New Grad Nurses struggling to find jobs - CNN Reporter wants to hear from you

Nurses New Nurse

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allnurses.com appreciates how difficult the job market can be for new grad nurses.

We are working with Annalyn Kurtz, a CNN Money Reporter get info for an article that will highlight this nationwide issue. We have created a form where you can share your story with the reporter.

We WILL SHARE this info with the CNN Reporter and she MAY contact you with your prefererd contact method. All the info you share is OPTIONAL and will not be posted on the public board.

*Even if you did get a job, please fill in the form to share your story of your job hunt process.*

Thanks in advance! - Brian Short - Founder of allnurses.com

Click here to go to the form to fill out

If you wish to comment on this publicly, please post your comments below.

I am a recent grad as of December 2012. I also have a job and received the offer a week after I graduated. Almost all of my classmates have been offered and accepted positions some of them hired for Labor and Delivery, NICU, and ER which is almost unheard of for a new graduate. I still have to take boards so that is my next hurddle because the job offer is contingent upon my passing boards. I was very afraid I would not be able to find a job because in my area there are a lot of nursing schools so it is very competitive. That being said, we also have a lot of very large hospitals so staffing needs change daily. I do have my BSN and when I interviewed with HR before accepting my current position, I was told that some nursing managers will hire new graduates and some will not. I was also told by the person that hired me for my position that some of the best nurses she has are new grads. It is tough all over and I feel for all of you that have applied to so many positions and have not even received an interview. I cannot even imagine. The difficulty of nursing school and then passing boards and then not being able to find a job. It makes no sense. Good luck to all of you that are still looking!!!!

Why are nursing new grads any different from any other group of new grads? Lots of newly graduated people are having a hard time finding a job in this economy.

Yes nursing new grads are different than any other group of new grads.

Here is why. A nursing degree does not qualify one for a job in any other profession. As a newly licensed RN you are almost never considered for a job in the business world. How do I know this? I am from that business world - over 20 years of being that world. As a licensed RN you are disqualified from any lesser position within healthcare for the majority of facilities, as well.

There is a nursing shortage - there are plenty of hospitals all over the country operating with high patient to nurse ratios, but I think they are doing so by choice. In light of recent healthcare legislation, the industry seems to be tightening their purse strings while waiting to see how it all plays out. I think that as increasing numbers of people gain access to healthcare that they haven't had access to under the current health insurance structure, we will see some significant changes in the hiring trends for nurses.

IMHO what you describe is not a shortage of nurses but chronic short staffing. As for changes in the healthcare system to adapt for a potential influx of more patients due to ACA or whatever you want to call it, yes there will be some hiring changes for nurses; AP nurses will move in to fill voids left in primary and other care areas, whilst UAPs will assume more and more nursing functions. Techs, aides and so forth are much cheaper to train and use than RNs as well.

Unless the current emphasis on cost cutting at facilities/healthcare changes don't see many places staffing up with large numbers of RNs anytime soon without some sort of funding put in place. In places like NYC you have new grads starting at between $75K to $80K and experienced nurses pulling >$95K. With those kind of numbers you can bet administration is schooling up on staff management and utilization.

Why are nursing new grads any different from any other group of new grads? Lots of newly graduated people are having a hard time finding a job in this economy.

One of the reasons nursing school grads are different from others is most if not all plan or want to say right where they are, that in in their local area. Unlike say grads in business, law, pre-med, and so forth who often may not even be from the same state or local area where they went to college.

Thank you so much. Finally! I hope the truth gets out.

Specializes in Nurse Technician, Physicians Office.

I think this is a great story. But one thing I hope the reporter will do when gathering all of this information or anyone that responds to the reporter will give some geographical information. At least the state they are in to help everyone know where the trouble areas are and where the successful areas are. I will be graduating in July and hope and pray I don't have the trouble so many are having. Good luck to everyone!

Specializes in ICU.
IMHO what you describe is not a shortage of nurses but chronic short staffing.

What I was describing was a shortage of nurses actually doing the nursing *because* of chronic short staffing, not a shortage of potential nurses sitting at home waiting for a job lead.

I thought that was pretty clear.

Any chance future posters on this topic would feel comfortable including their region/state/closest city with their story?? I'm sure I can't be the only student nurse lurking on this thread and holding my breath!

Thank you so much. Finally! I hope the truth gets out.

Like The X-Files: The Truth is Out There. :)

where do you live mmgirlsmom?

I live in Southern California (Inland Empire to be exact), and graduated from an LVN program March 2012. Got my license July 2, 2012 and got a job July 31, 2012. Only reason I got a job was the ADON had contacted our Director about a job opening and the Director sent an email to to the new graduating classes. Not sure if I was the first to respond, but I was the only one from my school that was hired at that facility. Only bad thing is I have a 45 minute drive to work.

Word of advice, esp. to new LVN/LPN grads: dress nicely (business casual) and actually walk into the facility to get an application. I turned in at least 10 applications online and actually walking in was what got me a job. Yes, I work at a LTC facility, but I know the local hospital doesn't want me without any experience. If you can, work as a CNA for a few months to help you get your foot into the door. People who previously worked as a CNA were more likely to get a job, opposed to those with no experience - this is pertaining to people that graduated from the same program that I did. We are a small private program and graduated with a class of 20 or so. I can honestly say that maybe half of us have jobs as an LVN.

Specializes in PACU.

I completed this survey! So glad we have the opportunity as new graduates to be heard! I graduated May 2012, licensed in June. I've been searching for a little over 9 months now...and it is just getting more and more difficult to be optimistic.

I graduated w/ a BSN, honors, and over 5 years of healthcare experience and still unable to land a job as a new graduate...In the first few months I was really getting depressed...but kept telling myself that there are other new graduates that have it worse. At least I had a job and it's in the medical field...

I've landed several interviews here and there but nothing came from them (as of yet). I'm praying for a better year. My fellow new graduate nurses I feel your pain!!! :(

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