That might be true in general adult nursing in certain hospitals but I think you are making a genralisation here. In my unit alone we have lost 20 staff since January. Ten experienced RNs resigned the other ten got pregnant and have left on maternity leave ( some may not come back at all). After months of advertising we were only able to recruit four RNs to cover the ten vacant positions. Only two have previous experience and don't need to be shadowed. The other two need constant supervision and at times we need to care for their patient's as wel as ours. I work in Paedicatric ICU not a general ward so this isn't an acceptable situation. We only had four applications for these positions not hundreds. We cannot employ new grads in ICU or anywhere else in the hospital. They must complete a 12 month rotation in an adult hospital first then they can apply at one of the two major paeds hospitals. ( Don't know about JHH). This is the express difference between working in a tertiary paediatric hospital and working in adult hospitals.

 PICU RNs are very difficult to find as there is only PICU specific courses (rather just basic paedicatric certificates with a tiny ICU component) in NSW. The course I speak isn't structured as well as the ones in Victoria or W.A. NICU is not the same and there are many courses for NICU on offer so even their recruitment is more successful than ours.We can't even use agency RNs in PICU. There are only three RNs in casual pool who can work there and nobody from the wards is allowed to work there!

I agree that there is no such issue of there being a "NURSE SHORTAGE" as reported by the media who have lead us to believe that is the case.  WHAT RUBBISH that journalists have instilled  in nurses that this is the case.  I have resourced the internet looking at various nursing positions and have come to the conclusion that it is a very competitive to obtain a position.  Also I observed the Northern Sydney Area Health Service is employing more EEN's than RN's.  What a hide!  Where is nursing employment headed?  I feel sorry for new grads trying to secure employment and am fortunate that I have years of experience.