Any comments? Nursing grads face job shortage in St. Louis | ksdk.com | St. Louis, MO
Nationally, the health care
industry is one of the hottest industries for job seekers, even in this economy. But local nurses say that's not the case in St. Louis.
The shortage came on almost overnight, according to local nurses, hospital officials, and nursing students. There were plenty of nursing jobs available in December, but now hospitals are in a hiring freeze and nurses are holding onto the jobs they have.
That's bad news for students getting ready to graduate.
Maryville University's graduating nursing class normally has 100 percent job placement. This year, only one-third of the class has job offers. Some haven't even been able to get an interview. Kimberly Genz is searching for a job, but she keeps hearing the same thing: they're not hiring.
"What can I do?" Genz says. "And they said, 'Oh, there's going to be positions available in a couple of months. We know when the economy turns around in six months from now, there will be positions available.' What am I supposed to do until then? When I need health insurance? When I need to pay off student loans?"
Local nursing professors say there is still a nursing shortage and once the economy picks up, there will be plenty of openings here in St. Louis.
Nationally, the health care
industry is one of the hottest industries for job seekers, even in this economy. But local nurses say that's not the case in St. Louis. The shortage came on almost overnight, according to local nurses, hospital officials, and nursing students. There were plenty of nursing jobs available in December, but now hospitals are in a hiring freeze and nurses are holding onto the jobs they have.
That's bad news for students getting ready to graduate.
Maryville University's graduating nursing class normally has 100 percent job placement. This year, only one-third of the class has job offers. Some haven't even been able to get an interview. Kimberly Genz is searching for a job, but she keeps hearing the same thing: they're not hiring.
"What can I do?" Genz says. "And they said, 'Oh, there's going to be positions available in a couple of months. We know when the economy turns around in six months from now, there will be positions available.' What am I supposed to do until then? When I need health insurance
? When I need to pay off student loans?" Local nursing professors say there is still a nursing shortage and once the economy picks up, there will be plenty of openings here in St. Louis.