New Grads, A Few Words of Encouragement

After reading so many threads here on allnurses.com about the hard times many new grads are having at getting jobs, I just wanted to share a few words of encouragement. Nurses Announcements Archive Article

My feelings go out to all of you who are having a hard time finding jobs. I feel your pain and know what you are going through.

I graduated in '95, we all had similar issues with new grads having a hard time finding a job. The market was saturated, hospitals only wanted 1-2 years of experience. I found it very frustrating and scary. Months and months of applying, sending out my resumes and applications, and continually getting rejected. Eventually, I came to the realization that my dream of working in a hospital as a new grad was not going to happen.

I began applying at Long Term Care (LTC) facilities, something that did not interest me at the time, but I was wanting so bad to begin my nursing career that I was willing to take any job that I could find to begin getting some experience, etc...

While my goal was to work in a level one trauma center and ICU, or ER, I found myself in long term care, and once I accepted it, I really enjoyed long term care. I found myself learning a ton of nursing assessment knowledge and personal skills. It really forces you to become independent and autonomous, working on time management and so many skills that are essential to all nurses. I learned a ton from so many LVN's and RN's in LTC, they were amazing sources of experience and mentoring. I really felt that my experience in LTC was a wonderful asset to my future working in Critical Care. I eventually ended up working in CCU (Coronary Care Unit), and the vast majority of our patients were elderly, and I felt I had already been accustomed and educated on that clientele, and my experience with that population from LTC, it was a great source of confidence.

After a few years, I began re-applying to the hospitals and with my experience, and the nursing saturation cycle changing, I eventually moved into a long term acute care facility, got hospital experience, all while continuing to apply and follow up with multiple hospitals, eventually was hired by a hospital in telemetry, then CCU and I finally moved into a job that I was wanting from a new grad. Also, during this time, I took every opportunity to get certificates in ACLS, EKG classes and other certificate classes to help make me more marketable and attractive to hospital managers. But it was a long hard journey, but well worth it.

As you all know, the market and nursing shortage (or not so shortage) varies dramatically based on different geographic regions, cities, states, etc... I have no idea about the long term care employment marketplace where you live. But I would recommend you explore ALL employment opportunities, whether or not it's in your overall dream of how you thought you would start your career.

The average age of nurses (upper 40's), the baby boomers creating more demand for health care, etc... all indicate that nursing will be a strong employment arena. I feel that the projected nursing shortage we've all been hearing about for years was and is a legitimate concern. However, the changes in the economy other industry job losses has brought many existing nurses back into the workforce, kept nurses working later in their career than planned before retirement, etc... All of these issues have skewed the projections and the nursing marketplace is not really hot for the time being.

My gut feeling and my hope is that in the next year or so, as our economy improves, more nurses will be retiring, more baby boomers putting more and more demand on the health system, the hiring freezes will lessen and that the nursing marketplace will eventually open up more and all you newer nurses will have many more opportunities.

No one has a crystal ball on when things will turn around, but by historical records, they eventually will. There are so many positive indicators that nursing is still a strong profession and a wonderful career choice.

So my words of advice to all of you is try to remain as positive, do your best to get employment, open your boundaries to acceptable driving distances, possible relocation if that is an option for you. Take jobs that may not be your ideal job, gain any experience that you can, even if it's not what you want. Continue to educate yourselves, certificates and classes (ie. ACLS, PALS, EKG) that are related to the type of nursing you want to do. So when the time comes and the employment opportunities do open up, you are prepared and ready.

Best of Luck!

I am also a new grad struggling to land a job. It's very frustrating that we are all having such a hard time BUT. . . it's nice to hear from other people who know what I have been going through. I've encountered a lot of surprise and disbelief from friends and family about it, so thanks for the support, my fellow jobless nurses!

That being said. . . I have been offered a position as a private duty pedi nurse, which i am a little apprehensive about. I know I CANT turn down any job offer right now but would like to hear about other's experiences as private duty nurses. I am a little afraid of working all alone, and also concerned about the actual "experience" that I will be getting. I will be working 40 hours a week with one patient so I won't be exposed to other patients. I am very excited to start working but also nervous about this situation! Any input?

Specializes in Med/Surg, Tele, Critical Care.

Thank you so much, this was exactly what I needed to hear. I just graduated, can't get a hospital job and I have started talking to LTAC places. From what I've seen it's just as good experience as working med/surg. If I get a good offer I am going to take it. Congrats on your successful career! :)

"We are the first facility (I think besides Enova) who uses bar coding. Each vet has an id band w/a barcode on it. When we do our med pass, we scan the band, then their meds. It's a great program (when the computers don't freeze ;)) and helps avoid mistakes."

