Petition to help new grads get experience

Nurses New Nurse

Published

In light of the struggles that new grads are having securing a job, this petition may be of interest to many of you.

allnurses.com has nothing to do with this petition. We are not endorsing it at all. We are just sharing this to let you know it exist for discussion purposes.

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You can find the petition here: Create a Plan to Help New Graduate Nurses Gain the Experience Needed to get a Nursing Job.

Please post your opinions here as well!

Specializes in Oncology.
What do you expect nurses to do? Give up their jobs for new grads? Drop to part-time so a new grad can take her/his other half? (This would never work by the way, the hospital doesn't want to pay for TWO benefited persons, TWO sets of workman's comp). Work extra shifts for free to train new grads?

I have gotten several new grads hired by pushing them on management and really "selling them", but beyond that I can't force my hospital to hire new grads that cost money that the hospital DOESN'T HAVE.

People are not insensitive for disagreeing with this petition, most simply don't believe it's the way.

We are all at the mercy of this recession, many occupations are; it's not just nursing. Calling experienced nurses names isn't going to be what helps you, nor is signing a petition that is never going to even seen by the president...our problems always seem bigger because they are OUR problems...there are a lot of more important things the president SAID he was going to do that we are still waiting on, don't expect him to solve this one anytime soon. If you want this fixed your going to have to go through other channels...possibly that being yourself.

Part of the issue I see with this problem is steaming from a large percentage of the graduates coming from the "participation trophy" generation. I spoke with a new grad last year who told me the woes of a "glowing" resume that I couldn't believe didn't get her a nursing job, especially since she was already working as an aid...months later I spoke with one of her teachers whom I am friends with and told her the sad story I heard...her reply "are you kidding me, XXXX was so lazy in class, she did the bare minimum in clinical and barely passed many of her classes"...I hate to say it, but just because you graduated from nursing school doesn't mean your going to get a job. I am not telling people to give up, just to give up the attitude of self entitlement.

My first nursing job I was abandoned by my preceptor. I was then left alone on a wing with 50 total-cares, many of whom did not know who they are, with no help except one aide and no idea who anyone was for 18 hours (no arm bands, no room plaques, no pictures or anything) and then I was told that I was the problem, I wasn't a good employee. It was my fault that I didn't fill out some form that I was never showed before in my life properly.

NO.

The problem is that nurses refuse to stand up for themselves and get safe work environments, adequate staffing, and decent employee training, so then they bring in the new nurses and treat them like throw-away people. They eat their young. I'm not saying this petition is good, but what I am saying is that when it's a problem where older nurses are against newer nurses, well, the newer nurses didn't build a culture and a discord, it was the older nurses. They failed to raise up the profession and learn to respect others, and so they refuse to allow for any help to be given/suggested for someone who comes along later. I had older nurses tell me to do things the wrong way because "that's how it's done" and "don't be stupid" because I wanted to take 5 seconds to do something properly. Maybe if you want to complain about how new nurses are the problem you should look in the mirror, older nurses have made nursing what it is, no one else.

Specializes in ICU.
The nursing colleges in my area get 200 applicants each semester and only accept 40. Another has a 3 year waiting list.

It's like this all around the country. You have to have a 4.0 to get in, great entry test scores, and even then you might not get in or wait 3 years.

It's not as if they are pumping out as many graduates as are assumed. They are supplying as many graduates as they did in the past, but with cut throat competition to get in.

Not just cut throat competition to get in, but also to stay in.

My program accepted 80 students total in an academic year (including bridge students from a local LPN program). Of those 80 students, my cohort graduated 28 students. That's a paltry 35% graduation rate.

Not every nursing program in the country is flooding the market with new grads.

Why did I start this petition in the first place? Because I was tired of feeling powerless. I was told by people to search outside Brooklyn (I have so, all the way down to Puerto Rico), get more certifications, volunteer even more than I do, learn spanish, learn russian, smile but not too much, go here, go there, stand up, sit down, walk don't run, run don't walk...yes, yes it's all about paying dues...that's a crock of bolony...I see highschool students allowed to do more in the emergency room than I am allowed because a family member works there.

