Stability of Nursing Positions in Aus/NZ

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Specializes in Jack of all trades, and still learning.

An interesting question was posed in the General Forum.

Is nursing recession proof?

I didn't answer over there because I think we have our own unique circumstances in Oz/NZ

Where I work there are two things I have seen happen in bad times before:

1. The hospital doesn't hire any more staff due to reduced budget constraints. Just cuts future employment off. Our nursing population is very transient so it can mean that we become shortstaffed.

2. Nurses who would normally come on holidays from within Australia and overseas no longer come due to financial constraints, so that also means that the wards become short staffed.

So for ppl like me nursing is recession proof, because I am permanently employed, unless the government changes the rules. But what about for other nurses?

I'd love to hear your comments, from your corners of Australia and New Zealand...

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Ortho/HH/Radiology-Now Retired.

I don't know to be honest. All I do know is; I was never without a job, ever. No matter where in Australia I lived, I always obtained a job. Whether it was full-time, part-time or casual, I always mostly had a choice. If I went PT or casual, it was because I chose to.

Having said this, I have known places to limit employing staff due to budget restraints.

But for me personally, I've never been denied a job for that reason.

The only time I was denied a job was after moving from one state to another on posting with my husband, and on arrival finding I was pregnant with our first child. I was honest with prospective employers about being pregnant.

Never got a job! :)

Fair enough, I guess. Maybe. Maybe not.

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Specializes in Jack of all trades, and still learning.

Grace, that doesn't seem fair. Pregnancy is part of life, and it is not like you have a disability...

I guess it's water under the bridge now.

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Ortho/HH/Radiology-Now Retired.
Grace, that doesn't seem fair. Pregnancy is part of life, and it is not like you have a disability...

I guess it's water under the bridge now.

Jay, 29 years ago they did things which are not permitted thesedays. :rolleyes:

Oh well, it taught me how to really budget! lol

And, how to cook mince a million ways! :lol2:

It was probably for the best as it turned out, our son was only 5 months old and the defence force posted DH back to where we'd come from!!! :banghead::madface:

I'd had to resign an excellent job in the previous state in order to go on that posting, and that was after only 10 weeks in the job, reassurring them, during the interview, honestly believing, I'd be there at least 2 years!!! :no::uhoh3::madface:

No wonder defence spouse's were taboo as employees!

Fortunately thesedays, defence is more considerate of the spouse and her/his career!

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