Unemployed After Graduation: Remaining Employable

Nursing Students General Students

Published

Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.

In my area, many new graduates are unemployed after graduation. Due to the economy, most of our hospitals have hiring freezes and new graduates are not being hired. Here's my question: what can we do to remain employable, and for how long? I've read on this board that many are taking jobs like waitressing, etc. How long can this go on with the new grad RN remaining employable in a clinical setting? Six months? A year? How long until the new RN needs to take a refresher course? How long is a new grad considered a new grad, post-graduation?

If I cannot get a job after graduation, I'm considering furthering my education for two semesters while I expand my job search nationwide. Will going two semesters, or one year, beyond graduation without working as an RN make me unemployable in the clinical setting?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency.

if you can move.. move to Dallas, or any part of Texas. they are not in a hiring freeze. especially in Dallas. there are like a milllllion nursing jobs.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

One of my classmates entered a masters program directly after school. She had never worked a day in healthcare. If you can afford it, I would continue with school like you plan. That provides you with an excuse for the obvious question. Otherwise, you should consider moving to an area where there's work. You can always continue to seek work at home and move back if the opportunity arises. Good luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I think this is a great question and hope that the thread yields a lot of good discussion. Here are some of my thoughts off the top of my head:

1. School is not a bad idea -- but you need to do something in nursing if at all possible. If that education keeps you away from health care, it mayl make it much harder to get a job in nursing when the time comes. I wouldn't advise it unless you can simultaneously get some nurse-related experience.

2. For those of you who are free to move to another location, it's something you should seriously consider. I moved many times in my life for my career. I've moved to get a better job. I've moved to go to graduate school. etc. It's an investment. If you don't like it, you can leave in a year or 2 and then you'll have the experience you'll to get jobs wherever you want to live.

3. If you can get ANY job in nursing, you should seriously consider taking it -- even if it is not in a specialty that is not of much interest to you. You'll be getting a paycheck, getting experience as a nurse, and further developing your skills. That will probably put you at an advantage as jobs in your desired specialty open up.

4. If you end up not working in your desired specialty ... or for your desired employer ... See if you can do some volunteer work there. It will help you meet people, demonstrate your committment to the type of work they do, and keep you abreast of some of the things that are happening in that field. When they finally have jobs available for you to apply for, your volunteer work for them will look good.

5. Remember -- This is happening to a lot of people all over the country. Just as the job market in general is changing now, it will change again as the economy improves. It won't return to what it was previously, but it will evolve to something different than it is now. So, you need to consider what the job market will look like during the recovery. You'll want to present yourself to an employer with some "edge" over your competition. So don't just "wait it out" doing non-nursing things. Seek any opportunity you can to either work in some capacity (e.g. volunteer) with your patient population of interest ... or take a paid position in another specialty ... or get education that is directly related to the type of work you will be seeking. You may want to do more than 1 thing (e.g. work in an LTC and volunteer working with children if you are interested in pediatrics). Someone who "does nothing" related to nursing for a year or two is going to have a tough time competing for jobs with the new grads of 2010 who will have just completed the senior-year preceptorships, etc.

Just my $.02.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.

Thank you, llg for your reply.

I just had another thought about something to do if unemployed. A high percentage of patients in my area are Spanish-speaking only. I think it would be a good thing to take classes and learn how to speak Spanish. This would make a new grad more valuable, to be bilingual.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac.

multi, I don't think you'll have any problem getting a job.

Even though it may be med surg, or med surg nights, or something else, you'll find it. All hospitals are hiring new grads, just a way smaller amount. Best to choose your student externship wisely and make a fantastic impression. Managers want to know that if they invest in you that you will invest in them. That you won't leave as soon as you get a better position (even if you do!)

But I think you, personally, won't have a problem. Get those letters of recommendation too from your instructors..

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.

Is anyone else noticing that student extern programs are being eliminated or cut back? I'm wondering how this is going to affect us when we are applying for new grad jobs. Only one student in my class could get an extern position.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in acute care.

I've applied to so many positions since starting nursing school: nursing assistant, PCA, & nurse extern at hospitals near me and far from me. Nothing. I'm not a 4.0 student, but my GPA isn't below a 3.5, either. I have recommendation letters ready, and had my resume looked at by someone at my school's career services office. I don't know what I'm doing wrong, and I'm not feeling very positive about finding a job after graduation next year.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.

I'm wondering how it's going to be for those of us who don't have hospital job experience during nursing school - post graduation.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in acute care.

I wonder the same thing.

I'm wondering how it's going to be for those of us who don't have hospital job experience during nursing school - post graduation.
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well I graduated two months ago...passed my nclex and I lost my nurses aid job due to having my RN! I have to work I have a family so I have no choice but to go back to waitressing. I will continue to look for nursing work. I live in New Jersey and I share custody of my children. Relocating is really not an option for me. What infuriates me is that they are still recruiting nurses from over seas. The hospital that I worked in as an aid is full of overseas nurses. Also the schools in Southern NJ are planning on doubling enrollment. What a joke! They are only going to make the economy worse by producing more new grads who will not be able to pay back their student loans. Its a crime if you asked me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in 0 as RN, 3 in ICU and Tele as Tech.

To the above poster that said look in Texas, hmmmm I think not! I'm in the Houston area, and most of our hospitals here are under a hiring freeze as well. Our new grads are searching in other states also ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment