How does one gain experience if experience is required?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 11, 2016

The quickest way to obtain experience is to relocate to an area after graduation that still hires new grad RNs into any specialties of their choice.

The key is to move somewhere where people are not flocking (e.g. the Dakotas, eastern Kentucky, rural Tennessee, southern Georgia, Oklahoma, south Texas near the Mexico border, Arkansas).

AutumnApple · Jul 11, 2016

The quickest way to obtain experience is to relocate to an area after graduation that still hires new grad RNs into any specialties of their choice.
The key is to move somewhere where people are not flocking (e.g. the Dakotas, eastern Kentucky, rural Tennessee, southern Georgia, Oklahoma, south Texas near the Mexico border, Arkansas).

Yes. I knew many who had to do this. Some areas are just saturated with nursing to the point where institutions can cut corners with training via......only hiring experienced nurses. I guess they see profit in it.

Beware suggestions like: "Work as an aide until an opening appears." Whoa............

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Jul 11, 2016

Are the medsurg floors requiring experience? It tells you to get medsurg experience so I would apply there first.

You should look for new grad friendly areas. Talk to HR in your different hospitals and see what they are looking for. That's going to be your best bet.

Jmarty31 · Jul 11, 2016

Even the med surg says it requires 2 years of med surg experience

CelticGoddess, BSN, RN · Jul 11, 2016

You apply to as many places as you can, and if you can locate, you do that. The upstate of SC is still hiring new grads (BSN and ADN alike). Some facilities are really hurting. And if you can't get hired in a specialty (ED, Psych, ICU) without med-surg experience, get med surg experience.

CelticGoddess, BSN, RN · Jul 11, 2016

Even the med surg says it requires 2 years of med surg experience

Apply anyway. Just because it says that doesn't mean you can't apply. Your application might not get to the hiring manager but you can try. I got my first med-surg job at a job that was listed as needing experience. I got my nearly 2 years in and started working Onc

AutumnApple · Jul 11, 2016

Apply anyway. Just because it says that doesn't mean you can't apply. Your application might not get to the hiring manager but you can try. I got my first med-surg job at a job that was listed as needing experience. I got my nearly 2 years in and started working Onc

I agree here.

Many job postings also say the position 'requires' a BSN and it does not. If a candidate comes along and they fall in love with them, all that magnet status stuff is forgotten. I only know this because most of my friends are ADN and say so lol. Many of them are in positions that the post originally said 'BSN applicants only'.

Buyer beware, BSN · Jul 13, 2016

OP, in years past if an employer really needed a warm body they would pair you up with a preceptor who in many cases, not all, had the ability in knowledge, temperment, and altruistic drive to really want to give the gift of learning the ropes to someone else. Accordingly, nursing has always been dependent on "on the job training." Today I have had nurses say to me that they don't like teaching despite the fact that someone at one time trained them. This attitude I see as a degradation of nursing overall because anyone with a scintilla of honesty would have to agree that nursing school leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to the nuts and bolts of the job. In fact most schools look down on these rudimentary skills and tell you they are better learned OTJ. That has always seemed like somewhat of a boldfaced copout to me, so be it.

But where does that leave a new nurse in 2016? When employers get picky about the experience question that's another way of telling you that they have an abundance of candidates who do have expeience to choose from. That's still another way of telling you to look in other areas where employers actually can appreciate your potential and value. Remember, there is no nursing shortage. It's all about allocation. Find the backwoods and ratholes of the world that will allow you, as muscians say, to get your chops together.

Jmarty31 · Jul 13, 2016

OP, in years past if an employer really needed a warm body they would pair you up with a preceptor who in many cases, not all, had the ability in knowledge, temperment, and altruistic drive to really want to give the gift of learning the ropes to someone else. Accordingly, nursing has always been dependent on "on the job training." Today I have had nurses say to me that they don't like teaching despite the fact that someone at one time trained them. This attitude I see as a degradation of nursing overall because anyone with a scintilla of honesty would have to agree that nursing school leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to the nuts and bolts of the job. In fact most schools look down on these rudimentary skills and tell you they are better learned OTJ. That has always seemed like somewhat of a boldfaced copout to me, so be it.
But where does that leave a new nurse in 2016? When employers get picky about the experience question that's another way of telling you that they have an abundance of candidates who do have expeience to choose from. That's still another way of telling you to look in other areas where employers actually can appreciate your potential and value. Remember, there is no nursing shortage. It's all about allocation. Find the backwoods and ratholes of the world that will allow you, as muscians say, to get your chops together.

This is actually gave me hope. Thank you so much!!!!

i think what I will do is apply to multiple places whether they say "experience needed" or not. I'll bring up my volunteer experience, I'll talk about my drive. I'll talk about how hiring me will be the best choice ever, yes it'll sound egotistical, but I want to strive and learn and work hard no matter the location.

Bumex, DNP, NP · Jul 13, 2016

Apply to all jobs anyway. Most times I feel those are preferred, even though they at required. I was offered a job that required 2 years of ED experience at the same time I took a new grad residency job anyways.

AlwaysLearning247, BSN · Jul 13, 2016

Most jobs say that, it doesn't hurt to apply. I worked in a LTAC facility with vents, trachs, blood transfusions, etc for 6 months before getting into a hospital on their med surg floor. She preferred for me to have more experience but she still hired me! So don't give up!