Heads up to all nursing students, from recent grad.....

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Hello Everyone and congratulations to those just entering nursing school, those about to graduate, and everyone in between. You worked hard to get here, congratulate yourself for getting to this point, wherever that point is for you. I just wanted to give you a piece of advice from the perspective of recent graduate. I wish someone had told me, or perhaps that I had heeded the warning. Here goes...

If you have not noticed, acquiring a job for new graduates is unbelievably difficult right now. In fact, even getting AN INTERVIEW is rare these days. I graduated in May 2012, ASN from a very competent school in my area. I FINALLY got a job 2 weeks ago! Some of you have already started saying, "Well, I shouldn't have that problem because I am getting my BSN, or I have a 4.0, or etc, etc." Well I hate to be the bearer of bad news because odds are YOU ARE WRONG AND IT DOES APPLY TO YOU TOO! You would be surprised at the credentials, achievements, gpa, and other amazing facts that some of the unemployed new graduates have, that still do NOT have a job up to two years post graduation.

I didn't come here to be Debbie Downer, ruin your day, or discourage you. I wanted to give you guys a humble piece of advice, that I didn't heed or perhaps hear. You guys are busy, and I know that just about EVERYTHING except matters pertaining to school are a luxury, so I will move on, and try to be quick. In your "spare" time, how about hopping over to the career section of this site, under the First Job Hunt Assistance section and reading some of the threads if possible. Regardless, If I could say one thing to a nursing student to help guide the journey into the world of nursing employment, I would say, start your career care plan NOW. I don't care if you just started school, in fact that would be beneficial.

So here is what you do: Network, GET A JOB IN ANY HEALTH-CARE FACILITY IF POSSIBLE (housekeeping even, ANYTHING), if you can work as an ACP/CNA that is even better, Network, research these job boards regarding first job hunt tips, research your state regarding new graduates and employment attainment, network more, and start planning NOW. Do your grades matter? Well it seems they do, if you are applying at a facility with a new graduate program where you are doing clinicals/precepting. Should you get 800 or even 1 letter of recommendation? Sure! Does that mean you are a shoe in? NO, NO, NO. Should you plan to seek out the areas of nursing you dream about? Sure, but very few new graduates sniff the coveted hospital areas in their first year of working.

What I'm trying to say, is be prepared to be humble, flexible, and probably disappointed. I was, and many new graduates are too. While your achievements thus far are commendable, the past does not pay for the present or future. Mortgage companies, loan companies, utility companies, or hottest shoe store does not care about your amazing achievements. Promises, potential, and goals do not issue paychecks. While your aiming for the sky, don't lose your head in the clouds. It is very hard to get a job these days. Please keep this in mind BEFORE you graduate or odds are you will be frustrated, possibly broke, and likely disappointed. Unfortunately, as unfair as it is, the world of employment is frequently about who you know and not what you know.

I wish all of you good luck. Some of you have survived for awhile and some of you are just beginning, but all of you are should be proud to be in nursing school since many others did not get the opportunity.

p.s. sorry about the typos, grammar errors, or whatever. I didn't have time to edit, have to hurry to my new job at an 500+ bed amazing acute care facility in the OR (which is one of the last places of my desired list of places to work, but I am darn grateful, and super lucky to have my job)

Specializes in telemetry.

Hello Everyone and thank you very much for all the replies, both agreeable and those that find this disagreeable or redundant.

First let me clear up something very important:

I DID NOT SAY, NOR AM I INSINUATING ANYONE SHOULD QUIT NURSING SCHOOL, FORGO ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK, BYPASS YOUR DREAM OF BEING A NURSE TO PURSUE SOME OTHER CAREER PATH!

Please do not think I posted this to change your mind, because If my one post or other posts from unknown posters on here is capable of that level of influence and you are considering a change because of strangers that is a different ballgame entirely. As you know, all levels of pursuing a career in nursing takes dedication, and if you are not dedicated or unsure, that is your personal struggle, not something I have intention of impressing upon you. I do not claim to know every potential/future nurses personal situation, local employment situation, or level of opportunity open for you.