Our Children's Hospital uses the bar-code method, too. I think it's wonderful..does it make nurses' jobs easier? As parent of an in-patient child, it gave me more confidence in the hospital staff, regarding medication mistakes. After all, anyone can make a mistake, no matter how conscientious they are. I hope they use bar-coding wherever I end up working...LOL

Hi there. I am an RN in the Chicago-area, which is one of the most competitive areas for RN jobs in the country. I thought I would offer a few tips & tricks I've learned along the way- I've been through the job search & hire cycle twice here, and learned a lot.

(by the way, doing all of these things will by no means guarantee you a job, so don't go jumping down my throat if you have done all of them and still don't have a job). They are just tips meant to help people who are not doing these things already.

-figure out where you want to work while you are still in nursing school, and get a job there as a CNA/ ER registrar/ etc. Most companies (not just hospitals) have policies that they must consider qualified internal applicants before they consider qualified external applicants. (Yes, I know this won't necessarily help those of you who already have your licenses, or whose employers have hiring freezes right now).

-Look outside of your current geographic area: Rural facilities and those farther away from lots of nursing schools will tend to have more open positions simply based on sheer numbers.

Off the top of my head I can think of 15 nursing schools within driving distance of my house- if each of those schools only puts out 100 students/ year (and most put out more), that's over 1500 new nurses per year (not to mention the people who went away for nursing school). While there are easily 30-40 hospitals in that 1hr driving distance, they are not willing to simultaneously EACH hire about 50 new grads per year - because new grads are more expensive to hire, retain, and train. The nurses have to spill out into the surrounding rural hospitals in order to make sure everyone is matched up.

For some of you, this means making a decision between a lower paying LTC position that is local and a still-low paying (yes, rural hospitals often pay less) position that is very far away & may require moving, but closer to the experience you want. Your decision is made based on your current life circumstances.

-Remember that hosptials are hurting too. More layoffs=fewer people w/ benefits = fewer people getting elective surgeries, procedures, & tests + fewer people paying their overdue medical bills. Everyone is cutting corners right now, and unfortunately, new grad programs are expensive and getting cut. Also, I know many many nurses who are picking up extra shifts because their husbands were recently laid off, or could be laid off soon. Managers are not feeling the staffing pinch, and thus not trying to open up as many positions.

-Realize why new grad programs are so expensive, and often seen as a bad investment for hospitals. On average, it costs $30-50K to recruit, hire, & train a new grad nurse (this includes orientation, preceptor time, classes, etc). (It only costs about $10-20k to recruit, hire, & train an experienced RN). In order for hospitals to start seeing their money back, that new grad has to stay at that hospital for AT LEAST a year- but statistics show they tend to think "the grass is always greener..." and many new grads move on before they've even hit that one-year mark. So you need to convince your potential manager that you are a team player & will be there for them through thick & thin.

-Apply, apply, apply. When I applied as a new grad, I applied to somewhere between 300-500 positions. When I changed jobs last fall, I applied for about the same number of positions. It takes a while, I assure you, but each time, it pays off after a couple months.

-Realize just how many people you are up against. When I was hired for my dream job at a big city hospital back when I was a new grad, we were told that there had been over four thousand applications for the positions on our unit alone. Yeah you're good- but are you the best of four thousand? What can you do to make yourself better?

-Network with previous graduating classes from your nursing school. Two nursing students from the graduating class after me did this, and they were hired onto my floor at that big-city hospital when they graduated the following year.

-Invest in your career. Go out there and get certified! Learn what the certifications cost, and where you can get them. Join professional nursing organizations, and attend local chapter meetings. You can put these things on your resume to distinguish you from other new grads, and to show employers that you are keeping current on your knowledge while you are out of work.

-Don't complain. Especially not to your old faculty. They have heard it all before, & it is nothing but a waste of time & energy. There are people who complain about their situation & then there are go-getters who find a creative way to fix their situation- be the latter. Then go back and impress your old faculty with what you are doing! (and network with future classes of nursing students).

-Don't be afraid to start out in long term care, doctors offices, or something like that. Some of the best nurses I know started out in doctors' offices.

-Realize that you will most likely not get a day-shift position, will likely have to work every other weekend, and will likely have to travel farther than you would prefer to get a job, and that you may not be working in the specialty you dream of. Think of it this way: if you learn lots of skills like time management, critical thinking & decision making, assessment, good charting, etc- then you will be much more ready for your dream job when it does come along.

Good luck to you all, and keep us posted. When those of you new grads pop in with your good news, I'm sure it gives hope to the new grads out there still waiting.

Specializes in EMS~ ALS.../...Bartending ~ Psych :).

Graduating in Aug as an LPN....... Just wondering if facilities will look at my past EMS experience as experience or will they want "nursing" experience?

Any ideas??

Graduating in Aug as an LPN....... Just wondering if facilities will look at my past EMS experience as experience or will they want "nursing" experience?

Any ideas??

YES YES YES. For sure you have a leg up on new LVNs. I have met two EMS individuals that were hired by the VA in Socal straight out of school because they had that experience. (5+ years) One started in the ER. The other worked LTC floor for the VA.(not the same as LTC as most people know it)

Thankyou so much for writing this. That is def. what I needed to read right now. I am sitting here after recieving another bunch of rejection letters. Where does it stop?? I have been applying since February and have not had any job leads. As I know there are hundreds of applicants to all the same positions that I am applying to so obviously it is extremely competitive. I def want to work in a hospital but it is coming more apparent that I may not be able to start there. I will continue to look but after awhile I will start looking elsewhere. Thanks again for this encouragment. It really helped.

well i am proof positive that it does end... you just may not end up where you thought. i applied for tons of positions at all the local hospitals within a 70 mile radius and had little response. i did get numerous offers for ltac and nursing homes, then an offer from acute psych hospital. i struggled with the decision all in hopes of a hospital offer coming before i had to make the dreaded decision between the above three. today is my first day off in over a week, i have completed orientation, crisis intervention, and a month working solo at the acute psych hospital, and although i never could have imagined working in psych, especially right out of school... i enjoy the "craziness" (so not pc i know :scrm:) of it. there is never a dull moment, and i use my medical training and skills much more than i could have ever anticipated. i have actually pulled a few charge nurse shifts... so it can be done, you can find a job, and get your career started off; perhaps on a different track than anticipated but not much in my life has gone as hoped or planned, so why should this be different. good luck to all of us new grads.. before we know it our first year will be up. chins up!

:prdnrs:

Specializes in skilled nursing LTC.

well ive been working as a nurse now for a little over a year as an lpn. my job search after graduating was very similiar to alot of other posts. it took a month of applying to everywhere in the area hospitials and LTC included, when finally I got the call for an interview, i was so nervous i could feel my heart beating in my ears! well i got the job in LTC and i currently still work there. I got my own hall which after a year the routine gets very old, i got offered a position on a skilled unit in the same facility. I thought about it for a few days and took it. Its so much different that working on the same hall everyday, i get 2-3 admissions a night, doing my assessments on the others, vitals and trying to get a hold of doctors etc... its kinda crazy i must say. Im enjoying it because of all the new experiences soo much more i get to do and learn everyday its exciting. I guess for the new grads just get in there anyway you can, get some experience then move on. Trust me LTC was not my dream job straight out of school, but without it i wouldn't have the experience i have now and its help me become more comfortable with my skills and capability as a nurse. my first few months on the job i felt lost without my fellow student nurses and my instructor. but im doing well now. Don't worry theres hope, it'll all work out. good luck

My experience may or may not be helpful, but here it is.

I went to one open house, impressed the manager with my good looks, strong back, intelligence, wit and charm.

Was hired on the spot.

The point of my story is that sending in a resume is only one part of the process and is, from what I believe, simply a formality. If you only send in a resume, chances are poor you will get any response. It's important to show your face and stand out from the crowd, and if you project the qualities that particular recruiter is looking for, you can continue along in the process of becoming hired.

I came to the open house dressed semi-formal, but did a few things to stand out. If you can pull it off, do something that shows your personality, wear something unique that might start a conversation, tell a joke, do something to lighten the mood for yourself. Go in there with the attitude that you have nothing to lose so you can be free to let your personality show. Don't be intimidated!

After the weeding out process, you have to make an impression that sticks in the mind of those that are making the decision. It's up to you to figure out how to make that good impression, but that is the key, in my experience.

I just graduated this past May and I was having a really hard time finding a job in the Chicago area. I wanted to work at Rush in Chicago but I also applied to Rush Oak Park (www.roph.org). I was offered a job this week in the ICU, and I know they are in need of med/surg staff RNs. They are hiring new grads as well!

Best of luck in the job search :)

I so needed to read this! I am 42, new grad with 12wks exp in a post surg ( THE DUMPING FLOOR) My then, supervisor, says " Your pts love you, you take good care of your pts, but I can't wait any longer""I need you to resign""You probably should try a nursing home""Give me a hug, and have a GREAT Weekend!"

After the tears, I was offered a job at LTC. It is a very laid back environment;complete opposite the structured hospital setting, however, I am orienting. I like to keep busy, learn, ask, and apply everything and anything that comes my way, but have noticed I don't have the sense of being a nurse, know what I mean? more like a worker. When does one start having the sense of being a nurse?

Out of Whack and Out of Place in MS