We all have been hearing about the so called dreaded nursing shortage for the past 20 plus years. We are currently at a point where new graduates including myself cannot find employment. Yet with the economy and job losses, people are still being directed to go pursue careers in nursing. This is going to make an already clogged nursing education system even worse. The pool for unemployed nurse graduates is growing every month. If this trend continues I do not see a quick turn around with regard future employment.
Prior to this most recent recession many RN's worked only part time, but now that their spouses have lost their jobs they have had to seek out full time employment. We are not only competing with other new grads but with other experienced nurses.
Can we finally possibly stop this generalization of a "NURSING SHORTAGE" Lets point people to careers in other areas of medical care and stop the insanity.
I graduated in 1998 with a BSN and couldn't find a job ANYWHERE. I applied to hospitals that were over an hour away and couldn't even get an interview. Finally, 5 months after graduating and 3 months pregnant, I decided I needed to stop being picky about where I worked and just get experience. I got a job at a LTC facility. Worked there until I had my daughter and about that time a cop I knew asked if I would be willing to work corrections. I am never one to pass on a new experience, so I tried my hand at that. I worked at the county jail as a corrections nurse for over a year and a half (what an eye opening experience that was!)before I finally got my foot in at the hospital on a floor I loved. My point is this, take what you can get and wait for what you want. Our organization is currantly on a hiring freeze AGAIN, but once they AGAIN figure out it is cheaper to hire liceased personal than pay the numerous lawsuits for poor care they will once again be hiring.
At $18.00 an hour in LTC they are never going to get a smart quality nurse. This is exactly what I got paid in 1996. I had 9 years of great experience under my belt. Nurses were much more respected and treated so differently.
ShayRN
1,046 Posts
I graduated in 1998 with a BSN and couldn't find a job ANYWHERE. I applied to hospitals that were over an hour away and couldn't even get an interview. Finally, 5 months after graduating and 3 months pregnant, I decided I needed to stop being picky about where I worked and just get experience. I got a job at a LTC facility. Worked there until I had my daughter and about that time a cop I knew asked if I would be willing to work corrections. I am never one to pass on a new experience, so I tried my hand at that. I worked at the county jail as a corrections nurse for over a year and a half (what an eye opening experience that was!)before I finally got my foot in at the hospital on a floor I loved. My point is this, take what you can get and wait for what you want. Our organization is currantly on a hiring freeze AGAIN, but once they AGAIN figure out it is cheaper to hire liceased personal than pay the numerous lawsuits for poor care they will once again be hiring.