Question for New Grads without jobs...

[fmoore723]

Heres my question...I was wondering if the RN New Grads that are having problems getting a job have ANY prior clinical experience. Im an LPN--going through Excelsior for my RN. I hope to be done and taking my NCLEX by next summer. I have 3 years experience as an LPN and was wondering if that ups my chances of landing a position as an RN---due to some sort of prior experience? Or do they look at you as a New Grad RN regardless of your experience as an LPN? I go on the jobing sites here in Phoenix all the time and there are at least 10 new RN positions listed each day. So, I know there are positions out there....What do you guys think? Thanks for any responses.

Felicia

[k.morris]

I was never an LPN so I can't say too much about that, but I had a nurse externship and was a CNA for a while and I have no been able to land any job, besides giving flu shots for 3-4 months for the flu season.

I see lots of job openings and apply to a lot of them, but never hear anything back, and get yelled at for calling and checking up because they are so busy, or they just ask for 2-3 Registered Nurse Experience. So I am at a complete loss, I don't knwo what to do from here, nothing is coming up or looks like it will soon and I had a lot of connections that didn't work.

I really hope that you being a LPN helps you because it really shoud, if you can't find something, I don't know what they want from us. Goodluck, I live in NJ 5 minutes outside Philadelphia, very busy and New GRad hoping area too.

Thats my luck!

[NurseThis21, BSN, RN]

Hi There!

I'm also currently looking for a RN positions and for some reason, they expect us to be superwoman/man and for our work experience to include a million years in an acute care setting...Say What!? Recruiters are crazy nowadays and aren't very specific as to what they want to see in a New Grad RN.

However, since the healthcare system's fiscal year is coming to a close, I am remaining optimistic about future positions that are "application friendly" towards new grads. I personally only have experience in Student Affairs (i.e. RA for dorms, supervisor, etc), and long gone are the days of being a "well-rounded and thus enticing" applicant! Right now, I'm about to work for Mollen Immunization Clinics and this will help bide my time as well as spruce up my resume while I search for jobs in Chicago.

If I were you, I'd milk that LPN experience for all it's worth! If the economy stays the way it does, you may have to apply to jobs extra early so that you can have some advantage. However, if it improves, I think your chances are even greater!

Just remain cognizant of the economic climate and know who you're up against. If you pimp out your resume and apply on time then I say the world is yours!

Good Luck!

NurseThis21, BSN, RN

UIC Alumna

Good Luck!

[fmoore723]

NurseThis21-

Ironically, I moved to Arizona in January and just decided to start LPN job searching in mid-July. No such luck with that either. Out here, Im finding that they utilize either MAs or RNs. Ive applied for MA positions, in hopes that someone will hire me since Im experienced and they can pay me whatever they want---MA salary or what have you. BUT, the only response Ive received is that Im essentially "overqualified" and they only want MAs. I see maybe 2-3 LPN positions posted each week and EVERYONE applies for them. Havent found anything as an LPN either. I took am going to be working for Mullens in the coming months because we need the income. Well--hopefully this will all work out by next summer.

Felicia

[spongebob6286, BSN, RN]

i think you have an edge having an LPN experience.

[NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN]

I was an LVN for three years in southern california. I started applying to jobs when I was finishing RN school. It took me approximately two months to find a job. I believe it did help make me more marketable in this economy. I know many new grads who have been unable to find work.

On the other end, I also graduated top of my class (both in my LVN and RN program), had perfect attendance awards and excellent letters of reccomendation, one from a prior job and another from the faculty at my RN program. I also took ACLS prior to applying.

I do know many graduates from my class (all of whom were LVNS) who have been unable to find work, but the majority of them are unable to find work, as they live in the bay area. Which is insane to find work even if you are an experienced nurse.

If there are jobs in the Phoenix area, definitely play up those LVN skills and maximize your resume with them. They will consider the fact that you already have much of your organizational skills down, which is the hard part for many new RN's.

[dreamsound]

I don't understand why everyone talks about a huge nurse shortage, nurses retiring, the population getting older..

Yet there are graduates who can't find jobs??

This is actually very shocking to me. I had a completely different idea I've been considering going back to school for a 2nd degree in Nursing for months now but if I'm not able to pay thestudent loans and get a job then this is a big 'game changer.'

Also I would like to know, how long have some of you been looking for a job?

[Rednights]

Because there is one. Supply and demand concept apply here. The only thing is that "new grads" are not part of the "supply."

[Lovely_RN, MSN]

My LPN experience didn't seem to matter to the recuiters.

On the bright side I managed to find my first RN job by networking at my LPN one. A lot of nurses have more than one job and if you have a good rapport with some of your co-workers or supervisors you can discreetly ask them if they know of any openings.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

i think you have an edge having an LPN experience.

Not necessarily. A classmate of mine who was a LPN couldn't land a RN job where she worked--despite having worked there as an LPN for several years, they could not hire her as a RN because she didn't have 1 year of RN experience. The LPN experience counted for naught.

She's kept the LPN job--she couldn't afford not to--and has taken a job as a home health RN to earn her 1 year's experience that way.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Yet there are graduates who can't find jobs??

Problem is that there are too many graduates and not enough jobs. With the current economy going south, many places are not hiring new grads...or even hiring any nurses period. Budget cuts mean that current nurses are being laid off or have had their hours scaled back. And some nurses who still have their jobs are trying to take on more hours and/or postpone retirement just to make ends meet, limiting PRN opportunities. There's tons of threads and news articles about this topic, if you look around here...

Of course, no one knows what the environment will be like in two or so years when you would graduate. Two years ago the market for nurses was very different--once you graduated you pretty much could write your own ticket. Things may be better in two years...or they may not. So if you thinking of going into nursing strictly for financial reasons and/or job security, you may want to consider it a bit more before jumping in. Sure, money and security are not bad reasons at all to enter the field...but they're no longer the guarantees they used to be.

[freeflowchi]

"However, since the healthcare system's fiscal year is coming to a close, I am remaining optimistic about future positions that are "application friendly" towards new grads. I personally only have experience in Student Affairs (i.e. RA for dorms, supervisor, etc), and long gone are the days of being a "well-rounded and thus enticing" applicant! Right now, I'm about to work for Mollen Immunization Clinics and this will help bide my time as well as spruce up my resume while I search for jobs in Chicago. "

This is not necessarily a bad thing. Everyone without experience from my nursing program got a job and none of the "older" graduates even got interviews. I have been told by some that managers prefer younger, more flexible hires.

Good luck!