*UNEMPLOYED NURSES*

[bree*]

Ello~

I'm just curious to know, for those of you who are unemployed nurses, exactly how long have you been looking for work? What are you (LPN,RN,BSN-RN,MSN-NP,etc.) How many previous years of experience do you have? Where are you located? How many applications do you think you have placed? What about interviews? Add anything else that you want! Vent, tell us how you REALLY feel, give your opinions/outlooks on everything.

[caitlyn.d]

This thread is freaking me out! Should I quit nursing school and get a psych degree instead...? I decided against psych initially because nursing seemed like the safer choice job-wise.

Don't let these posts scare you away from doing something you really love! I guess it depends if you are really committed to being a nurse. If nursing is really your calling, I say stick with it. The economy is all cyclical, it won't stay this way forever and believe it or not, someday there will be another nursing shortage and you will have your pick of a job. It's smart of you to keep your options open and consider your future, but don't let these posts scare you out of nursing. It makes me sad to read posts like these since nursing is such a wonderful profession. I am also a new graduate who was unemployed until 2 weeks ago. I searched for 9 months, and finally got lucky :) hope these few words of encouragement help ease your mind some.

[SharonH, RN]

The reasons for the current job shortage is multifactorial most of which have already been mentioned by other nurses. Blaming/scapegoating foreign nurses is an emotional response with no data/facts to support it. The economy is the obviously the largest driver of decreased job availability. Other factors include fewer hospitalized patients leading to a shift to outpatient care and multiple points of entry/heavy advertising of nursing as a "fallback" profession for the unemployed/unemployable.

As a profession, we need to look at developing training and or residency programs for new grads at outpatient sites; and decreasing supply of new nurses. Right now those are probably the only two factors we can influence as a group.

[whereslilly]

I really feel bad for all of you! However, its not just nurses that are unemployed, the unemployment rate in my area (central IL) is still in the double digits. About the only people working at the moment are the snow plow drivers.

I got my LPN in 1992, job offers galore!

I got my ADN in 1994 and had to continue to work as an LPN for 6 months before I could get a job.

I did a BSN in 2004, no change in job.

I did an MSN in 2005, no change in job.

I did a post-MSN in 2006 and voila, got a great job.

I did another post-MSN in 2010 - no change in job (just to expand my scope of practice).

In my area, we have some foreign-trained RNs but very few. Few people want to slog thru 17 inches of snow in -10 degree weather, foreign or not.

:rolleyes:Yes..I think we all are very much aware of the Unemployment Horrors that the entire country is miring thru. This is a Nursing Forum,right? We as Rn's are angry at the "myth of a Nursing shortage", inundations and mass campaigns encouraging men and women to put themselves into debt, thinking of course they will find a job! I think anyone entering any Nursing program now should seriously reconsider. I would look at the other Allied Health Professions. I truly feel badly for any recent grad. I remember being a new grad. You are bursting at the seams, cant wait to work. My personal advice for any of them who truly just need "any" job? Take whatever you can find. Most of you are young; new college grads. Look into insurance, banking, real estate. If I were younger, I would do this. BTW, Me..Graduated an excellent ADN program in NYC in 1987. The job market was great. There was a Nursing shortage. Thru the years I have worked with some wonderful foreign nurses, never had trouble understanding them. I found myself unemployed this past August. First time in my life I couldn't find a job. 100's of app's, dozens of interviews. Always told its down to me and another nurse. I keep trying, what else can I do?

[SamiRN]

I am now in orientation after a long hard Job Search. I worked agency to give me income because I could not get on staff anywhere...in 3 states!

I was an LPN for almost 7 years, worked in all 3 states also. Have extensive experience in med surg,telemetry,LTC,psych etc. Once I graduated...I was told I could work as an LPN but couldnt find any RN work. So I turned back to the agencies I had worked for as an LPN and did whatever I could.

Daytona Beach FL was the worst, they cried nursing shortage so bad to the media but wouldnt hire anyone with less than 18 months experience as an RN.

Also, I worked agency for years now. As an LPN I was making more than I am now as an RN for the local hospital. My cousin is graduating from a votech school in March and has a job waiting in a county home making more than I am!

[Simba&NalasMom, LPN]

I'm shocked at what I am reading! I thought it was just me but...

Almost not worth taking the crappy jobs cause you /we know how we all will be treated!!! WOW!

I just quit my first permanent job I've had in over a year (been working agency and very slow). It was in a busy SNF (I'm an LPN). Busy is not really the word for it; perhaps "hellish" is better. I'm going on 6 years exp, but even with that it was not worth having an 8+hour long panic attack on a daily basis. I'd rather be on welfare than deal with that kind of stress again. It will take me months to find another permanent job in my area, I'm almost positive.

[Simba&NalasMom, LPN]

I live in Oregon, It took about 4 months to find a job in long term care, applying pretty much everywhere in Oregon and Washington. I also applied to hospital jobs in California (but never got a single call back from there)

I'm also in OR. From what I've seen, it is virtually impossible for new grad RNs to get jobs in the hospitals here.

[melmarie23, MSN, RN]

I became licensed (RN) in July 2010, and graduated from my direct entry program (Masters) in December. My previous degree is a Bachelors in Biology. Job wise, I've been actively looking since last July, though admittedly, I was also pregnant (had my lil guy in January), so not only was I applying as a new RN/grad, I also was visibly pregnant. I've applied 100s of positions.

I had two interviews, one last summer and one last fall, that I did not get. I had an interview last Thurs (still waiting to hear back) and another this coming Tuesday. I am optimistic that my luck is now turning around.

[EMP, RN]

I'm also in OR. From what I've seen, it is virtually impossible for new grad RNs to get jobs in the hospitals here.

Yes, it is difficult. There are only so many openings in residency programs. And many of the hospitals I almost got hired at for a position where they were willing to train new grads, got taken by experienced nurses (often with 20+ years of experience). Don't lose hope though.

[hotflashion, BSN, RN]

Random thought occurred to me ... Couldn't we take a bit of that [stimulus] money and fund some new grad transition programs? Doesn't even have to be employment, just clinical experience and some skills training to keep us fresh. Or is it already spent up?

Good thought. I was thinking we should have a Nurse for America program modeled after the Teach for America program which, while it has its detractors, also has its supporters, and I think is widely seen as a success.

I think I'll write to Kathleen Sebelius...

[Music in My Heart]

Employers have their pick of the best of the best...

Which means, obviously, that most people won't find work, regardless of how well they prepare.

[JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP]

As frustrating as it is not to be able to find work, I don't think the blame lies solely with those pushing the "nursing shortage" myth. Yes, I'm angry and frustrated too, but my choice to pursue nursing was only partially influenced by the belief that it would be easy to find work. I chose nursing because I find it a rewarding profession, because I love studying about the body, because I hope to help people get well. Yes, it hurts that I have to look so long and so hard for work, to see classmates get hired before me, to be rejected everywhere, to wonder if I'm contaminated or something. But this country is in economic trouble; trying to finger someone or something to blame is displaced anger, IMO.

[morphed]

The nursing shortage may be relative, but it certainly isn't a myth. Your area may just be saturated with nurses for one reason or another. Take a look at the housing crisis...it was a national disaster, but the area I am in was relatively untouched by it. Similarly, there are Nursing Jobs for those that want to work.