There aren't any jobs! Anyone else expereince this?

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Nov 4, 2007

We are seeing these "I can't find a job" posts more and more often.

The nursing "shortage" is a total sham.

suanna · Nov 4, 2007

Cost cutting is changing the face of the nursing shortage in a lot of places. When you take a staff of 350 and trim 50 positions there aren't a lot of openings left.Still I wonder what positions you are applying for. Most new grads can expect to be offered an off shift position or a rotating shift on a med/surg floor. It takes a few years most places to get days or into the area of your choice. If you get days right off the bat it's probably not a place you want to work anyway!

elizabells, BSN, RN · Nov 4, 2007

We are seeing these "I can't find a job" posts more and more often.
The nursing "shortage" is a total sham.

I don't know if it's a sham so much as something hospital admin has created. The fact is that we almost always work short on my unit, but there aren't open positions. So from the point of view of the floor, there is totally a shortage of WORKING nurses, but in a more general sense, there is not a shortage of actual nurses.

blueheaven · Nov 4, 2007

We are seeing these "I can't find a job" posts more and more often.
The nursing "shortage" is a total sham.

The nursing shortage is very real, it reallly depends on the area where you live. For example, in the area where I am from there are FIVE RN programs. This is not a large urban area either. There are 4 moderate sized community hospitals (less than 500 beds) So in order to get a job at one of these as a new grad, it is pretty competitive.

Where I live now, I can go just about anywhere in this town and find a job. There is a big shortage.

TexasPediRN · Nov 4, 2007

Also, I didn't think it would be hard to fill a weekend only slot since so many people love their weekends...WRONG. Apparently these are "coveted" positions.

Those weekend positions are usually for more seasoned nurses (not new grads). Usually on the weekend, there are less staff around, less MD's, less surgeries, etc. Its actually a very coveted position since most are parents who by taking the weekend shift, get to be with the children during the school week, or for those going back to school but still needing to work full time, etc.

If you want a weekend position, you will most likely have to work as a nurse for 2-3 years before you'll get it. (from what I've seen)

Your first job may not be your dream job, but stick with it for at least a year to get that experience. Then you will have an easier time switching to a different hospital or floor.

Curious though - what state are you in that you are having trouble finding a job? Also, are you applying for specialty positions only, or med surg?

Achoo!, LPN · Nov 5, 2007

I have found that in my area, jobs are there, they just aren't posted. I got hired on a med surg floor, along with 3 other students, but there is NOTHING on the website about med/surg positions available. Apply anyways to whatever dept you want and you may be surprised.

laurainri · Nov 5, 2007

There is a big shortage around here still. Already havea job lined up for when I graduate in december.

fmwf · Nov 6, 2007

We are seeing these "I can't find a job" posts more and more often.
The nursing "shortage" is a total sham.

The shortage falls around the educating and welcoming of folks once they graduate. There are plenty of NMs and hospitals who don't want new grads/RNs neither do they have programs to integrate these generations. THere a plenty of positions open here. But new grads and new nurses are limited by quota. BUT, in school what they sell is a'''"Nursing is becoming increasingly specialized. Nursing school should adequately prepare nurses to integrate into specialties. Gone are the days when a nurse is a nurse is a nurse.""" But now what we hear is that we are not safe, and we (new grads) cannot perform, cannot be trusted, do not have enough skills. There is a need that is not being met for us...what is it?

BTW, is not med/surg a specialty?

However we do have professionally a totally different model when it comes to training docs.

Looking for a job myself 1.5 years out,

fmwf

S.N. Visit, BSN, RN · Nov 7, 2007

I have found in my area (southern Iowa) that med/surg positions are hard to come by for the new grad... All of my friends and I were hired right into a specialty. I applied for med/surge only to be told there are no openings around here.

frostylightning · Nov 8, 2007

I would guess that hospitals nearby the nursing school would not have a whole lot of open positions, since a number of "grads" from nursing school tend to stay within their hometown and apply at the local hospital.

we have 4 hospitals in our city, and 3 nursing schools in the area, so nursing jobs are hard to come by, but that doesnt mean they dont exist. They're just more competitive in an area saturated with new nurses every semester.

I would suggest checking out different cities and other areas. You're more likely to find listings if you branch out a bit.

WDWpixieRN, RN · Nov 17, 2007

Interesting....I, too, wonder where the OP is located?

Where I am in the Midwest, the hospitals are still wining and dining us while we're in school. The last get-together that was held had several recruiters for many areas of the hospital handing out business cards like mad. The only real concerns I have for obtaining a job will be in a specialty area should I ultimately choose to go that route. And with graduation being next May, I still feel frightened that I have no clue where I really want to start!! :smackingf