In October of 2008, I wrote a post about how to bullet proof your nursing career. I predicted that nurses were going to start feeling the impact of the recession, and I told readers how to brace themselves for the fallout. Here are some words to those of you who pooh-poohed my advice. I told you so. No, I’m not gloating. Times are too tough to gloat, but don’t worry. There are still ways of getting work if you are ready to leave your comfort zone.

I’m getting emails and phones calls from nurses who are telling me about what’s happening in their communities. Nurses aren’t getting laid off. They’re getting “put on call” at work. That means the nurses have to stay home if the patient census on their hospital unit is low. One nurse who lives in Oregon told me that full time nurses are only getting to work one day a week. This means that you have to be more flexible than ever if you want to find employment if this scenario happens in your community. Here are three tips that will help you stay on the time clock when times get tough.

Change Your Specialty Area. Many experts in the nursing profession are predicting that certain nursing specialty areas are going to be impacted by the current recession. For example, most hospitals are already seeing a decline in outpatient procedures and other elective surgeries because people lose their health insurance when they lose their jobs. The two hottest specialty areas in nursing are Intensive Care Nursing and Emergency Room Nursing. It’s sad but true. Patients who can’t afford to take care of themselves show up at the hospital when they are literally at death’s door. That means that the demand for ER and ICU nurses is only going to grow. Bolster your paycheck by making the switch.

Consider Travel Nursing

Like I’ve said before, travel nursing is a great way to make ends meet when the job market is in flux. There are areas of the country where nurses can still find work, so it makes sense to pack your suitcases when you need a job. Travel nurse jobs are lucrative, and they provide an opportunity to see the country while you pay your bills. Travel nurses get benefits, too, including health insurance, housing, and moving expenses. Assignments last from a few weeks to many months. Travel nursing is a great way to keep working if the job market in your community is drying up.

Night Duty: Nobody likes working the night shift. It’s hard trying to sleep while the rest of the world is awake, but those brave souls who can work it out have rock-solid job security. Day shift nurses are always getting put on call, but night nurses are rarely told to stay home. One of my best friends has been a night nurse for the last twenty-five years and she said that she couldn’t remember the last time she was forced to stay home. It’s something to think about the next time your paycheck comes up short.

What’s the job market like for nurses in your community? Are nurses finding work, or are they being put on call? Tell us about it at Nursing Voices. We’re waiting to hear from you.