Nursing no longer a recession-proof field By Jan Jarvis Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram Monday,February 1, 2010 Edition: Main, Section:

Specialty, Page C01 LABOR MARKET *Graduates are finding it increasingly hard to get a job A few years ago, hospitals were offering nurses $10,000 signing bonuses, loan payoffs, even cars as incentives to battle a nursing shortage in Texas. Today, some nursing school graduates say theyre fortunate to find a job. "It took me a year to find something, and it wasnt easy," said Ann Karl, who graduated in 2008 and recently went to work for Huguley Memorial Medical Center in Burleson. "I think I must have hit the curve right when the hospitals were starting to slow down on hiring." Karl is hardly alone. Three years ago there were three job offers for every graduate, said Dr. Pamela Frable, director of nursing at Texas Christian Universitys Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences. But at graduation last summer, there were more students without a job than ever before. A surge of applicants from nursing schools and from other states, as well as more older nurses coming back into the work force, has increased competition for jobs, especially at the areas large hospitals. Graduates are sending out hundreds of rsums, scouring hospital Web sites and bemoaning a crisis they never expected: a shortage of jobs in a profession once hailed as recession-proof. Cassie Thompson left a career as a financial analyst to become a nurse only to start classes at TCU as rumors of hiring freezes at area hospitals were swirling. "It was really scary last summer, having come from a job that I knew I would have a paycheck until I retired, to this," said Thompson, who

switched to nursing because she thought it would be more satisfying. "But some of my instructors have predicted that it will be better next year." The draw of nursing Just a few years ago, the promise of job security, career satisfaction and a good salary attracted plenty of people from less stable fields. Karl was one of them. After 15 years in banking, she turned to nursing. But when she finished her studies in Dallas and applied for an internship, the shortage of opportunities disappointed her. "I thought it would be a slam dunk," she said. "I love nursing, but one of the reasons I went into it was everyone needs lots of nurses." But many hospitals dont need nurses straight out of school right now. Medical Center of Arlington usually hires 15 to 20 new graduates for internships twice a year, said Judi Williams, president of organizational development. But this year, that was cut to nine. "Were still hiring, but because of economics, it makes more sense to look for experienced nurses than new graduates," she said. At Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth, a new medical/surgical residency program is attracting graduates to an area sometimes viewed as less glamorous than others such as neonatal intensive care, said Karen Robeano, chief nursing officer for the hospital. But the demand for positions was greater than the need. "We had hundreds of applicants for 27 positions in June," she said. Experienced nurses from other states that have been hard hit by the recession have added to the surplus of job candidates. Area hospitals have hired from Oklahoma to as far away as Michigan. Thats adding to the frustration of students. "So many people are moving to Texas as new grads, it makes me afraid that theyll take all the jobs before I can ever get out of school," Thompson said.

Nurses were in high demand until the economy took a nose dive and people started postponing elective surgeries, said Bob Livonius, CEO of Medfinders, parent company of Arlington-based Nursefinders. Hospitals responded by cutting back on staff. At the same time, economic woes have led experienced nurses to come out of retirement. Others who worked part time added hours. Nurses who were once quick to job-hop stayed put. "All those factors led to a temporary Band-Aid for the nursing shortage," he said. 97% finding jobs Those in the nursing field say the problem is only temporary and some students have had no problems finding jobs. At the University of Texas at Arlington College of Nursing, 97 percent of graduates are finding jobs by the time they finish school, said Elizabeth Poster, dean of the nursing school. About 98 percent of graduates remain in North Texas working in hospitals and other healthcare settings. But some graduates have to adjust their expectations and take positions in areas that are not their first choice, said Marinda Allender, director of undergraduate programs at TCUs Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences. "They may have to decide to work weekends," she said. Almost half of all RNs work in settings other than hospitals, including community health, ambulatory care, nursing homes, schools, businesses and rural facilities, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Karl looked beyond the big hospitals in Dallas, where she lives, to find work more than 50 miles away in Burleson. "If I have go out of my way to get experience, its OK," she said. "At this point Im very thankful to have a job." The long-term outlook

Over the long term, the outlook for the nursing profession remains strong. Between 2005 and 2020, the demand for nurses in Texas is expected to increase by 86 percent while supply grows only 53 percent, according to the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies. Without more growth in the profession, Texas will be short about 71,000 fulltime RNs by 2020. The need for faculty members to teach the next generation of students is also high, and schools are encouraging graduates to get advanced degrees so they can teach or work in other areas. A significant number of TCU students get advanced degrees as nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists, said Paulette Burns, dean of the Harris College of Nursing and Health Science. UT-Arlington has tried to increase its faculty through its Masters of Science Nurse Educator program. As the population ages, the demand for nurses is only going to increase, Burns said. "Healthcare reform is a wild card out there, but we can pretty well predict there are going to be a larger number of people who will be covered," she said. "And there will be a need for more nurses." At the same time, as the work force ages, nurses will be retiring and leaving openings for newcomers, Poster said. Thompson said shes still confident that it is the right career for her, even if it takes a little longer to find the job of her dreams. "Nursing makes you thankful for what you have every day," she said. "Its one of the many reasons its a great career." JAN JARVIS, 817-390-7664 (C) The Star-Telegram 2010