New grands & RNs looking for new work

WIth the economy the way it is, are hospitals still offering relocation assistance, student loan repayments and sign on bonuses? I have started looking for another job in SC after working 4 years as an RN in Med/Surg and float. I have not been offered any of these things. When I graduated from school, we had recruiters knocking down our door offering perks to sign on to their hospital. Is that still the case or has the budget crisis eliminated that as well?
Quote from BlouisWIth the economy the way it is, are hospitals still offering relocation assistance, student loan repayments and sign on bonuses? I have started looking for another job in SC after working 4 years as an RN in Med/Surg and float. I have not been offered any of these things. When I graduated from school, we had recruiters knocking down our door offering perks to sign on to their hospital. Is that still the case or has the budget crisis eliminated that as well?

I have not seen any incentives whatsoever in at about 2 years. About the same time that the local Classified Ads for RN's dwindled down from 3+ columns to 1 or 2 entries (always the same entries for positions that no one apparently wants).

Quote from blouiswith the economy the way it is, are hospitals still offering relocation assistance, student loan repayments and sign on bonuses?

the hospital where i work now just till this may was offering sign on bonuses. i was hired in august, go figure. 2 years ago there was a $17,000 2 year contract, the following it was 10,000 3 year contract and now ... big fat zero!im a new grad (graduated this may) and im just happy i have a job let alone a bonus. i also remember going to a job fair for rns 2 years ago, as a nursing student, just cuz i was curious, and all the reps were taking and asking people for resumes. This year i went to this same job fair, now as an rn, and no rep wanted to take any resumes, they weren't even giving us any information on the positions or what their facility was looking for. most reps were just saying that they aren't hiring but i can still fill out an application online for their future reference. ugh, i printed out 10 resumes and came home back with the 10 still in my folder. most of my graduating class doesn't have jobs and those who do either had connections at the hospitals they worked at or are just continuing to work at pct/cna.

I'm interviewing at a facility tomorrow that's offering a sign-on bonus. I've heard bad things about the facility, so I'll have to see if It's something I want to consider.

Where I live there are generally 600-1000 applicants for around 20 jobs for new grads. It is next to impossible to get a job... hiring bonuses aren't even a thought to us new grads. It is even hard to get into a new residency program, ( training with no pay,) that has been established because so many new grads can't get hired and are walking away from nursing. When I started taking my pre-reqs and was volunteering in 2004 it was the exact opposite..

I just hope all the nurses remember the way we have been treated during this down economy! When the economy comes back up and nurses leave the bedside and the hospitals are really hurting for nurses again we have to have a unified front and demand all the perks and benefits we deserve. The hospitals are expecting us to have short term memory and forget all of this. There is a national debate about whether nursing is a profession or a trade. Take a look at how we are being treated now and it is easy to see why the trade position promoters are winning the debate!

3-5 years ago CA was begging for nurses. You could literally walk up to the hospital apply and go home that day with a job and a check from sign on bonus.

ahh wish it were so today ...

I just graduated from an accelerated MSN program and moved to Seattle thinking I would have little difficulty getting into a residency program. I have been applying for 2 months and have not heard back from anyone! One of the most difficult hurdles is the fact that all the job openings require at least one year experience yet no one is willing to open their doors to new grads - it's a complete Catch 22 situation and an incredibly discouraging process. I even got ACLS certified out here just to keep my mind working. I've applied to PCA jobs to keep my skills up and have heard nothing. I've applied to nursing research positions and have heard nothing. I'm going to continue looking for 2-3 hours a day and hope for the best, but this is just to let you all know we're in this together!

There is even a hospital down here that has you sign a contract stating that you (GN) will stay with them for 2 years or pay them back the cost to train you!!!Ahhhh, how life has changed since you graduated!

Quote from FLmomof5There is even a hospital down here that has you sign a contract stating that you (GN) will stay with them for 2 years or pay them back the cost to train you!!!Ahhhh, how life has changed since you graduated!