How likely is it to get laid off?

1 I have been searching through old and recent threads, and have stumbled upon posts in which the posters have stated that they have been laid off. One of the main reasons why I am interested in the nursing field is due to the stability (not necessarily for the money, but because I know that I will always have a job). I am worried that that is not the case anymore, but perhaps it can be attributed to the bad economy. Aren't there contracts that nurses have to sign though when they first sign up for the job? Also, how likely is it to get suspended? As long as you have good insurance, will you be okay?
I dont know of many hospitals that does contracts but the nursing profession has changed alot. Nursing use to be stable but since the economy has changed alot of hospitals has closed and alot of nurses are out of jobs. Finding another job is very challanging because there is about 50 nurses competing for one job and its up to the interviewer to accept you. At my job, one of the managers had a pile full of resumes but she said that she was only able to hire 3 people out of the 80 applications she had... very sad. Apart from that there are alot of nurses getting laid off. So if you were the last hired and their doing cuts then the last to get hired is the 1st bunch to leave.. Sometimes I wish I had a more stable career because each day i go to work not knowing if I'm one whos going to get laid off.

Quote from tee_byrdI dont know of many hospitals that does contracts but the nursing profession has changed alot. Nursing use to be stable but since the economy has changed alot of hospitals has closed and alot of nurses are out of jobs. Finding another job is very challanging because there is about 50 nurses competing for one job and its up to the interviewer to accept you. At my job, one of the managers had a pile full of resumes but she said that she was only able to hire 3 people out of the 80 applications she had... very sad. Apart from that there are alot of nurses getting laid off. So if you were the last hired and their doing cuts then the last to get hired is the 1st bunch to leave.. Sometimes I wish I had a more stable career because each day i go to work not knowing if I'm one whos going to get laid off.

As a new grad it's also very difficult to get a job depending on where you live right now.plus...while their not laying off nurses dissapear all the time where I work.....it's not like teaching, there is no such thing as tenure.

Many civilian nurses were laid off from military hospitals when bases were closed due to BRAC.They worked for the Department of Defense, the federal government.Who would have ever thought that would happen.Nothing is secure.Currently the economy is so bad, that nurses are not getting their hours due to cancellations due to low census, even if they have a full time position.

Lets not forget the state of NY where hospitals and nursing homes are closing. all those nurses will be looking for places to go.This is a good time to not rely on union contracts for a job, and be the best worker you can. I am union, but only becuase it was here before I was. I fall in the middle ground right now. Not high enough to make a significant difference as to cut backs, not low enough to be easily replaced.

"Aren't there contracts that nurses have to sign though when they first sign up for the job?"Not for the majority of nursing positions."Also, how likely is it to get suspended?"Depends for the most part on your ability to perform your position. However, there will always be lay-offs and RIF's that have nothing to do with job performance."As long as you have good insurance, will you be okay?"Insurance has nothing to do with keeping your position. Not sure what you meant by that... "So if you were the last hired and their {sic} doing cuts then the last to get hired is the 1st bunch to leave."Not necessarily. Sometimes it's the more experienced, more expensive, nurses who are the first to go.Bottom line: no one can guarantee you anything. Nursing stability has changed, but so have alot of other professions in America.

Quote from ebearNursing has definitely changed. I was recently laid off (along with several others) having several certifications and >30 years experience. Sometimes "last hired" does not apply. The market is tough out there right now. Never trust in the security of your job. Your security lies elsewhere. :heartbeat

I am considered full time. However, we are always getting called off. One thing I want to add is that so many people are going back to school for nursing but I am here to tell you some people cannot make their car payment after paying their student loans. BE VERY CAREFUL. If you are going back to school do not sign up for a high priced school unless you aim to pay cash. I wanted to go to Vanderbilt for a MSN but credit hours are over 1,000.00 each. I chose a state school and I am living like a pauper to avoid student loans. Some individuals I know are going to these high priced schools for a BSN and they will never be able to make their payments .

A RN should not "worry" about being laid off. There will always be lay off's. Not all companies and hospitals always perform well. It should not be difficult for an experienced RN to find a job if they were to find themselves laid off. It might not be a dept or a shift you prefer. Nurses, at times, have become too picky. I have met a lot of nurses who feel entitled to this or that. We are not entitled to anything. Nursing offers more job security than almost any other profession. It is an individuals resposiblity to make themselves indispensable to their employer. Also, there are goignt o be scores of nurses retiring over the next 10-15 years. The jobs will be there. Someone always has to take care of the patients.

Quote from themursemanA RN should not "worry" about being laid off. There will always be lay off's. Not all companies and hospitals always perform well. It should not be difficult for an experienced RN to find a job if they were to find themselves laid off. It might not be a dept or a shift you prefer. Nurses, at times, have become too picky. I have met a lot of nurses who feel entitled to this or that. We are not entitled to anything. Nursing offers more job security than almost any other profession. It is an individuals resposiblity to make themselves indispensable to their employer. Also, there are goignt o be scores of nurses retiring over the next 10-15 years. The jobs will be there. Someone always has to take care of the patients.

I am sure there are examples of companies or hospitals having lay-offs and having to let go people who were good employees. However, for the most part, if someone is losing their job they should have some careful introspection. I understand that people sometimes lose their jobs for trivial reasons. I feel as if I will not lose my job, and also that if I did, I would find one quickly. I guess I'm just more confident in my own value than your average roser.

umn, yeah! When I worked in NY, there was an overpopulation of hospitals with a declining population. A hospital is only allowed so many beds per capita people heads, lol. But not so funny, we had to eliminate beds, units... floors... and when I left a 700 bed hospital was down to 120 beds. They were renting space for HD, doc offices and anything they could fill. There were three hospitals closed in less than two years.So yes, even with unions many hundreds were laid off.Currently, or with in the last 5 years, we now call it "restructuring"... management had grown top heavy and all middle management, clinical educators, and groups had their jobs eliminated... they were given a list with a 15 minute decision period to choose a new position or be "let go" Some got early severance packages, we're non union here and had no choice... just "this is your package, pack it up and go". This happened during a massive nursing crisis... all non patient care nurses were cut to the bone.So there are two large, massive sweeping examples both union and non union... still don't think it will happen?Sure, with medicad/medicare not reimbursing for happy smiley scores... it will be more common. Doubt me? Save this link and write back in two years. You cut spending, hospitals cut employees, quality care is lost, scores go down... so medicaid and medicare reimbursement funding drops... more are let go... care suffers, scores drop.... it's not rocket science and it's coming.