What regions have the best nursing job opportunities since the economic recession?

Nurses General Nursing

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Since the economic recession, noticing many areas of the country are having hiring freezes and even laying off nurses in some areas (scary!). Wondering where are the best areas for job opportunites despite the declining economy--if there even are any areas left! Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!:)

The current situation in the Tampa Bay area of Florida is bad. I've been an RN since 2004 and I've worked in a few different specialties, but I have been job searching since December and I am still unemployeed. We don't have that many hospitals in the Tampa Bay area of Florida, but there are a lot of nursing programs in Tampa, so maybe that's all part of the problem? Anyway, I keep applying to Tampa hospitals and Tampa bay area hospitals, and nobody wants to give me a job. Guess I need to start looking elsewhere....

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I am worried about the same thing. I have decided that it is scary also, but I am taking taking a refresher course from Kane Educational Seminars http://www.nurserefresher.com/ had any one ever heard of them and do they usually help you with recruitment?

It looks like they try to cover important areas but the time, 6 hours is far too short. They are too expensive for 6 hours also. There has to be something else available.

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I keep hearing rumors that Houston, Texas has not been affected by this recession, and that therefore hospitals in Houston Texas still have a "nursing shortage" and are still hiring RNs? Is this true?

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momofstudent, you are absolutely right, $250 for a one day 6 hour class is A LOT! Especially right now.

JustinSavo, thank you for posting that link. I had never heard of that company before. Did you go ahead and take the Kane Educational nurse refresher class? Was it worth the money?

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Kensesaw State University has an online refresher course. Here is the link: http://www.kennesaw.edu/col_hhs/schoolofnursing/coned/OnlineRefresher.htm

Universtity of Delaware also has a program. Link:http://www.udel.edu/DSP/rnrefresher/

The KSU program is excellent. It is four weeks long and covers the entire Brunners. Very impressive

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Specializes in ICU.
Houston's still hiring, but because of all our schools here, don't expect any incentives (including relocation) unless you've got some experience under your belt. There are some places in Texas that do still give incentives - smaller cities like San Antonio.

I was offered a $10k sign on bonus a few weeks ago for ICU RN. The sign on bonuses are mostly for critical care areas or L&D and NICU. But the pay rate has gone up, I am being offered much more now than I was 2 years ago. There is also a lot of "referral" bonuses at a lot of the hospitals here. If you're an employee and you refer someone who gets hired, you could get anywhere from $1000 to $5000.

While there are a lot of nursing schools here in Houston, the need for nurses is not going away. There are no closings, and I don't see any layoffs here, at all. They are actually still building new add-ons to hospitals and new doctor office buildings..

I keep hearing rumors that Houston, Texas has not been affected by this recession, and that therefore hospitals in Houston Texas still have a "nursing shortage" and are still hiring RNs? Is this true?

This is absolutely correct. No rumor there. I just went on an interview today. The pay they quoted is more than I'm making now by $4/hr. There are jobs at all the major hospitals and jobs at the smaller LTAC's not to mention all the jobs at the nursing homes and home health areas.

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Specializes in Pain mgmt, PCU.

i have been in nursing for 25 years. i started at a new hospital 5 months ago then had to take medical leave. i had not been at the hosp for a year so my position was not guaranteed. it was gone the first day! i'm having a real problem finding a full time position in elkhart, in. (didn't see obamah)

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I was a little offendebd about the fat smoking people of the south ! :coollook: but you are right but you left out the high blood pressure and diabetes and the longevity of the folks in the south 90 is the new 70 ! :yeah:. but i live in louisiana and in the classified ads medical takes up the most pages. LTC always needs nurses. have been doing home health for a year and it is staying steady ! i had to give away pts. b/c i have so many ! :nurse: And they are giving bonus in certain areas like pediatric homecare and wound care nurses. i know some of the OT time has been cut but there is a big shortage, now we did have a little rural hosp that closed but it had a bad Rep and some funds were " mishandled " .

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Thanks everybody for your comments.:) It looks as if the south has the best opportunites at this point in time. It seems you may stand a better chance at landing a job if your willing to relocate to this region. I just wonder how much longer that would last, everyday you hear of more layoffs and economic catastrophe. Well all jobseekers, I wish you the best of luck!

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Florida Hospital Orlando is having a job fair next week and they are hiring! If you ever thought about moving south and getting ready to retire then this is probably a good opportunity for you. I told my wife it was time for us to move to Florida but she said :no:.

Man, I could use some sun, warm air and fresh orange juice! Oh well...:banghead:

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Specializes in critical care, PACU.
Man, I could use some sun, warm air and fresh orange juice! Oh well...:banghead:

that sounds to die for and I am in california now hahaha

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I just saw this clip on the web/news.....do you actually think there is any validity to it?

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=6644661

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