What Does "New Graduate" Mean?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello All,

I graduated with my ADN in May 2013 and received my RN Lic July 2013. I have been working Flu, Wellness, School nursing, and soon will be trained for home health through the same agency. Because of the dismal job market and my future goals of some day obtaining a PhD or DNP, I decided to immediately go back to school and I am now working towards an MSN (Clinical Nurse Leader) to be completed in 2016.

I will need to get hospital experience to obtain my goals. Will I still be able to apply for "new grad" programs after I complete my MSN studies in 2016? I keep hearing that after 6 mos you are no longer a "new grad" and/or once you work as an RN you are no longer a "new grad". If either of these things are true then I am going to be an unemployable graduate nurse; a thought that is really unsettling considering how much I love this field.

So, my question is, what is a "new graduate" nurse?

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Specializes in MDS/ UR.

You are no longer a new graduate at this point.

I am seeing up to six months out of the program as being a new grad per some posting per google search.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Someone who graduated and became licensed as a nurse between 6-12 months ago. Having earned your license in July 2013 you are no longer considered a new grad just an inexperienced nurse.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

Just my thoughts: Any facility that will willing to hire/train new grads will likely be skeptical of a MSN student applying for an RN position. They will be all too aware that your plans do not include longevity on their floor/unit and may be reluctant to invest orientation $$ in you.

Just curious: wouldn't you, as an Advanced Practice Nurse, prefer to have some actual hands-on experience under your belt BEFORE you graduate with your master's degree? Seriously, how can you gauge how much you "love this field" without ever having worked in it?

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Specializes in Critical Care Transport.

A new graduate nurse is generally a newly graduated nurse (within the previous 12 months) and has less than 6 months of paid experience as a registered nurse. Someone else please correct me if I am wrong.

You are no longer considered a new grad based on your employment experience and time as a nurse being licensed. Additionally, if you had no work experience and completed an MSN with never working at all I still think you would be disqualified for new grad residencies and programs. I have no data or evidence to support this, but my gut instinct is that you would not qualify as you are now considered as having an advanced education in nursing. I know very little about CNL's and their education, but... wouldn't you need experience in a certain setting to become a clinical staff and act as a leader amongst your peers?

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Just curious: wouldn't you, as an Advanced Practice Nurse, prefer to have some actual hands-on experience under your belt BEFORE you graduate with your master's degree? Seriously, how can you gauge how much you "love this field" without ever having worked in it?

(CNL isn't an advanced practice role -- but I do agree with your general point.)

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Elkpark, you are correct, CNL inst an advanced practice role. My degree will be a generalized masters that allows me to sit for the national CNL.

Ruas61 and JustBeachyNurse, that is what I was wondering, thank you for your response.

Medic2BSN13, Yes, CNLs need experience in their setting of choice, which is why I asked because it is a concern of mine. I am trying to figure out how to best market myself and not spin my wheels. Looks like, "new grad" is not it! Thank you for your thoughts ;)

roser13, You are correct, I need hands-on experience. That is why I asked this question. As we all know there are not a lot of RN jobs out there right now so I am gaining as much hands-on experience as I can through volunteer work at an urgent care clinic. Its not much, but it is gratifying and good work. Also, as 1 nurse to another, please do not ever question a nurses love and dedication to the field. That type of behavior is bullying and I won't stand for it. I am doing my best. I came to this site for insight and guidance and nothing else. Period.

Thank you all for your thoughts.

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Specializes in Nasty sammiches and Dilaudid.
Also, as 1 nurse to another, please do not ever question a nurses love and dedication to the field. That type of behavior is bullying and I won't stand for it. I am doing my best. I came to this site for insight and guidance and nothing else. Period.

hogwash--since when does not getting told exactly and only what you want to hear count as "bullying"? The force has totally gone out of that word now that people equate bullying with being questioned and not being told they're special...

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You might try discussing this with your advisor or school's career counselor. They would probably have a better idea of which facilities are hiring their graduates and how to put together your portfolio/CV for job applications. This might give you a better idea of what your next step should be on your career path.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

roser13, You are correct, I need hands-on experience. That is why I asked this question. As we all know there are not a lot of RN jobs out there right now so I am gaining as much hands-on experience as I can through volunteer work at an urgent care clinic. Its not much, but it is gratifying and good work. Also, as 1 nurse to another, please do not ever question a nurses love and dedication to the field. That type of behavior is bullying and I won't stand for it. I am doing my best. I came to this site for insight and guidance and nothing else. Period.

Thank you all for your thoughts.

Oh my.

With that chip on your shoulder, I'm afraid that lack of nursing experience will be the least of your concerns. Giving an online opinion that differs from the expected response is NOT bullying. When you do start to work, you will no doubt observe some actual bullying behavior and will be better able to define it. But I do hope that you will be more hesitant to accuse an actual co-worker than you are an online respondent.

I wish you the best with your issues.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Most of the original CNL grads were career-switchers. For them, it was an entry-level Master's -- and many (most?) had to work as staff nurses for a while and get some experience before they could be hired into CNL roles. I believe that route may still be available to you after you graduate. You will just have to find a hospital that doesn't have strict guidelines for hiring new staff nurses into their new grad program -- or one that doesn't have a "new grad program" per se. Not every hospital has such a formal new grad program.

I work for a specialty hospital that often hires nurses with some experience -- but in vastly different specialties. They are "almost like" new grads when they start as they know so little and have no relevant experience. So our orientations are tailored to their needs -- in their case, a mix between a new grad program and and experienced nurse orientation. It may be harder to find that first job with your background, but probably not impossible.

And I agree with the others. You were not bullied here. If you think that was bullying and could not handle it, then you are going to have a painful transition to the hospital work environment. You may want to prepare yourself for that.

Accusing other people of bullying every time your feelings get a little hurt is in itself, a form of bullying. People should be able to voice their opinions without having to fend off accusations of bullying every time someone doesn't like what they say. I have a co-worker who is a little like that -- and I no longer want to work with her any more. I am tired of her "fragile little princess" persona -- and am beginning to see it as a "mean girl tactic" to always get her way by playing the victim every time her colleagues disagree with her. Be careful. No one wants to work with people who are always accusing them of stuff.

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Specializes in CVICU.

One thing I don't understand is if the job market is so dismal for new grad RN's then does it really make sense to invest more time and money into a nursing education only to have and MSN still no experience with an even more competitive market?

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