This Current Recession!!!

Farmer Jane · Dec 12, 2008

My unit closed and I was laid off, but we were all offered jobs within the organization. I saw the layoff coming and found a position ahead of time. It's all good.

But no, nursing is not recession proof.

lpnflorida · Dec 12, 2008

No, nursing it not totally recession proof. While in 30 years I have not ever been out of work. There is always the first time. My best friend who is a BSN now was laid off twice in the past. That always amazed me as she has worked for the same hospital now going on 35 years first as a cna, then psych tech then Rn. It was while a Rn with I think it was 4 years experience that she had her first lay off. Thankfully now she has enough years in it should not ever be a problem for her again.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Dec 12, 2008

I agree that nursing is not recession proof. It may be in some places that nurses are the last on the list to be considered for layoff (and I can even be wrong with that), but nonetheless, we can't get too comfortable.

I live in New York, and to date, have not seen any layoffs. But, we now have cheaper supplies, not enough supplies and many speeches about making sure that we have the correct date of birth and demographics for the patients because of their concern of rejected insurance claims.

suzy253, RN · Dec 12, 2008

They've closed one entire unit in my hospital and talk of doing more along those lines. Supposedly layoffs beginning in January. Not sure if the LPN's/RNs will be hit.

Certainly not recession proof.

They've also limited some of the surgeries that they do now.

nrsang97, BSN, RN · Dec 12, 2008

Well I am in Michigan too. No nursing isn't recession proof. There was a hospital in Pontiac that closed and reopened with 1/3 of the staff and 1/3 of the beds open.

The hospital I work at is expanding and we are opening up a few new ICU's, so some hospitals are better off than others. The hospital system I work for is opening up a whole new hospital too in 2009.

Beaumont also laid off non paitnet care employees and is on a hiring freeze as well as Oakwood.

Jules A, MSN · Dec 12, 2008

Nothing targeted at nurses so far, knock wood. To tell the truth I'm not letting the whole ecomomy thing get to me. DH and I live very frugally so this isn't a major concern. I've added depressed stocks recently and we are thinking about buying another rental property in the next few months.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Dec 12, 2008

Although the job market has been somewhat healthy for nurses in my city of residence, nursing is NOT a recession-proof career. It is affected by recessions just like other industries.

During the recession of the early 1990s, some nurses would remain unemployed for 6 months or longer as they looked for jobs. This severe nursing glut (surplus) persisted deeply into the middle 1990s in some areas.

In times of recession, patients avoid having elective surgeries because they are fearful of taking the time off work that is needed for full recovery, which results in low hospital census. People would rather keep working than become a hospital patient. When hospital census is low, less nurses are needed to keep the floor running.

More people become unemployed during these rough times and, as a result, lose their health insurance. Uninsured people are definitely not inclined to seek healthcare unless it is an absolute emergency. In addition, medical bills incurred by uninsured patients tend to go unpaid, which means less money for healthcare facilities.

It is an accurate statement that nursing jobs can never be outsourced, but keep in mind that nurses can be "insourced" by recruiting foreign nurses to work at US hospitals. These nurses are less likely to whine about working evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays because they are earning more money in America than they ever would in their country of origin.

Loads of part-time nurses accept full-time positions during economic slumps to keep their households financially solvent when a breadwinner spouse loses his/her job suddenly. Countless retired nurses are reactivating their nursing licenses and returning to the nursing workforce in flocks due to the high costs of food and fuel, and the effects of retirement funds that are quickly losing value.

oramar · Dec 12, 2008

There is one thing more. After the recession of 80s and 90s there was a pent up demand for care that manifest itself when times got better. I remember the hospitals could not gear up fast enough to handle the load. I remember people really complaining about the waits. Just let their be a flu outbreak in the middle of all this and then 'OH MY". Back then there was more hospital capacity THAN THERE IS NOW. So that means next time the ecomnomy improves and everyone suddenly decides they can now get their knees and hips replaced and their heart bypasses done things are going to be very tight as far as room in the hospitals. I also remember managment just expecting everyone to take crushing patient loads and keep quiet about it because there were staff shortages accross the board. Just my prediction. They are very quick to cut staffing when things get slow but very it is not that easy to increase staffing when demand for services pick up. When people lose there jobs they do not go home and sit by the phone and wait for it to ring. They go out and get other jobs.

RedhairedNurse, BSN, RN · Dec 12, 2008

My hospital is busy as it's ever been, no layoffs, & actually still hiring.

Music in My Heart · Dec 12, 2008

I remember back in the early '90s talking to the nurses who were caring for my step-mom at Kaiser. They said that the organization was intentionally limiting hours so that they wouldn't have to pay benefits but that there were so many nurses around that they could get away with it.

Looking at how many people are in nursing school, waiting to get in, and newly graduating, I think we're beginning to see a similar glut situation.

Certainly the new-grad jobs here in upper, left Cali are few and far between.

Nope, not recession proof... maybe a little more insulated than some professions but not immune... at all.

Blee O'Myacin, BSN, RN · Dec 12, 2008

Closing units and laying off nurses makes no sense. Especially in light of more people losing jobs and benefits, who will then put off routine care, only to show up half dead in the ER -- or use the ER as their personal clinic. What are we going to do with all the admitted patients if the units are closing?!? As it is, we "hold" 50 people per week - minimum.

It's being proven that nursing isn't recession proof, but it really shouldn't be.

Blee