the answer will be "I guess I just do things with my family." So, take heed. If you don't have a family, or a man in tow when you move, you'll be by yourself. Rural bachelors are few and far between, and most, if not married, are misfits, oddballs, gay or bi, or players who don't intend to do more than rent a woman.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm not trying to be naive but I have commented before on this subject. For me,back in say year 2000,there were pages of hospitals jobs advertising for nurses. Flash foward to 2009,there were pages of home health agencies looking for nurses. Now flash foward to 2010,there are page after page of companies looking for cna's and med techs. What I'm getting at,and point out if I'm wrong,is that the hospital is no longer the main employer of nurses,at least in Nj anyway. Hospitals are closing left and right here,and it was happening before the recession.our govenor cut funding to hospitals signifigantly,so more are to follow. My hh agenies are constanly opening new cases but can't seem to find any nurses.I think a lot of states are going to follow in Nj foosteps because its cheaper to provide care in the home. Now about the cna and med tech thing: I know a lot of positions that they are advertising for really are nursing positions but they are hiring med techs to do the job. For instance,at this group home(pediatric psych clients) which is supposed to have a nurse,they had a med tech doing physicians orders,med and narc count,and wound care,and this guy had 2 weeks

training. This should be cause for alarm and that's the main reason why I believe the nursing jobs have dried up because employers still need nurses but don't want to hire "real nurses".we as nurses ahould get together and demand the elimination of the med tech title and med aide title,and see how many jobs open up.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Are foreigners who are new graduates getting hired before US citizens? I'm not asking you for hearsay but would like something fact-based if you don't mind.

Half the nurses at the hospital i work at are foreigners. It is happening especially in rural areas.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
There are Jobs out there the problem is that most of those jobs are in very rural areas or dangerous areas , or in General Places where the Nurse shortage is a direct cause of high skilled people not wanting to live in the area. for sure if you looking for a job in Los Angeles , San Francisco , New York city and so on it will be very difficult since every one wants to live on cities and in these there are more skilled people than open jobs at. I personally will like to live on a rural area and or native american community in the future since I am tired of city life , this put me at ease since I will Have a greater chance to get a job after becoming a nurse and hopefully getting a MSN as well .

The only Job that is relocation proof and maybe not 100% is to be a parent :)

:redbeathe:up::)

Hmmmm I've moved twice now into 2 different very small rural towns. The first one, new grad position didn't work out (I wasn't good enough). Moved to second small town. found out hospital in next city had new grad versant program! Go into second interview then disqualified because I had 3 months previous experience in first small town hospital and am not a new grad anymore! Ok, so I apply for regular staff RN positions ~ nope, not qualified enough! Ok, I decided I am going back to school and get my masters. Wrong again! Schools want RN to have at least 1 year of experience (which I understand....but come on people, I don't want to sit on my butt and do nothing! There has to be a way. My new plan is to enroll in an online RN refrsher course and get the local rural hospital (that I really want to work at) to precept me. That way they get to train me a little for free...and when this situation turns around and they need a new grad, i'll be ready!! It's getting pretty hard to be positive when everyway you turn you get shut down! Not a good feeling. Good luck to you. Good luck to me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Public Health Nurse.

"if even half of us would demand there be no new h1b visas until the current citizen new grads get jobs we might see some improvement."

how can we demand this? though i have still yet to graduate, i have some friends who are practicing nurses and maybe they can help. one former classmate from the pre-requesites era called me two days ago to tell me he passed the nclex, and now he does not even know where to start looking for a job, he had quit working and went on loans to study full time and be a nurse. south florida is going through a very bad time for hiring nurses period. a local hospital has lots of foreign nurses, but we must also now take care of our own and start hiring our new grads, i will be one of those in two years. though i understand the need back in the day of hiring foreign nurses, the time is has come now to hire within and give opportunity to those who have sacrificed family time and money to follow their calling. please do not misunderstand me, this is not an anti foreign feeling, is just that now our hospitals need to give us a chance.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
"if even half of us would demand there be no new h1b visas until the current citizen new grads get jobs we might see some improvement."

how can we demand this? though i have still yet to graduate, i have some friends who are practicing nurses and maybe they can help. one former classmate from the pre-requesites era called me two days ago to tell me he passed the nclex, and now he does not even know where to start looking for a job, he had quit working and went on loans to study full time and be a nurse. south florida is going through a very bad time for hiring nurses period. a local hospital has lots of foreign nurses, but we must also now take care of our own and start hiring our new grads, i will be one of those in two years. though i understand the need back in the day of hiring foreign nurses, the time is has come now to hire within and give opportunity to those who have sacrificed family time and money to follow their calling. please do not misunderstand me, this is not an anti foreign feeling, is just that now our hospitals need to give us a chance.

you are absolutely right but we still have a large number of others doing skilled care that are unlicensed,like med techs,who can do just about everything nurses do. they can start ivs,insert floleys .trachs, and a lot of other skilled care. a lot of the foreign trained nurses only go to certain states. i didn't see them in nc or sc too much,yet there was no shortage of nurses there and a lot of new grads with no jobs.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment