A Subtle Concept for Nursing Students, Nursing Majors and New Grad Nurses

Nurses General Nursing

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  1. Do You Think This Post Offered Good Advice?

    • 11
      Yes, its down to earth good advice.
    • 9
      The advice was ok but the delivery needs work.
    • 2
      No, this is stuff new grads. already know
    • 7
      No, the post is condesending and harsh.

29 members have participated

I've been talking to other nursing students and nursing majors in my school and on this website and I'm hearing a lot of complaints about the job market and here is my issue.

What I don't understand (this may not apply to you) but nursing majors seem to have this thing in their heads that if they just take the NCLEX and then pass then they should have tons jobs just waiting for them when they graduate or that they should be hired on the spot simply because you did what you were supposed to do to get a piece of paper that said your a nurse now. As nursing majors we need to start thinking a little more like the business majors out there. You ask a graduating business major how the job market would look for them if they hadn't don't some sort of internship before they graduate and you will find that it looks pretty bleak. So why do we as nursing majors think that we don't have to do anything extra before we graduate to help ensure that we have jobs when we need them? I mean sure, you will find business majors who graduated without doing an internship and those are the people who are going to have the hardest time finding jobs but the business majors who have gone out and done an internship in addition to their normal classwork are the ones who are going to have the easiest time in the job market. Nursing majors and future nurses, before you graduate find an internship or someway you can get hands on experience because as the job market gets more competitive its going to get harder to find a job and without that bit of experience to help set you apart then you are going to be struggling for a job. No clinicals do not count as an internship or doing that "extra" you need to set you apart. Just look at the positions that have 10 new grad nurses fighting for one spot, each new grad may have a GPA that are within .05 - .1 of the next applicant. So how does the hiring manager decide which nurse to hire? I can tell you that your GPA and personality may not be enough to get you a job, because most of the other applicants will have a high GPA like you and be just as eager to work as you are. So you need to have some sort of experience to help you stand out. If you can't find a formal internship then you should look into becoming a CNA or a SNA (Student Nurse Associate or something similar) to help you get some hands on experience, this work might not be glamorous or anything but you will be around nurses and learn more about what they do just by being in that setting.

:dzed::oornt:

!Chris :specs:

Imagine if a nurse said, "well if you didn't smoke everyday you wouldn't be like this, so stop complaining! just a subtle concept for you." :lol2: "OH OH and by the way, I kept myself healthy, so that's why I'm not in your position!".

no wonder you have so many new grads attacking this post.

I think real advice is sometimes hard to swallow. OP: i do like your advice, although the delivery of the advice does need some work ( as mentioned by poll above). the advice did smack me hard of reality, but if someone is in dire need of help, its not helpful to say, "well you could've done this", "too bad you didn't do this so you're in this situation". "I did it, so that's why i'm not on your boat!". Rather the advice could have been, "well the situation is like this now, you can do this to improve your resume at this very moment, and for future students this is how you can prepare". saying that new grads in general complain too much and saying you already found a job connection is :rolleyes: *rolls eyes*.

i'm in Bay Area, California, where the competition could not have been anymore fierce. It's literally about 1000:5 applicants :positions here. But hey guess what, May class of 09 is SLOWLY getting work one by one. right now up to ~35%. of my classmates.. and guess what... it's not by randomly applying, its not by the outstanding extra internship, its actually by going back to our old clinical units and speaking directly for help. I'm start to shift my negative attitude towards "no jobs" to "there are jobs out there, i just have to work extra hard to find it". That's the attitude that will help you win. :thankya:

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.

I'm impressed that the OP responded with a LOT of understanding to the following posts regarding the tone of the original post. Kudos!

I, too, was hit square in the face with the reality of the job market by reading this thread and others after the subject came up in lecture on Friday. I now realize that I can't just study hard and make good grades and learn as much as possible in lab and clinicals to get hired. Having a LOT of responsibility at home (married, kids, a parent that lives with us) is bringing on a little frustration with trying to fit it all in. In fact, yesterday I broke it to my husband that I might need to volunteer evenings or weekends at the hospital near us to get something on my resume.

So, I have a question to everyone: If you were hiring a new grad, what would you look for on their resume to help them stand out from the rest?

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

[quote=dudette10;4075414

So, I have a question to everyone: If you were hiring a new grad, what would you look for on their resume to help them stand out from the rest?

*** Not exactly what I personaly would look for but what IS looked for in my unit: Zero desire to go to graduate school, in particular CRNA school (we are an ICU). Strong ties to the local community. The assumtion is that if you are from the area, having family in the area, your spouse is employed in the area you are unlikely to accept thousands of $$$$ worth of training then disapear. Best of all are dairy farmers spouces (hey this IS Wisconsin). They are VERY tied to the local area.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Pain, End of Life Care.

experience is still the name of the game. do something, get a reference and keep at it. also, dont knock nursing homes. its a great foot in the door and as you know our population is growing older. i made the aging my specialty and have not wanted for a job in 15 years. also, be willing to do the grunt work. i made 11-7 my specialty and my employable desirability as a nurse went up 1000%.

as nurses we are a business commodity. learning that, i now have less heartache than i did 15 years ago. the business side of nursing seems to still be a lack in our education.

peace

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Specializes in ER.
*** Not exactly what I personaly would look for but what IS looked for in my unit: Zero desire to go to graduate school, in particular CRNA school (we are an ICU). Strong ties to the local community. The assumtion is that if you are from the area, having family in the area, your spouse is employed in the area you are unlikely to accept thousands of $$$$ worth of training then disapear. Best of all are dairy farmers spouces (hey this IS Wisconsin). They are VERY tied to the local area.

PMFB-RN: I personally prefer the ED but I have made it my mission since the semester started roughly two weeks ago to find someone who wants ICU but doesn't want to be a CRNA. (I was very curious to see if I could find anybody.) I have met four new wannabe ICU nurses and all of them want to be a CRNA.

Let you know if I find somebody. Good luck at your unit! :redpinkhe

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Specializes in critical care, PACU.
PMFB-RN: I personally prefer the ED but I have made it my mission since the semester started roughly two weeks ago to find someone who wants ICU but doesn't want to be a CRNA. (I was very curious to see if I could find anybody.) I have met four new wannabe ICU nurses and all of them want to be a CRNA.

Let you know if I find somebody. Good luck at your unit! :redpinkhe

I was hired into the SICU and I have a 4.00 and a BSN and I absolutely DO NOT WANT TO BE A CRNA. Unfortunately d/t gpa and BSN people often suspect that.

no offense to CRNAs, but I much prefer bedside ICU care to checking my stocks and surfing the net intermingled with random emergencies and PITA airways

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Specializes in Hospice / Ambulatory Clinic.

I think when it comes down to it there are many options that nursing students can choose to enhance their hireability when they graduate. Due to time and opportunity constrains most students can only implement one or two. The OP is choosing to be a student extern and CNA is I remember right. He has been reassured that this path will lead to a job but life isn't always linear and while I do sincerely hope everything will go smoothly it may not and it won't be because the OP is naive.

I personally chose not to work in lieu of keeping my grades at the top and studying prerequisites for the RN bridge. I do have a job maybe not the best paying or the job I wanted but my path gets me closer to my ultimate goal.

So judge others slowly and remember in 10 years you'll be fine and you won't remember the panic you felt to do something anything to get ahead

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