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!

Advice on finding jobs out of state NY for non-driver (I have a disability if you have to know so please spare the lip on not being able to drive)...and broke.

Should I apply for licenses (besides the one I have in NY) in several states? Which one is the best "gamble". I'm already broke, might as well go big, hitchhike and what ever since it's so easy to get a job outside...

Also I'm starting to get the BSN at instate cost (2nd bachelors btw) and had no financial aid for Associates...All this critism, but most of you are not in my shoes right now. If you were in my situtation, as many grads are, in this economy, myself with no family, what would you do? Who would you turn to? As crazy as it sounds, I asked the President, why, because I don't know who else to turn to. Again, which other state license would you recommend I put on my credit card?

Specializes in MDS/ UR.

Ridiculous.

What I would do is use the internet to search for jobs in neighboring states. If you get a job in a neighboring state, move to an area where you can get transportation to the job. There is a vast network of services for people who don't drive in many urban/metropolitan areas. Contact the local social services department for help. Once you have the job offer, then transfer your license according to that state's laws. If you are unable to afford moving now, take a short term job in another field to build up your finances.

My mother went through a period where she couldn't drive for medical reasons and was able to get low cost and free transportation through local social services, and she was in a suburban/rural area. My family is very spread out geographically and wasn't able to help her very much, but she was able to get it taken care of on her own.

When I started out as a nurse last year, I was able to use my contacts from my clinicals and preceptorship to get a job. Reach out and network with the people you know. Hopefully you will be able to get some referrals and maybe even some interviews.

Specializes in Oncology.
I see that you are from Massachusetts. I am too and this statement is untrue. I was a hospital nurse from the time I was a new grad (2007) until last April. Beginning in the summer of 2011, my hospital began exclusively hiring new grads because they were cheaper. From July of 2011 to when I left in April of 2012, my floor alone hired six new grads. I know they have hired even more since then. (They have also lost over 25% of their experienced staff in that time.) This is the most hiring they have done since the economy tanked... in 2009, we hired ONE nurse and in 2010, two. You do, however, need a BSN to be considered for any new grad positions at most hospitals here. That's a fact that's well known and well advertised though and I agree with others that students/new grads need to take some responsibility for their decisions. If someone chooses to go into nursing in this economy without researching the job opportunities they will have with their chosen degree, I disagree that it's the government's responsibility to find them a job. If you don't have access to the internet at home to do this research, a library card is free and you can use the library's internet as long as you have a card. The hospital in the town I grew up in (40 minutes outside of Boston), has several RN listings on their website that do not require experience nor a BSN.

Where I lived in college, the nearest library was 30 minutes away, and I could not afford the gas to go there and didn't have the time anyways. Nor did I have the time to sit in the college library, I had to work full-time so I could eat and buy books. I'm just saying, it's not all that easy. And lord knows that if I was using the library to go online it was to do an assignment, not to surf for the negatives of a profession that I chose.

My neighboring states wants you to have the license first. Which should I get, Conneticut or NJ? NJ as a side note still has a curfew from the hurricane. I've joined agencies that are helping me look for work. They helped me prepare for interviews and applauded my efforts in reaching out to the federal government for help.

What I don't understand is why people believe that asking our government for help in training is a hand out? (I didn't say GIVE ME A JOB). My late father used to intiate these programs all the time at the department of labor. Maybe that's my next step. The reason I didn't ask the local government because my city is in shambles. I'm telling you first hand and as a volunteer in the ER, it is so sad here. Several of our hospitals closed, nurses relocated. If you go to look for a job in Long Island you find nurses resumes posted instead.

Please cut out the hand out bs. I'm asking to have help getting an externship, or apprenticeship, just to get hands on experience...

I know I'm a damn good nurse, new grad or not and I feel the medical field is at a big loss for not having me, entitlement, yes, very (and I feel sorry for any human being who doesn't know their worth). Willing to fight, you damn bet, and you know something, I stopped a nurse from hitting a patient, I didn't look away. I've held the hand of a patient that no one wanted to go near while the staff warned me that she'll hurt me. Poor lady cried afterwards. One patient would constantly cry, and few minutes with me we were singing Hello Dolly, and oh what a beautiful morning. He got OOB, we did a small dance to 42nd st. and he went to the bathroom (staff "he got up?" yes, "he went to the bathroom? In the toliet?" yes, he can do that)...maybe it's just a matter of time, hopefully get an interview this year.

Specializes in Emergency.

This thread has become embarrassing. What originally began as an attempt to initiate dialogue about a very real issue that many new graduate nurses have and will continue to experience has morphed into a mud-slinging, name calling match that even kindergarteners would know better than to participate. I think most people who've offered comments to this thread bring some really valid points to the table. That being said and without naming names, I can't help but wonder if this dialogue would be a whole heck of a lot more productive if certain "experts" who have no problem with shooting down someone else's point of view could take the time and proofread their own responses before hitting send. IMO....

Bingo..u hit the nail on the head....hospitals are looking for ways to save money...new grads have MORE opportunity where I work....the economy is just bad for everyone....keep on looking ... it will come,,,get back in BSN school if you dont have it...sell yourself...things WILL turn around. Don't be afraid to take a position outside something that would be ideal for you or your family...a year of experience will open doors for you...you made it through nursing school...you can make it through the first year of experience working somewhere that is not what you really want. Who knows you may find a passion in say long term or home health care. Very rewarding and growing fields..not every one can work in a hospital..Good Luck out there!

Ive seen newer nurses who dont follow safety policies precepting new nurses...oh because they have BSN's while older nurses are treated like its time to put them out to pasture...Bullying is commonplace in nursing and it has no age limit.

"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"by Myelin

Excellant point Myelin...start that petition.. I will sign...they are raking these poor students over the coals. I dont know how you would police that but we have a saturation of nursing schools in my area and many BSN grads are not even getting jobs unless they had the forethought to work somewhere and be a stellar employee they are not even considered where I work.

Sorry for so many posts! But I wanted to thank everyone for their advice. I was running out of ideas. LadyFree28 suggested the peacecorp Peace Corps and for any new grads out there this looks like a really good deal (notice it's a govt. funded program) although the health criterias are strict (i.e. no asthma, allergies, HTN, and prob something everyone in the US has) and the commitment is so long, 27 months, I think it's an excellent idea.

If any new grad has cash (ha ha ha ha ha) there is an organization ISL Online where you can pay for short volunteer trips out of the country for experience.

If anyone knows of someone looking to become a doctor, there is a "hand out" progam that is government funded at Welcome to CityDoctors (your welcome :) ) This looks like a wonderful opportunity and they are willing to give $150,000 scholarships as long as you commit to working in NYC. A promise of a job? Sounds good to me. Unfortunately I love nursing too much. The only thing I don't like is that it sounds like the propaganda I fell for with the exception of it being the prediction of a doctor shortage...also the deadlines are from 2012, but there is a contact you can email. I'll keep you posted on any other goodies I find.

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

We respectfully ask that we stay on target: the petition described above. Thanks everyone.

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

Nightingallow, I saw that you were volunteering at the ER...Sending positive vibes for land a job soon for your volunteerism!!!

Hope I didn't hijack the thread too much...Just wanted to give hope to a real crisis. I hope to create a thread ASAP for some ideas...if anything, this post helped a lot if people share their stories and bring some ideas to the table!!!

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