I have read some disheartening posts before, that insinuated I "quit", change my mind about my career choice and path taken, and that is unfair. You and only you know what is right for you.

Those you of you that have open doors, however you have gained access, congratulations! Those of you that started as CNA/ACP's, worked in health-care in various forms, volunteered, and went the extra mile, that is absolutely awesome, and extremely smart. The aforementioned people who have networked, planned, gone above and beyond to further your odds, Those things are what I'm trying to impress on students. This is what takes for the majority of us to get a job after graduation. Some are lucky regardless, whatever works to get the job.

I am saying it is hard. My teachers, other educations, lay people, hospital employees not working as ACP/CNA, nurses, or in HR, are often times shocked to find out how long, how difficult getting a new job as graduate can be. Also, one of things that gave me hope when I felt discouraged (when reading realistic posts, or during the difficult process of trying to get interviews) was knowing that if it is hard for me to get a job in a field that is still growing/will continue to grow, I can only imagine the difficulty faced by graduates that obtained degrees for other fields with even more bleak prospects.

So, no it wasn't handed to me or most others like it was some years ago, but yes gaining employment, practicing as a nurse is without a doubt possible.

While I don't expect to start a revolution, or change a persons ways, I only hope to lesson someone from being blindsided and hopefully give opportunity prepare. If is my belief that I am wrong to assume that because I know, they know, or because everyone knows, they know. This is my personal belief and I hope to incorporate it into my nursing practice.

Thank you everyone.

Specializes in telemetry.
thanks for the post and the warning!!! gahh i have 2.5 years and i'm hoping that the economic climate will change. I wonder if this varies from state to state or if this the general process for new grads?

any insider tips from new grads/hires is always appreciate!

It seems that it varies from both state to state, and location in the state. It seems that in most states, the populated areas, areas with a few/many nursing schools are having the most difficulty getting a job. In my state, there are areas, mostly rural, where jobs are easily obtained, IF you are able to relocate. Just reading these boards has lead me to believe that CA, FL, NY are some of the hardest states right now. This is, of course, JMO. Goodluck!

Thanks for the wake up call, lilarox! I was under the (apparently, naive) impression that it would not be difficult to obtain a nurse position after graduation. Every article I read speaks of the shortage in nursing, as well as its growth expected to be among the fastest of all occupations. Oh well, hopefully it will be better when I graduate. Thanks again for taking the time to create this post :)

Hopefully you will keep posting on your first day, week, month ect of actually working in the field. No pressure :)

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

There is no nursing shortage at the moment. Jobs are extremely hard to come by. I appreciate the OP for sharing her personal experiences. .........it is always my belief Praemonitus praemunitus or forewarned is forearmed

Great post lilarox!

I do have to say that the nursing jobs may not be in your area, you may need to move and venture out of your nest. It drives me crazy when I see a bunch of people complaining about no jobs, but they chose not to leave the area. So tell me, you say there are no jobs, but your from the North eastern area with a much larger population? How about moving down south where my local hospital has 65 postings for RNs along with 10 other hospitals in this area? You need to be willing to leave your nest and move to the job. What did the immigrants do during the industrial revolution? Oh, did they complain that they're are no jobs and sat at home waiting for the job to come to them?

I hope my post didn't seem sarcastic. I actually appreciate the heads up. After all, Who wouldn't listen to a real person in the situation over an article on the internet. Just wanted to clear that up in case my previous post left the wrong impression.

