Job outlook for new RN looking for jobs in Chicago and burbs (Evanston: home)

[Brionas]

My son just received his RN certificate and is looking for a job in Chicago and suburbs.

I'd appreciate your thoughs on...
What is the job outlook for new RNs in the areas?
What are most efficient ways to start job hunt?

[chet everett]

Depends what they did and school and what they want to do as a RN, but overall job prospects are pretty decent.

My sister is an RN, and my mom retired after 60+ years (of and on) of nursing. Jobs for those right out school are more selective than you'd think. Newbies have a hard time getting into the more demanding / technical area unless they have some very solid experience from respected schools. You don't just rotate from some podunk program into the NICU or cardiac care unit.

That said the general medical floors, and geriatic treatment units like strong young men with flexible scheduling potential. Some hospitals have LOTS of male RNs too. With the VA and Chicago's large gay community being especially good options.

Some hospitals will not be eager to add any newbies to labor & delivery, the risk of complications/liability are extreme, not to mention the challenges of patients privacy (funny how many OBs are men though...).

If your son bulked up on the technical aspects of nursing (from telementry to data systems to various therapies) he may want to follow some specialized paths.

The other good option, if his college experience included appropriate training, is emergancy medicine and even paramedic / flight nurse. Even organ harvest crews and such. You should hear the stories some of my sisters friends tell.

BTW She got her nursing degree AFTER an unrelated undergraduate degree and that is also a big leg up, as she is automatically older, more dependable than someone fresh out of the undergrad experience...

[chitown85]

Chicagoland has some of the best hospitals in the United States. In Chicago you have Rush. In Maywood you have Loyola. In the NW burbs you have Lutheran General, Condell, and Northwest Community. All of them are likely facing nursing shortages.

[Anthera]

Originally Posted by chitown85

Chicagoland has some of the best hospitals in the United States. In Chicago you have Rush. In Maywood you have Loyola. In the NW burbs you have Lutheran General, Condell, and Northwest Community. All of them are likely facing nursing shortages.

Not to mention Northwestern Memorial, Evanston/NorthShore and the University of Chicago Hospitals. They're not too bad either.

[US-Traveller]

Originally Posted by chitown85

Chicagoland has some of the best hospitals in the United States. In Chicago you have Rush. In Maywood you have Loyola. In the NW burbs you have Lutheran General, Condell, and Northwest Community. All of them are likely facing nursing shortages.

Generally people think that the University of Chicago and their North Shore University Health System are the best hospitals in the metro overall, but Northwestern Memorial and Childrens Hospital are better in some areas like transplantation, childrens medicine, and rehabilitation and Rush University Medical Center is home to one of the best geriatric programs in the entire country.

Loyola is also a very good health system, but Advocate which owns Lutheran General is just considered average, they don't have many awards or special recognitions.

The RN market is good everywhere especially in Chicago. The best way to start looking for an RN job is to visit hospital websites or go look for a physician recruiter, most will recruit RNs as well.

[JustJulia]

Brionas, does he definitely want to work in a clinical setting? I work for a health care company, and there are plenty in the area, and I know there is always a shortage of non-clinical nurses to work in case management and similar fields.

If he wants to be a clinical nurse, I recommend the Central Dupage Hospital group. We LOVE our doctors and nurses!