Unemployed experienced nurses

It isn't just you. It's just hard to get a job in some markets. Sometimes it doesn't matter if you are experienced or a new grad. Keep up the search and do some travel nursing if you need to. We all need $$ to keep the lights on.

Consider some of the smaller companies. The major ones have so many applications coming through, it takes time to process them all and you get lost in the shuffle.

You may enjoy traveling. I wouldn't have been able to live in Honolulu for 5 months without it

Good luck.

I'm a RN in the Phila area with 11 yrs of telemetry /stepdown experience at UPENN. I tried homecare for a while, because, as a single parent, I thought it would help me have a normal schedule. But I ended up working 60 hrs/week, and I was only being paid for 40. I tried to go back to the hospital but was turned down for jobs (and even invitation only job fairs) left and right (shortage....what shortage?). I'm now a traveler because I can't find work. It seems like I'm in the same boat as the new grads because the hospitals prefer nurses who have between 2-5 yrs experience. Am I losing my mind, or is this a correct assessment? Anyone else in the same predicament?

Getting a job is about timing, timing, timing, according to several recruiters that I talked to at a recent career fair event; looking for a job is like a full time job these days, and in the big companies and health centers, it will take up to two years to get a position, at least that has been my experience; it takes a lot of perseverance, networking, and tweaking the résumé to get picked up, then interviewed as a fit, and then on to hitting the ground running into that position. These days, it will take up to a year for many to start a position, regardless of experience in this saturated market.

What a terrible situation. Are they down-skilling - substituting less qualified staff - to reduce the number of RN jobs?

I'm still a student in the Philly job market as well. I am scared to death that when I finish school there won't be anything available to me. I am starting my networking now and letting everyone I know in the healthcare industry that I will be needing references or any help to get my foot in the door. It's about who you know these days, it's unfortunate but that is what our job market has become. One suggestion that worked for my brother; just put up a Facebook post asking people to keep you in mind if they know of any openings. My brother got a job with his friend that same week! It doesn't hurt to ask.

My best friend moved to Houston and she tells me that she has seen nursing jobs there with hiring incentives for experienced nurses. So seems like the market is good for seasoned nurses and just so-so for new grads. She really wants me to move there and thinks I will find more opportunities.

It's the most nerve racking thing for a student because of the massive amounts of student loan debt you end up with and then there are no jobs! I hope things get better, I don't want to leave PA.

Well Ally, at least you are being realistic. It seems there are still quite a few students who still think there is a "shortage."

I'm still a student in the Philly job market as well. I am scared to death that when I finish school there won't be anything available to me. I am starting my networking now and letting everyone I know in the healthcare industry that I will be needing references or any help to get my foot in the door. It's about who you know these days, it's unfortunate but that is what our job market has become. One suggestion that worked for my brother; just put up a Facebook post asking people to keep you in mind if they know of any openings. My brother got a job with his friend that same week! It doesn't hurt to ask.

My best friend moved to Houston and she tells me that she has seen nursing jobs there with hiring incentives for experienced nurses. So seems like the market is good for seasoned nurses and just so-so for new grads. She really wants me to move there and thinks I will find more opportunities.

It's the most nerve racking thing for a student because of the massive amounts of student loan debt you end up with and then there are no jobs! I hope things get better, I don't want to leave PA.

The Philly area has not had a nursing shortage in almost two decades; the best thing you can do is network, monitor job boards like a full time job; tweak the résumé by taking positions that may not be your dream position, but can lead you to it; join local chapters of the specialty that you are interested in, and keep your options open.

The market may be saturated, however there are jobs...it's all about the timing as well.

Well Ally, at least you are being realistic. It seems there are still quite a few students who still think there is a "shortage."

Thanks. I've learned a lot from coming here and from others experiences. I believe in researching the heck out of anything that's a major cost to you or any big life decisions, I don't take these things lightly. I definitely succeed and survive by being a realist, it may have something to do with the fact that I have always paid my own way, I don't know. You nurses and NP's offer amazing advice and insight in the world of nursing. Thank you for that and for putting up with us students :)