Did I ever believe it will make it to 25,000 signatures? Truthfully, no. My intent was more of a messege to new grads to not feel demonized...I read so many posts from new grads and I feel for them. So many of us...The petition was mainly to help new grads...the other parts were suggestions.

The fact is that most of us are out of work, taking tax payers money (like it or not), not paying into social security, and have few people to help us out. This problem will not go away with smart antics. I would tell anyone or everyone to start their own petition for their cause, even one as crude as mine.

Out of all seriousness..with only good intentions...lets make a better plan...and it can't start out with "new grads shouldn't of gone to nursing school" blah blah blah...or petition schools, the president, the system... Let's ADPIE this issue! I'm asking for your help...

Assessment-

I think it's prudent for more experienced RNs to remember that this is the worst recession since the Great Depression and getting a job as a new grad is probably much more difficult today than it was for them, so it isn't like the new grads are complaining about nothing. I also wish the government respected our training enough to fund residencies, like it does for physicians, and I think petitioning the government to consider this is actually an excellent idea, though I'm not sure if this specific petition is what I have in mind. You don't get respect unless you demand it.

Lastly, I think we should shut down all for-profit nursing schools (RN or NP level). Or just make it so that students at for-profit schools do not qualify for federal student loans - the problem will solve itself.

We live in a democratic society, at least I like to believe so. We have to remember that we pay taxes and the government works for us. However, we need to let our lawmakers know what we need. I think this petition is a great idea in terms of getting new graduates nurses and the new generation to be more active in defending the interests of the nursing profession. Apathy and whining among us will do nothing to change. So when some nurses complain about being overworked and understaffed, for example, they should take some form of action. Apathy will take you nowhere.

But the highest value of this petition is to let people know what they are getting into before going to nursing school. Everyone has the right to an education. If they want to be a nurse, they should be able to attend nursing school. My problem is when the media keeps telling these prospective students that they will have a career after graduation. And the reality is far from that for a lot of new graduates, from science to business majors.

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
I think it's prudent for more experienced RNs to remember that this is the worst recession since the Great Depression and getting a job as a new grad is probably much more difficult today than it was for them, so it isn't like the new grads are complaining about nothing. I also wish the government respected our training enough to fund residencies, like it does for physicians, and I think petitioning the government to consider this is actually an excellent idea, though I'm not sure if this specific petition is what I have in mind. You don't get respect unless you demand it.

Lastly, I think we should shut down all for-profit nursing schools (RN or NP level). Or just make it so that students at for-profit schools do not qualify for federal student loans - the problem will solve itself.

^^^Agree.

I completed my nursing studies Dec 2011 through an accelerated BSN program at a local University. Most were eligible to sit for the NCLEX...50% of those people were able to get a job, 40% had no connections to get into their facilities. I had to wait until May, got licensed in June. Tweaked résumé during the summer, got calls/interviews from September-November. Accepted a position at a PICU, starting in Feb.

A lot of my classmates ranged from 18-50, a percentage had healthcare experience, including LPNs like myself, and second degree individuals, as well as people fresh out of high school. A lot believed I would get a job IMMEDIATELY...I didn't expect it, maybe because I had prior knowledge of how hospital economics worked, a part was being aware of the slide of the economy since 2005, when they were laying off people and the whole "phasing out of LPNs" talk was happening to balance the books, which ultimately led to the BSN only talk...as well as other factors that were beyond any nurses control.

We were told in orientation that the average cycle to find a job from this particular university's program was 18 months counting the time from licensure to actually starting the position. For me it will be 8 months, for others, it was before school ended, 3-4 months, many still haven't got any bite yet, however, I know a few who JUST passed their exams and they are discouraged for not finding work (side-eye).

I do agree that a lot of For-Profits and non-accredited programs are taking advantage of individuals who otherwise need to strengthen their post-secondary education skills and provide substandard education and clinical rotations-that includes LPNs-NP schools...People are going BROKE and the income coming out is not going to match the debt, especially if people are not taking advantage of the government's scholarships and nursing repayment programs, or the Perkins Loan forgiveness (or not eligible to). On the other hand, there are schools that are not considering individuals until they go through some patient care experience PRIOR to going to nursing school, as well as setting up partnerships with universities.

