Tired of Hearing the One Year Experience Required Line!!

Nurses LPN/LVN

Published

So like many of you on here I am a new graduate seeking that ever so hard to get 1st job!! But if I hear the You need one year of experience line again I just might lose my mind!! LOL I mean one guy from an agency even sympathized with me saying he feels bad because he knows how hard it is but told me that alot of home health agencies have to obtain nurses with one year minimum experience in order to comply with guidelines to run the agency. So state regulations are even making it Hard for new grads to get jobs. If everyone requires one year how do they expect new nurses to get that year? This is job hunt has been more stressful than nursing school.. I guess it goes without saying that its not what you know but who you know because unless you know someone in healthcare that can get you in or have some sort of connection its gonna be a lonnnnnnnnggg road to finding that 1st chance. My advice to all my fellow new grads is keep your heads up and never give up email call and even walk into places exhibiting confidence and you will get something!!!! Im not giving up till I land that job willing to take a chance on me!!

Signed a Frustrated New Grad

Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.
This is exactly why I am a big fan of nursing changing to fit a model more like physicians, where students actually do an internship or residency in an area for the last year of their training. Then when nurses actually go out into the "big wide world" they already have their first year of experience under their belt.

It's called Hospital Based School of Nursing and they are being phased out in favor of BSN programs where the clinical time is limited.

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the reason I think there are LPN positions to be had here is because there's only like one actual LPN school here and one trade school that does LPN training. That, I think, is for my whole area. I could be wrong. But yeah, there's positions for LPNs here. Now, RNs, there's like at least five programs I can think of off hand.

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Specializes in Home Health Peds.

Unfortunately this happened to me five years ago when I first graduated. Lucky for me though the home health agency policies weren't strict yet about the one year experience. However, after I got my one year experience I still couldn't go anywhere because all I had was home health. Even now after 5 years of home health I still can't go anywhere but home health and even then I still can't find a job. It is a vicious cycle but just keep at it. Good Luck to all of us!

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The problem is.....LTC jobs are also hard to get. I've applied to so many of them; even when I've been told about openings:scrying:

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Thank you all for responding!! I have home health care experience as an aide/ companion and that definately does NOT count. Every employer who's given me any info has said, "it has to be 1yr experience on your nursing license." While i definately get that there are some drawbacks to hiring a "new" nurse, there are definately some pros too. We are so excited to begin our career!! And not all of us are just looking for that 1yr. Id be more than happy to stay at one place long term. Im amazed at how hard it it for someone like me to get a job when i show up professional, spent time and money perfecting my resume, and I am "working" everyday, all day to find a job (ie im doing what all new grads should do) but then I hear of others getting hired who are so unprofessional and even though they may have gotten their license, they dont even care about their resumes, appearance, etc. AND THEY GET HIRED!! Sometimes i truly wonder what employers are thinking. When someone can walk in, talk in slang, and appear to not even care if they get the job, and get hired over a nurse who truly appreciates the importance of being professional and who wants the job, thats just sad.

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Specializes in geriatrics, hospice, private duty.
the reason I think there are LPN positions to be had here is because there's only like one actual LPN school here and one trade school that does LPN training. That, I think, is for my whole area. I could be wrong. But yeah, there's positions for LPNs here. Now, RNs, there's like at least five programs I can think of off hand.

Where do you live? :D *cough* relocation *cough*.

Actually I've applied to cities in three different states and by that I mean drove my bum to the cities and submitted my applications in person. I didn't have a local address or local references, so you can imagine the results.

I relocated to Tx shortly p I got my LPN. I only did the one year program and I didn't speak Spanish so work was hard to get there as well, despite the orificeloads of facilities. At least half of the job postings said MUST BE BILINGUAL. Between that and competing c 2 year LVNs, forgetaboutit! Before that, I didn't even know there was such a thing as a two year program! I would have just gotten an RN for two years of school (which I'm doing now, incidentally).

