Where have all the jobs gone?

U.S.A. Oregon

Published

I started my exciting and adventurous nursing path four years ago. I was told it would be a hard and laborious process but if I applied myself I would become a nurse, a pillar to the community, a helper for those in need, a voice for those who have become silent, a person with insurmountable compassion. I applied myself, gave my four years of life and nurtured my body with ungodly amounts of caffeine. Happily I can report that I am a Nurse :yeah:. I can place RN after my name....but....I have no job.

About a year ago I began to get the feeling, as the economy dove, the places paying bonuses and reimbursements would dwindle. They did and are now all but extinct! I then began to feel that in order to get a job you might need more than just a diploma and license. Did I fret? NO, I have years of nurse assistant experience and quite a good attitude (if I do say so myself) and thought as long as I put my foot in the door a job will line itself up.

Enter Portland.....a land where they happen to be hiring gobs and gobs of nurses, as long as you have at least one year EXPERIENCE (as a RN). Then there are the rest of us (I tend to think "us" includes hundreds of qualified, compassionate people :redbeathe) who graduated from a hard and tear-producing nurse program, wide-eye and bushy tailed, ready to enter into the rest of our lives. And there are NO jobs, anywhere. Not LTC, SNF, Home Care, Hospital, Clinic, ect.

So now what? If you live in the area and are a new grad who has been blessed with a job, lend me a bone, what did you do? What can I do? What can the rest of us do? (In retrospect the city seems well prepared for a disaster, there are plenty of health care individuals with helping time on their hands!)

Huge thanks in advance for any and all thoughts!

Specializes in LTC, Medical, Rehab, Psych.

"and too think that there is a bill in congress asking for 20,000 visa's to allow immigrants help us with our nursing shortage"

Right. A few of the hospitals in Seattle did exactly this in 2009, right when I graduated. They work for less pay on contract. Nice. So I'm in LTC and my one year of acute care experience? Gone. I'm looking at going back to school. Again. I'm too damn old for this.

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Specializes in LTC, Medical, Rehab, Psych.

"I don't know how old you are, but time is on your side. First, the recession won't last forever--jobs will eventually open up and the nurses who'd rather be home with the kids will do just that, which will create openings. Second, as facilities figure out the impact of the Affordable Care Act, they will feel more comfortable hiring, where Government Planners allow them to do so. Finally, many of us RNs and LPNs are Baby Boomers and will soon retire, making openings for others."

Thanks. I think the problem for most of us "newbies" is that we lose our new grad skill set and develop the skill set of whatever area we end up in- LTC, homecare, etc. So when the recession ends (if you ask me, we're nowhere CLOSE to being out of a recession and that isn't going to change soon- sorry but this is nothing like previous "recessions" historically.) there will be a glut of newer new grads for the residencies.

There is an entire "lost" generation out there in all of this. My older son is barely making it- there is a long hard road for him ahead. I am thankful that I have a home and kids, my husband has a stable job, etc. This was a second career for me. I am very unhappy that things have turned out this way and while I am getting older, it isn't too late for a few more years of education. But I'd certainly like to stop this education rollercoaster since it's just a paper chase. Honestly, there are too many people and too few jobs. Importing people makes the situation worse but it makes for cheap labor. This country is headed for serious economic collapse. It's all about weathering the storm. I hope we can all find some way to do that. It's unfortunately every man for himself when you get right down to it.

The little that I have learned in my few years here is that no matter what you plan for, life never ends up the way you thought it would. Perserverance and adaptibility are the only things that get you through. And at the end of it all, I know I sure as hell won't be thinking of what I did to earn as paycheck as the earmark of my life......

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Specializes in critical care.

Not a problem in my part of the country, we are still hiring. We are hiring less than we would have though. I live in Michigan and with many husbands still out if work pt/contingent wives are working ft to make up the difference. Even so, just on my unit we have four openings available at the moment. The rest of the hospital is actively hiring as well. We recently hired two new grads who are still in orientation. We do prefer bsn nurses though. Other hospitals are still hiring as well.

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Specializes in pediatrics.

I graduated in 1993 and finished my bachelors in nursing because of this same scenario. Even with a BSN i did not have any experience. I had a handfull of interviews but the old "we will hold your application on file" meaning its trash canned - was a daily experience. I had a registry give me an offer but I held off because I also had an interview with the local school district. That interview went on like this:"Well you have all the right degrees and certificats but no experience." My answer was someone hired you when you first graduated. This said you have a 2 year probation period to decide whether I can learn quickly and function as a nurse. I will not be upset if you let me go. All I ask is that I get a little training on the critical areas for patient safety and I am quick learner. Well it has been 14 years and I am the nurse with no experience who can do all the gtube feedings, trach suctionings, and assorted severe disability services while my counterparts who had hospital experience claim they can't perform these services. Hmmm. Makes you wonder. Either way, good luck and do not give up. I at one point told a hospital recruiter I would stand on my head if they kept my application, he said he needed a laugh, and I did. He has been a great network friend every since. I do not think I can do that last trick anymore though. Keep your spirits up and don't quit looking and do not be soo exclusive to only what you want. You might find something else that is interesting. Hang in there and a job will happen, be patient.