I do think nurses do need to help shape how present AND future nurses are treated-and understand the current changes, which include increase in understanding safe practices, ethical dilemmas, as well as the increase in taking care of more complex patients in our communities, as well as hospital economics, nursing theories, etc...all these factors give a great big picture if the powers we have as a nurse-we are not "just" LPNs, ADNS, DNs, BSNs, etc ad nausem-we have a practice that is essential to healthcare. As one poster stated, it is an exciting time in nursing, and I agree with the poster that the future is bright...and I do believe we all have a part in moving our profession forward.

As for nurses trying to gain their footing in this profession, there are many roads that lead to Rome, as a nursing recruiter reminded me as she helped me tweak my résumé-and I believe her suggestions helped me land a position sooner rather than later-at a nursing career conference. There are many postings that do help and assist on AN...been a member when I first started LPN school, and it has always been honest about the trends in nursing...while I have started posting more, I have always lurked and read posts, and I do enjoy that we have so many members that each play a role in our profession. I think we-the new grads, old grads, soon to be grads, and people waiting to get into nursing school to the ones who are waiting to take the NCLEX can do our due diligence to decide how we want to shape our career and how we can contribute to it in terms of mentoring (I found local chapters of ANA and state nursing associations provide great mentoring and see the future in front of them and do want to pass the torch) education, and innovation for the future. I believe life is what we make it...my question is, how much of nursing can we make it?? I think a lot depends where you start and where you want to go...there are places in nursing like local nursing chapters that may be a start as a way to network, gain experience, provide additional education and a foot in the door...as well as this site for information and ideas.

Specializes in geriatrics.

I graduated in 2010, and the economy was just as bad. Our graduation rate was around 45 percent, so people were definitely weeded out. Also, I relocated over 2000 miles away for my first RN position, so I am well aware of how bad things are for new grads. All of my friends had jobs within a year of graduation. I empathize with those who are struggling, but a petition is not the answer. It isn't just new grad nurses who are struggling. Many other professions are too, and have for years. And to those who took out huge loans to finance school....well realistically, you should have figured out beforehand how much debt you could reasonably afford. Schools rip people off who don't do their research.

I agree that the struggles of this field are not unique. Many, many fields are having a hard time right now and young professionals with fresh degrees/licenses are struggling across the board. In fact, nursing appears to be significantly better than law or psychology, as far as I can tell.

However, I'm surprised by some of the backlash in this thread, frankly. Having worked in other fields, I've never seen members of a field argue that petitioning the government for respect and/or training opportunities/funding (whether it be for education, research grants, etc.) is a bad thing. Very odd. The government works for us and there is free money out there we could use to advance our profession, we just need to fight for it. One reason why MDs/DOs have government-funded guaranteed training is because their field was deemed important enough by the American people. I think nursing is just as important, so I applaud efforts to make our voices heard and improve our education and job opportunities, especially in light of such a terrible economy. The federal government is looking to spend money on jobs/training that leads to jobs due to the economic downturn, I believe nurses should be in line. Just some food for thought.

I also agree that people should do their homework beforehand. If I read one more thread where a NP student is desperately begging (even offering to pay on top of their tuition!!?!) for preceptors because they chose to enter a program that doesn't lift a finger to help them, I might scream.

Demographics, ladies and gentlemen, demographics. A lot of my boomer generation went to nursing school (when it was really "Stand up when the DOCTOR enters the nursing station, work three years of straight nights and maybe you'll get a spot on days, work three weekends out of four, Christmas and New Years are really two holidays (Eve and Day) so you're always gonna work one of each of them, and be really happy you're earning $700/month").

We would dearly love to be able to retire and let someone with younger knees take over. There really are a lot of us, maybe more than there are of you-- we are the demographic bulge. Many of us are now occupying management and other non-bedside jobs, but that's blocking your advancement, too, I guess. Alas, what was laughingly called our retirement accounts (both ours and our significant others') took a 50% hit in the last five years and our significant others' jobs are gone, and so we can't even afford to go to part time with no benefits (especially with these knees). So no, we are not going away quite yet. We can't.

