Unemployement for New Graduate

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Hi

I am about to start an accelerated 15months BSN program in NY this June. I am a working professional who is about to give up my stable paying job and take out a big loan to go back to school to be a nurse.

I am the bread winner of my family.

Lately, I have been reading a lot of threads about NYC hospital having hiring freeze or they simply refused to hire anyone who doesn't have at least one year of med/surg experience.

I am willing to move to Florida to find nursing jobs if NY does not work out.

But how is the job market in Florida for new graduate?

I am really getting concerned. When they said they want u to have at least one year of experience, does volunteer experience count or it has to be actually work experience for one year?

How can u get 'paid eperience' as a RN if u have not even graduate?

I really cannot afford to be unemployed for more than 2 months after I graduate or my whole family will starve.

I have been working and going to classes fulltime to do all my pre-requisite to get myself into the accelerated program. Should I change my goal to be a PA instead? Or the job market is just as bad?

Are nurses no longer in shortage?

Any honest input would really be appreciated. I need to know the truth before I give up my current stable paying job to switch to a new career only to find out I cannot find a job.

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Hey, I'll give you some of my personal feedback.

I live in Orlando area and finished my RN back in December. (I was an LPN prior to that.) I job hunt 3 times a week, and apply to at least 2 positions. I have yet to have a call back or interview, just e-mails saying "You don't meet the requirements to work on our floor" or "The graduate nurse internships are very competitive and we have selected someone else for the position." I've applied to county health departments (no responses) and am considering applying at nursing homes.

I am very thankful that I still have the job I got when I was an LPN. When I graduated I was bumped up to RN status, so at least I am getting experience and a paycheck while I ride out the economy. I am sure things will change near the end of this year. Otherwise I dunno what I'll do.

I know my story is not very similar to yours, but I hope it at least gives you an idea. Florida is a rough place to be a new grad at the moment, but from what I understand most states are similar.

Good luck.

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A lot of hospitals have hiring freezes right now due to the economy. In addition, Florida revolves around snowbirds. The hospital I'm working at in Florida is currently hiring RN's in a majority of the departments.

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Specializes in COS-C, Risk Management.

I'm in Jacksonville, an RN (BSN) with ten years under my belt. I'm averaging one interview for every 10 applications. I was offered a part-time position and then the morning before I was to start, was told that the company had an immediate hiring freeze put into effect, so now I'm back to looking. Two other places have offered me per diem work, but they haven't actually had any need for me so far. It's not a good time for *anyone* to be looking for a job, even nurses.

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Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.

south florida's a decent place to look if you can stand the crappy working conditions (not all hospitals in south florida have really high ratios, but many of them do). the hospital i work for just hired 20 new grads in all areas, but they are very competitive spots. the pay will also most certainly be alot less, considering you are coming from NY--the cost of living is alot lower here, and no state tax, but you may have some luck finding a job.

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I am in Pensacola Florida and they also like to hire a RN with at least one yr of exp. However, Arizona and California love to hire new grads! Just a thought. Good Luck!

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I too am in the Orlando area. There are more new grads here than there are jobs. I graduate next month. I've applied at every hospital in the area. I got one interview, and that was likely because of my previous experience (as a parent of a patient for several months) in a similar unit. Most of my friends have not even gotten interviews here, let alone job offers.

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Hi Everyone,

Thanks for the feedback. Really appreciate it.

I thought I want to switch to nursing because of the security.

But now I am not sure anymore and really got some thinking to do.

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Specializes in geriatrics,emergency,hospice.

Hey there...

I graduated in Jan and became licensed this past Feb. I was already working as a nurse intern at a local hospital. Im in Ocala. I was laid off. I have applied to every hospital in Marion and Citrus County and have had zero call backs. Luckily, while I was at the hospital as an intern, I was also a CNA at a local rehab. So... I went full time at the rehab (sub acute). I love it. I am getting everything I would if I were in a hospital on a med/surg floor. IV's, PICC lines, wounds, tube feedings, passing tons of meds, etc/ Not only are hospitals not hiring new grads...at least in my area, they are shipping patients out a lot faster. Alot of the time, after 3 days these patients are either discharged to sub acute or sent home. I deal with alot of ortho.

So for me, right now, the experience I am gaining in invaluable. You have alot more patients when you work sub acute so your assesment skills and time management is essential, and delegation. You end up delegating numerous tasks to CNA's and LPN's (within thier scope of course) but I am still the responsible RN on my floor.

So, just be prepared. Out of my graduating class, only one has secured a position in a hospital. Others are doing MD offices, home health, and rehab. By the way...I am making about $4 more per hour than the hospital was going to start me out with, had I not been laid off, which is an added bonus. Im also able to do 8 hr shifts, which I wanted in the first place, and I can do doubles whenever I need/want extra cash, as anything over 8 hrs is paid as overtime. By the way, when I say rehab Im not meaning Psych, its physical rehab. And more and more, we are getting younger and younger patients. Rehabs arent just for the elderly. I dont know if its the economy or what, but we have several younger patients now in for various reasons. Give it a try...it may surprise you.

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Specializes in Med-Tele.

I have been an LPN for about six months and recently, I have completed my Associates Degree in Nursing; about 2 months before I sit for the RN exam. I have hit the pavement, knocked on doors at nursing homes, and sent out about 100 resumes, no exaggeration. I can not find work. Even the crappiest jobs I can’t get.

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Hi All,

Note that the economy and job market looks bleak. But does it make u more marketable if u hold a BSN vs an associate as a RN?

And can anyone tell me if the market for other positions in healthcare still doing well? Is the hospital hiring PA?

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hey there...

i graduated in jan and became licensed this past feb. i was already working as a nurse intern at a local hospital. im in ocala. i was laid off. i have applied to every hospital in marion and citrus county and have had zero call backs. luckily, while i was at the hospital as an intern, i was also a cna at a local rehab. so... i went full time at the rehab (sub acute). i love it. i am getting everything i would if i were in a hospital on a med/surg floor. iv's, picc lines, wounds, tube feedings, passing tons of meds, etc/ not only are hospitals not hiring new grads...at least in my area, they are shipping patients out a lot faster. alot of the time, after 3 days these patients are either discharged to sub acute or sent home. i deal with alot of ortho.

so for me, right now, the experience i am gaining in invaluable. you have alot more patients when you work sub acute so your assesment skills and time management is essential, and delegation. you end up delegating numerous tasks to cna's and lpn's (within thier scope of course) but i am still the responsible rn on my floor.

so, just be prepared. out of my graduating class, only one has secured a position in a hospital. others are doing md offices, home health, and rehab. by the way...i am making about $4 more per hour than the hospital was going to start me out with, had i not been laid off, which is an added bonus. im also able to do 8 hr shifts, which i wanted in the first place, and i can do doubles whenever i need/want extra cash, as anything over 8 hrs is paid as overtime. by the way, when i say rehab im not meaning psych, its physical rehab. and more and more, we are getting younger and younger patients. rehabs arent just for the elderly. i dont know if its the economy or what, but we have several younger patients now in for various reasons. give it a try...it may surprise you.

this sounds exactly like what happened to me, minus the laying off part. i just graduated this passed december from an adn scholarship program, so i am contracted to work for 2 years at the county teaching hospital. unfortunatly when i was going through the interviewing process there were very limited positions. i applied for a rehab floor and was immediately hired. it was not exactly what i wanted at all, but it has turned out to be a blessing. our floors sound very similar. we have a lot of ortho (fractures, hip and knee replacements, etc.) and spinal (para, tetra, etc.) and we are also 8 hours. i am happy there for the time being, especially when i see how hard it is out there.

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