We have 5 LPN schools that put out 2 classes/year each but only two RN schools that I can think of. Hoping to have better luck as an RN!

Unfortunately this happened to me five years ago when I first graduated. Lucky for me though the home health agency policies weren't strict yet about the one year experience. However, after I got my one year experience I still couldn't go anywhere because all I had was home health. Even now after 5 years of home health I still can't go anywhere but home health and even then I still can't find a job. It is a vicious cycle but just keep at it. Good Luck to all of us!

Wow, we are in the same situation. Private Duty was all I could get straight out of school and now facilities won't even glance in my direction (and I have several years hospital experience and was a medic in the military). I've heard the same thing about corrections nursing; once you do it, it is hard to get work elsewhere (but that could just be around my neck of the woods).

Hang in there, ya'll!

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Specializes in geriatrics, hospice, private duty.

One of the best nurses and DONs I ever had the privilege of knowing ONLY hired new nurses. She wanted to train 'em up right and didn't want any bad nursing habits to break!

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I think thats wonderful! One of the "pros" of hiring a new nurse in my opinion is the fact that we havent developed bad habits yet and the facility we start out in can literally "train" us to be what they want in a nurse. Lol wish i could go apply/interview with that DON!!!

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I just graduated from nursing school this past May, passed NCLEX in June and didn't find a job until August. The catch though is although I was hired end of July. I couldn't start until September. I was really beginning to get discouraged spending hours everyday submitting resumes, looking for new job postings and finally landed a part-time position at our local hospital in the Acute Rehab Unit. Many of my fellow graduates have not found work. I just told one of them keep your head up and I understand your discouragement.

It's really shocking how hard it is for new grad RNs to land that first job!

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Hope is there! Have you tried your local workforce if you have one? I spent at least 6 hours a day applying places, and the eagerness I suppose got me a few job offers. Don't give up on yourself, if anyone says "one year experience" say "I know that my resume seems to lack what you want but know that my instructors turned me into a ethical and skilled nurse. I am experienced with high morals and giving me a chance I don't have any bad habits and I take pride in anything I do."

I approached my instructors about writing me letters of recommendation, tell them you are having a hard time and need this to include with your resume. I suggest that you bring them in with you at your interviews and supply them whey they question your experience. That seems to be the most useful tool I had. I say ask for 3 instructors at the least and then chose the best 2 letters.

Custom write EVERY cover letter, SELL yourself the job, look up every job and find uniqueness in them and mention "That's why your facility called to me" find a special skill in your past jobs at highlight that. I pretty much only worked in retail, and I truly specialized in customer service getting the most hateful customers to leave happy and for that they know I understand that this is a business and our patients and their families need to be treated as customers because they can go elsewhere. Mention that you have heard that this is a great facility and you are applying here because you are looking for substance in a workplace. Somewhere you will feel pride from what you are doing...for instance a LTC you want them to be treated with the highest integrity and respect as you would wish for your own family members. You want quality not quantity. May sound cheesy but it works because you want them not just any job you can get.

Believe in yourself and others will believe in you! I really hope this helps and if you need any advice on resumes or cover letters let me know and I will be happy to help! I start my first day tomorrow and am just as nervous as I was on first day of clinical's!

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ABSOLUTELY!! I guess we just keep applying and get certificates as we languish is this mess;/ I'm so glad I'm in school getting my BSN, at least I'm moving forward and not stagnating in this stinking mess they call Healthcare. We are all getting ****** off. I'm now voicing my frustration instead of just feeling sorry for myself. Everybody needs to know we are really struggling. This economy cannot be compared to any other time in history. So, don't tell me, "it's cyclical."

Good Luck to us all....

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You have a few options:

1. Move to a different area

2. Join the military, complete officer's training, they always need nurses no matter the experience and will help pay off loans or pay to further your education.

3. If you don't have it already, definitely work on your BSN

just my :twocents:

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