Hawaii - land of unfriendly nursing job opportunities for new grads

U.S.A. Hawaii

Published

I am still considered a "new-grad" nurse with little experience in nursing. I have been working at one of the hospitals here in Hawaii nei, trying to get into their RN new graduate program. Only to be turned down, and in my second attempt, get no interview invites at all.

I see a lot of favoritism and politics in all of the new grad programs at QMC Punchbowl and at other hospitals such as Straub and Pali Momi.

What's more startling is that I see a trend that there is favoritism towards UH Manoa nursing school graduates who apply to these programs, compared to students who graduated from other nursing programs in this state. Is UH Manoa bribing Queen's and Straub to select their students? Seems like it.

Heck, even finding a job on the neighbor island hospital is also difficult.

It's so unfortunate that I have family obligations to keep me anchored here in Hawaii, where my current nursing job is so hectic, intense, and stressing me out to a point where I dislike going to work. I also have to admit that I don't have a 30 minute break time while at this nursing job, which is driving me crazy/insane.

I'd wish Queen's HR and their administration would stop hiring travel nurses and paying them insane money to live in "five-star" hotels in Waikiki. Why not hire more local people here, no?

It's just sad that there's huge politics and favoritism towards UH Manoa nursing students than nursing students who are from other nursing schools here in Hawaii.

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Do what I did... get out lol

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Specializes in RN.

There are 3 nurses from HI where I work....they left for some of the same reasons..

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It's unfortunate that you have family obligations that force you stay here because I would say check out the mainland. You are right in the sense that it is hard to get into the New Grad program at any hospitals here. I also agree on you about the travel nurse issue. The hospitals would rather invent their time in nurses who probably won't stay after their contracts are up and then they are back to having no nurses to fill their spots. Instead of just investing in a new grad nurse...who actually has a better chance of staying in the long run. I don't know, it probably depends on management.

As far as your claim that they tend to favor UHM students, I can see why you say that. I just think it's because many of the graduates who get hired must have either done clinical or their last senior preceptorships on those units. I was offered a position where I did my senior preceptorship so it's a good start to get into the system. I would say keep trying and get a per diem aide position to get your name in their system!

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Nursing co-op (internship) is basically an inexpensive nursing orientation/interview for the hospital. It mutually benefits the university and the hospital. If a student does well, the hospital isn't risking much on paying for the rest of their new-grad training. So yes, priority is given to students who have already proven their merit through an internship. If other nursing program are able to build that same relationship with hospitals it would be great, but as things stand - all nursing schools are not created equal. Especially in this highly competitive new-grad job market. There's a reason UHM is so difficult to get in to.

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Specializes in ICU, ED, PACU.

You need to be persistent.

I have worked with the highest acuity patients in the world. I have worked CV surg/transplant ICU, ran Ecmo, worked level 1 trauma ect. I have multiple degrees. I am published. I have applied to 3 jobs in Hawaii so far. All failures, 0 interviews. Know what I will do next? Apply for my 4th.. my 5th.. my 6th. I will continue until someone sees that I am an asset. Persistence.

There is no fair and not fair. We are owed nothing. There is only your persistence. Maybe you need to go off island to get experience under your belt. Maybe you need to talk to someone in person to be able to express your passion for nursing. Work at it and you will achieve it.

How bad do you want it?

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You need to be persistent.

I have worked with the highest acuity patients in the world. I have worked CV surg/transplant ICU, ran Ecmo, worked level 1 trauma ect. I have multiple degrees. I am published. I have applied to 3 jobs in Hawaii so far. All failures, 0 interviews. Know what I will do next? Apply for my 4th.. my 5th.. my 6th. I will continue until someone sees that I am an asset. Persistence.

There is no fair and not fair. We are owed nothing. There is only your persistence. Maybe you need to go off island to get experience under your belt. Maybe you need to talk to someone in person to be able to express your passion for nursing. Work at it and you will achieve it.

How bad do you want it?

Thank you! I needed that lol.

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What I've seen most people doing is taking an aide or tech job somewhere to get their name in the system and apply and reapply for new grad programs.

Nursing in Hawaii is hard. It's certainly biased, both in the who you know department and the what race are you game. I intend to get out, but I have no idea what new grad programs are on the mainland.

Best of luck!

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