Don't take it all so personally. We'll drop in our tracks sooner or later-- god knows we can't afford to retire at 65 the way our parents did. Sooner or later, then, you can have the joys of giving nursing care as we know it now-- twelve hour shifts, decreasing benefits, more UAPs and fewer real nurses, more responsibility than I hear you willing or able to shoulder, a customer-service mentality, endless worries about legalities and lawsuits, patients with serious entitlement issues, and did I mention that those pension plans and matching for your IRAs are no longer offered? Meanwhile, get better educations-- I see ads for nurses, not many, in the paper, and they almost all say "BSN required/preferred" so when those of us who have them now are dead you can have our jobs.

Look less at your navels and more at the long run. Your time will come. Besides, we'll need you to pay our Social Security benefits. :)

Specializes in Emergency.

Patient care within hospital and LTC settings is comprised of many disciplines including medicine AND nursing, along with others such as social work, pharmacy, etc. Namely in acute-care settings, patients receive the majority of their medical care from residents with minimal oversight by senior residents or attendings. Though it's not much, is anyone aware of who primarily foots the bill of a medical resident's salary? Yes, that's right-Medicare. From a first year resident to their final year of residency, Medicare picks up the tab. Medicare is willing to invest in an inexperienced "MD" with nothing to their credit aside from completion of medical school. July is the absolute worst time of year as that's when the new residents begin residency, and I can attest to the fact that I wouldn't trust 90% of them to perform first-aid, let alone attempt their first chest tube insertion at bedside.

The federal government funds the cost of medical residency, so then why doesn't Medicare provide funding for new graduate nurses' salaries? A learning curve and lack of experience exists for both graduates, but I can honestly say that I've never encountered a new graduate nurse who didn't know the name of or purpose of a pulse oximeter. I cannot say the same for a first year medical resident who questioned me about what I was putting on his patient's finger as I prepped the patient for a chest tube insertion....

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

There is a MYTH that CMS and insurances do not pay for nursing care...they do...they set the rates for reimbursement, and it is up to the agency to pick up the rest of the tab from the budget. Our rates are dependent on a portion of insurance reimbursement and the hospitals' operating costs...some prefer to include pricing by specialty...I just work in a part of the field that was very upfront on how they calculate wages...I worked with two different HH agencies...each said they are bound by insurance and CMS rates for nursing care, HOWEVER, the other company added dollars because they VALUED nurses and want to make sure they retained the best nurses (their speil , not mine)...and wages were more if you were a trach/vent nurse. You not always see it in the bedside at a large facility, but the reimbursement is there...I don't care how many times I post this, until we as nurses get it...we get reimbursed...WHY do you think that most insurance companies have nurses give you info on policies, navigation of care, etc and not a MD??? We are valued for our information...also the government has repayment assistance for new grads. I believe that they do have a grace period of new grad status-should they give exceptions to that rule, I can agree to that...plus Federal Perkins Loans ARE FORGIVABLE. They wanted Sallie Mae to be forgivable as well, but certain representatives in Congress wanted them scrapped...that is why the forgiveness loan bill remains not voted on to this day, or the Jobs bill that would assist hospitals to hire nurses and help fund programs to assist nurses in going back to school or tuition reimbursement through tax breaks for the healthcare organizations, but their are lobbyists for healthcare that see it as a lucrative business and want more profits and bottom line REGARDLESS of staffing and care. Also, there is tuition forgiveness for nurse educators STILL. Be knowledgeable to what's going on in our profession...should programs in place be tweaked to help decrease the burden of debt and more opportunities? Sure, but the ideas that the government have to address those needs had have been tabled, and they do want to help nurses...don't know when those bills are going to be passed, however...keep doing due diligence, ladies and gents! And keep surviving!!!

Specializes in Critical Care, Float Pool Nursing.
I cannot sign the petition, as I do not agree with any of the proposed solutions.

I disagree in broad principle with the idea that "President Obama can help new graduate nurses gain the experience needed to get a nursing job". Are we saying that we want the president of the United States to say to the American people: At a time of economic difficulty and sweeping changes in the financing of the health care industry, I want to impose on health care facilities to hire less experienced nurses to take care of patients? Very wrong, on many levels, IMO.

Why not? Enormous grants are given to healthcare facilities for physician residency programs. Why not offer the same to nurse residency programs? Are nurses not as vital to this country's healthcare system as physicians?

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