Specializes in telemetry.
Thanks for the wake up call, lilarox! I was under the (apparently, naive) impression that it would not be difficult to obtain a nurse position after graduation. Every article I read speaks of the shortage in nursing, as well as its growth expected to be among the fastest of all occupations. Oh well, hopefully it will be better when I graduate. Thanks again for taking the time to create this post :)

Hopefully you will keep posting on your first day, week, month ect of actually working in the field. No pressure :)

Thank you. I do want to say though that although it is hard to get a job (for most graduates), nursing is actually among the fastest growing occupations. The demand versus supply (shortage of nurses) is projected to increase within the next 10 years as well. I mean common sense tells you people will always need some level of healthcare service at some point in their lifetime. However, there are currently several factors contributing to the difficulty new graduates face trying to get a job. Some of those reason include but are not limited to the following:

-Seasoned nurses are choosing to continue working instead of retiring, or coming out of retirement. (i.e. fear of economy, husband lost job)

-Multiple changes in the future of healthcare imposed by the government is causing fear, and nurse managers up to DONs are hesitant to take the financial risk on a new graduate until the outcome of the reform is somewhat clearer.

-The previous nursing shortage caused an increase in schools offering nursing education, an increase in student admittance, and an increase in people choosing nursing as a first or second career.

Then the economy went sour, budgets were cut, etc., (the rest is history). So, while healthcare is one of the few occupations hiring and growing, the decrease has caused a sort of bottleneck for us new graduates. I also hope that by the time you graduate things are better. I guess I am an optimist, but I believe things WILL GET BETTER. Good luck in nursing school! You are going to rock it!

Specializes in telemetry.
I do have to say that the nursing jobs may not be in your area, you may need to move and venture out of your nest. It drives me crazy when I see a bunch of people complaining about no jobs, but they chose not to leave the area. So tell me, you say there are no jobs, but your from the North eastern area with a much larger population? How about moving down south where my local hospital has 65 postings for RNs along with 10 other hospitals in this area? You need to be willing to leave your nest and move to the job. What did the immigrants do during the industrial revolution? Oh, did they complain that they're are no jobs and sat at home waiting for the job to come to them?

There are hundreds of nursing jobs posted in my area on a regular basis, but there are even more applicants, many of whom are experienced. Experience trumps education in this situation. Also many hospitals are getting away from old ways of precepting, and only hire X amount of nurses for the orientation program a year/twice a year or whatever the current policy dictates. The programs gets thousands of applicants fighting for 20-50 (that is generous) positions in these programs. Your right, sitting in a closet praying for a hotdog is not going to result in one being squished through the keyhole for the hungry person. Also, if you CAN move, that is great! Many new graduates simply do not have that option.

IMO - In my class, the students that think that they are going to magically have a billion job offers the second that they graduate... are the ones who don't think that it's necessary to show up to class, show up on time, pay attention to the profs, or do a damn thing in clinical... I imagine they'll be out of the program soon and those of us who are left standing will be the ones who are serious about what we're doing and know exactly what we're getting into.

Great advice, OP, but the people with that mentality aren't going to listen to what anyone says!

Specializes in Trauma ICU/Trauma Resus.

Thanks for the heads up. People hear "nursing shortage" and they automatically think it will be easy to get employed. Congratulations on finding a job yourself.

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
There are hundreds of nursing jobs posted in my area on a regular basis, but there are even more applicants, many of whom are experienced. Experience trumps education in this situation. Also many hospitals are getting away from old ways of precepting, and only hire X amount of nurses for the orientation program a year/twice a year or whatever the current policy dictates. The programs gets thousands of applicants fighting for 20-50 (that is generous) positions in these programs. Your right, sitting in a closet praying for a hotdog is not going to result in one being squished through the keyhole for the hungry person. Also, if you CAN move, that is great! Many new graduates simply do not have that option.
They may be posted but they aren't hiring...if they are hiring it usually isn't new grads. The is no real shortage right now....it will come back. Most predictions are about 2015.

I really think it depends on where you live, sometimes who you know, or a ”stroke of luck.” This post comes off a little negative to me. While someone who graduated a while back might be struggling to find a new job, I am sure there is a new grad being given a chance somewhere. Instead of kind of letting everyones hopes down what you should be doing is sharing your story and tell new grads to stay positive when it comes to finding a job after they graduate, even if it may take a long time. This is only my opinion. Congratulations on finding work and hope everything works out!

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