I graduate in December and am fast learning that there aren't any jobs available. I'm applying at a pretty big hospital and they only had 5 openings. I am interviewing with 3 of those on Monday and I can't say I'm overly thrilled about any of them.
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.
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
I'm no new grad- I've been a nurse for 15 years. There is a big surplus of nurses where I live. I became a traveler.
I'm seeing more and more that even traveler wages are going down, and there are fewer needs for RNs in general in many areas and specialities.
There are pockets of shortage in some areas, and pockets of surplus in others.
In some areas, new grads are preferred over experienced nurses. Many are willing to accept lower wages, and their backs, and attitudes are still good.
Even with experience, I've found that jobs are really not that plentiful. Twice I've relocated to different areas to find work once pickings became too slim where I was living. You can't support yourself and your family when you're consistently out of work. Don't get discouraged. Seriously consider trying some of the ideas others have given on this thread. Keep trying. Even go back after a period of time, to places that you have already applied at. Openings occur at different times and you might get lucky. This has happened to me at least once. Good luck.
Hello everyone. I wanted to update. I am from Western KY and although a lot of new grads here are hired in specialty areas (OB, Nursery, Cardiac etc), those positions just aren't open. I got a job on a general surgery floor (med-surg basically). I'm not dissapointed, it was the better of all the ones I applied for. It's a 26 bed unit and the nurse-pt ration is 4-1 and on bad days 5-1, but no higher. Some others I interviewed with were 7-1 (crazy! :trout:). I'm actually excited, but never thought med-surg to be my "thing". I guess it never hurts to try and to give it a good year and see where I am then. Because of my family situation (a sick child) I am just grateful to have any good paying job at this point. I was just so sruprised at the limited positions available!
Anyhow...let's hope I don't get too burned out too fast. :uhoh21:
Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN
2 Articles; 3,563 Posts
I'm no new grad- I've been a nurse for 15 years. There is a big surplus of nurses where I live. I became a traveler.
I'm seeing more and more that even traveler wages are going down, and there are fewer needs for RNs in general in many areas and specialities.
There are pockets of shortage in some areas, and pockets of surplus in others.
In some areas, new grads are preferred over experienced nurses. Many are willing to accept lower wages, and their backs, and attitudes are still good.