Will jobs be ok for new grads in a few years?

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I got into a Direct Entry MSN-FNP program where I will graduate in 3.5 years. I was excited at first, but browsing through all the allnurses threads is so discouraging :crying2:. I am reading post after post of new grads who can not find jobs...some even unemployed for years now! The program I got into is private so the costs are astronomical - I fear not finding jobs to pay off loans when I'm done. Will things get better in a few years?

People often reply back to the unemployed posts that "things will turn around" and etc. However, with no one hiring, the nursing schools are still pumping out new grads in record numbers that will accumulate the number of unemployed nurses right? Won't this therefore create a continual over supply of nurses even when the hiring freezes are over? :uhoh3:

I've read some posts where veteran nurses report that this sort of cycle happened in the 80s and mid 90s as well before fixing itself. Is this really the same sort of cycle as before?

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it really depends.. it's hard to tell if economy will turn around. But you know what? there ARE jobs for new grads... it's just that 1) they're very limited 2) hospitals are very picky now, they often choose the candidate that does really well on the interviews 3) perhaps join an association ... good for networking and encourages you to do something "extra" that can make you stand out

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

There is no way to know for sure.

(Just like everything else in life)

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

No matter what the economy and state of hiring is I'd urge everyone to reconsider taking out mega loans for school. There are far too many affordable schools and despite what they say most people can and do work while in nursing school.

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All of us hope so, but no one knows. As we've all heard repeatedly, this is the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, so I don't think we can take too much comfort from how other, much milder recessions in recent decades played out. And, every economist I've heard speak about the current situation (regardless of their personal political orientation) has agreed that employment is what they refer to as a "lagging indicator"; that is, that even after the economy recovers and is healthy again, it will take some time (maybe even several years) for employment to return to previous levels. I think we're in for a long, difficult ride (the US didn't really come out of the Great Depression until WWII, and it was the war that had the most effect, despite all the domestic programs put into place before that).

Sorry to sound like such a downer, but I just don't see a lot of hopeful signs on the horizon (in the short term) ... :)

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I too share your discouragement after reading the posts on this forum. Couple that with a good number of people I know going into nursing, and its enough to make one reconsider the decision to go into the field. I had never heard of umemployed nurses or people having trouble finding jobs until I came here. Add to that, most people I know who are in the field went in a year or so a go and had no problems finding jobs. So when I tell people about what I read here, they dismiss it and blow it off. You hear about the "nursing shortage" and how these people we know all found jobs, even new grads.

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Specializes in Home Care.

I wish I had a crystal ball to foresee the future.

I graduated LPN last August, worked for a short time with H1N1 vaccination campaign, and now I cannot find a job. Its so depressing, especially since I'm a midlife career changer. I've been taking pre-reqs for years for RN.

So now that I've been accepted to the RN program in May I'm having doubts about whether to do it or not. I cannot afford to stay unemployed and go to school for another year only to be in the same situation trying to find an RN job.

Now I'm applying for jobs in my previous career field, that's tough too.

Oh please crystal ball tell me what to do!

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I can relate completely to you Juli. After spending all that time and energy in nursing pre reqs and all the anxiety in just getting into a nursing school...it seems I have to start worrying about finding work before ever even setting a foot into the classroom! :uhoh3:

Since I'll be graduating sometime in early 2014, it's frightening to think that the situation can't be improved in all those years - that could potentially mean people who have already been unemployed as nurses for a year now can face several more years of unemployment! :crying2:

My friends seem to think I'm being silly by thinking about these sort of things. They always say "Nursing is a recession proof job!" However, if things don't improve I can imagine that phrase being grouped into archaic phrases such as "Teaching is a recession proof job" and "Housing prices will always rise!" State budget cuts in education has already laid off thousands of teachers and the housing market....well...we all know about that mess :mad:

After all these years getting to know the nursing profession and taking pre reqs, I can't imagine what else I'd do if I can't find work as a nurse in 2014. :confused:

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I am a new grad myself. I graduated in December with my B.S.N. and received my license a month later. I am currently an RN. I'm starting to find that there are jobs out there. It's all about who you know. There are plenty of new grads who found jobs where I went to nursing school because they knew the nurse managers (from Management preceptorship and Clinical Preceptorship in nursing school). Nurses out here are getting their foot in the door by meeting the nurse managers and working on their floor as student nurses or nursing assistants before they even become RN's.

So I say all of that to say, it is tough finding a job. But I'm just crazy enough to believe the Lord can make a way. It doesn't matter what's happening in the economy. The economy doesn't restrict the God I serve. So keep praying and trusting the Lord! Something will come through..

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

So now that I've been accepted to the RN program in May I'm having doubts about whether to do it or not. I cannot afford to stay unemployed and go to school for another year only to be in the same situation trying to find an RN job.

Now I'm applying for jobs in my previous career field, that's tough too.

I'd urge you to continue on with your RN. It is such a short program and will definitely increase your job opportunities. You are smart to apply for jobs both as a LPN and also in your previous career just to have something to pay your bills while you are in school for your RN. Hopefully you will find a job as a LPN that will turn into a position for you when you get your RN. Good luck.

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Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.

Baby boomers born in 1946 will be 65 next year.

I'm pretty sure many will retire if they can afford it.

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

From what I understand the new grads having a hard time finding work ar ASN and BSN RNs. I am don't think it is the same for NPs...if anything we need more of them. I am in favor of NPs taking on all non-complicated patients and think we need a lot more of them. It would sure help our health care problems...

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