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Specializes in Dialysis.

It is even tough for those with limited experience, or as in my case hard to verify experience. I am from the Philippines, I have 6 months of volunteer experience and another 6 months as a private nurse. But, by the time I immigrated and got my Texas license. I had a two year break with no experience. I live in Austin, Texas. I applied everywhere including LTC, SNF, Clinics, Home Health and of course hospitals. My first offer LTC was 50 miles from my home (found this through Craigs List) 10pm to 6am and the facility had horrible ratings with Medicare. With difficulty I turned this offer down. My second offer (Craig's List) was also, LTC 40 Miles from my home, 1st/2nd shift $5.00 more per hour and a better run facility. I accepted this offer at the end of April. We rented out our house, got an apartment closer to the LTC facility June 1st.... And,, as you can guess. One of jobs I applied for 75 miles from Austin called. They had a Dialysis RN position in North Austin just opened up and if I would like to interview? Of course, I did. Did not think I would get an offer. Short story long... I got the offer, included $12k in training and they are matching my Charge Nurse salary from the LTC position. Just needed to sign a 1 year employment contract with them. Funny thing,,, only the jobs my husband sent in resulted in interviews. All of mine ended up in the circular file I suspect.

So, pull out all stops and apply for everything you can. Check out the sites for SNF ratings... They will give you a list for the entire area. There are more then you think. IE. http://nursinghomerating.org/nursing-homes-county-travis-TX.htm

The turnover and work load for these types of facilities make them idea for finding a job. Check back often and in person if possible.

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Beautifully and sadly said everyone!! I am hoping to hang in there and I am hoping that the massive arm muscles I gain will somehow pay my student loans! :jester:

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Well as recent as May 13 2011 there as a bill that would open 20,000 visas to foreign nurses. Ill attach a link to the bottom so you can read it.

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-1...12hr1929ih.pdf

So theoretically if all those visas get taken by foreign RNs that means 20,000 less jobs for Americans nurses looking for a job in these tough economic times. Just my

I am not sure how I feel exactly on this bill, it won't take place until 2014 and after reading this article (you need a medscape login but totally worth it!)

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/744221_3

by that time it could be needed, but right now seems ridiculous!! I do like the grant money usage to expand faculty in nursing schools and increase the number of nursing students in the field but.....then again IT IS IMPOSIBLE to find a job now with the number of nurses we already have!

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I would love to hear how you all get interviews...or even call backs. Ive been a nurse for 13 years....have plenty of experience, and cant even get a call back! I am wondering if agency nursing is the way to go? oh...and by the way...Ive turned in over 100 applications in the past 3 months!

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.
Hi NurseWinn! :hug:

I feel your pain. I would advise you to go around to all the LTC facilities within driving distance in business attire with your resumes, business cards & be ready to fill out apps & interview on the spot. I finally got an interview with an assisted living facility in Vancouver because a friend gave me a heads up about an opening at her work. They asked me to fill out an app & stay for an impromptu interview. I got offered the job at the interview. There is very high turnover at many LTC facilities that my classmates work at. Its not glamorous but it is a job! I have 170 patients solo on NOC. Nursing school did not prepare me for this... It is grueling work! I am still crossing my fingers for the Legacy nurse residency program for ICU. I had my 3rd interview with a panel of charge nurses yesterday. Good luck! Shoot me a PM if you want to know where I'm working... If I get the job there will be an opening on night/swing relief! :loveya:

You have 170 : 1 pt/staff ratio??? That is insane! I have 90:2 ratio at night in LTC, plus 4 CNA's. I guess I won't be complaining about my patient load any time soon.

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In the last 2 weeks I have received 3 offers and actually accepted 2 of them. A job for the state and a private duty job. I turned down another full time job offer from the state. It looks like the job market may be loosening up down here...(Louisiana).

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Specializes in Critical Care.
In the last 2 weeks I have received 3 offers and actually accepted 2 of them. A job for the state and a private duty job. I turned down another full time job offer from the state. It looks like the job market may be loosening up down here...(Louisiana).

Just curious... how much experience do you have?

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I have been in the medical field since 1966. I was in the armed forces as a hospital corpsman till 1970. I then worked as an orderly while waiting to get my LPN in 1972. In 1976 I received my RN with a scholarship I got from the state hospital where I had worked as an LPN and Vet benefits... I have worked in the field since then in just about every specialty and job. From AIDS to peds, I have acls, pals, etc. I have usually been thrown into a new position before actually getting trained for it. In 1977 I was called to the supervisors office and sent to ICU..in charge with a first time agency nurse as my only help. That is not unusual.

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