Hiring experienced nurses vs hiring new graduates

Specialties Management

Published

As a recent graduate, I've noticed that many hospitals- especially the large academic systems that everyone wants to work for- hire few new graduates while continuing to post umpteen positions for experienced nurses. One hospital I looked at was even offering several thousand dollars in hiring bonuses to nurses who had >2 years of experience. Hence, if hospitals still have a need for nurses, then why have many of them developed a moderate allergy to new graduates? I know new graduates are initially a liability to health care organizations and are expensive to train. That's probably one of the reasons why, in this economy, hospitals have restricted how many graduates they hire per year. I still don't understand, however, why many hospitals continue to want to hire experienced nurses while basically closing their doors to the majority of new graduates? If they claim that they don't have the money to hire graduate staff, then where does the money to hire experienced staff come from? I think that the aforementioned hiring practice is quite myopic, because: 1)there are only so many experienced nurses to go around and I'm sure many of them aren't moving; and 2)when the economy gets better, nurses who came out of retirement will retire, nurses who work FT will go back to per-diem status, and the baby boomers will begin to retire in droves. Hence, I dare say that nursing executives who engage in this hiring practice will be in a hiring conundrum in a few years. So instead of severely restricting the number of new graduates hired, why don't nursing executives make a more concerted effort to recruit and retain the current graduates of today? Why don't hospitals turn more of current nursing vacancies into new graduate positions? That way, those new graduates would not only be able to fill needs for experienced nurses (within at least 1 year), but would also be able to act as preceptors for other recent graduates down the line. I'm sure there is a lot of information regarding this issue that I don't know, so any information you may have from a management perspective would be appreciated. I wrote this posting to seek out information, not to be one of many of whine about the lack of jobs available to people like me.

Specializes in ICU.
The ironic thing is that the hospitals have created the very problems that they lament.

Due to historically lousy working conditions and compensation, nursing was not considered a generally desirable career choice my many college-bound folks. Simultaneously, many of the experienced nurses were getting fed up and moving on. Hence, the purported shortage.

The hospitals responded as businesses do by improving things enough to staunch the "bleeding." We ended up in a situation where new grads were being actively courted, offered multiple positions, signing bonuses, tuition reimbursement, and the ability to choose their starting unit. Now people wonder from where the prima donna attitudes have derived. Duh...

The hospital lobbiests and the opportunists in the education industry responded by dramatically increasing the number of seats in nursing schools which has supersaturated the market with new grads while also diluting the available educator talent, the available clinical sites, and providing more opportunities for less talented students to become nurses. And people now lament the sad state of affairs regarding nursing grads. Duh.

Add to that the continual push toward nursing theory and writing papers over hard science and clinical skills. And again... duh.

I couldn't agree more, especially in regards to the continual push toward nursing theory and paper writing. I graduated from an ADN program and we were very clinical skill oriented, we managed a full med/surg load for our entire last semester and I had started over 40 IV's by graduation(as well as several other skills). I have some friends that just graduated from school this month and one of them hasn't even spiked and IV bag and only started 1 IV. Nursing theory has it's place but not at the cost of clinical skills. I have enjoyed studying nursing theory in my RN to BSN classes now that I have had actual hands on experience to apply it to.

Specializes in being a Credible Source.
I couldn't agree more, especially in regards to the continual push toward nursing theory and paper writing. I graduated from an ADN program and we were very clinical skill oriented, we managed a full med/surg load for our entire last semester and I had started over 40 IV's by graduation(as well as several other skills). I have some friends that just graduated from school this month and one of them hasn't even spiked and IV bag and only started 1 IV. Nursing theory has it's place but not at the cost of clinical skills. I have enjoyed studying nursing theory in my RN to BSN classes now that I have had actual hands on experience to apply it to.
IMO, nursing theory is just padding used to help fabricate the units needed to award bachelor's degrees. We have nursing theory only because PhD candidates need to write dissertations. Same story in education.
Specializes in GI.

I am the Nursing Manager of an outpatient GI Center. I have hired both new graduates as well as experienced nurses. There are benefits to both. New graduates seem to be excited to learn and are very attentive to the patients whereas the seasoned nurse is difficult to train to our policies and sits in a chair more than bedside nursing. I would hire new graduates over experienced ones all of the time, except for the fact that we are an outpatient center and if we ever had an emergency situation, I need nurses who know what they are doing. New graduates seem to hide or want to observe during code situations, but in a small facility, we need everyone to be hands on. As a nursing manager, I can do my job better in the office when I know that the nurses on the floor are competent.

Vanlo001--

I know you wrote that post back in February, but I felt like I just had to write.

I totally agree with what your saying. Even though I'm a new grad, prior to this my background was in law enforcement. When I interviewed for that job, I had exactly NO EXPERIENCE. There were 3 other people that were interviewing for the same position and they all had experience. Well, the chief who hired me saw something in me (he told me this when he retired) and gave me the opportunity. I never forgot that!! When I did my job, I gave 250% and when there were community events I was the first to volunteer. Why? Because I never forgot what that man did for me, and you can bet that I was very loyal to that department! I also take that view now as a new graduate going into nursing. Some people may not agree with me--but I just don't apply for ANY position. I research the hospitals I'm interested in and apply at those I'd like to work at. It may take me a bit longer to get a job, but I don't care. I'm interested in working at a hospital long term. I'm not into job "hopping." I can't bring myself to just "get a job anywhere." I just feel that it is somewhat disrespectful on a certain level. Disrespectful to the people that work there and put in the time to teach you and disrespectful to the institution itself. If and when one of the hospitals that I'm interested in gives me the opportunity for an interview and the one nurse manager that "sees something" in this new grad and gives me the opportunity to work for them--you can bet I'll be loyal and give my heart and soul to that organization and never forget the people or the hospital that gave me that opportunity!! Sorry, to blab on for so long, but I just feel so strongly about this. Just one more thing to add here (and I promise I'll get off my soap box), thank you Vanlo001 and the other nurses who have come before us--without all of you paving the way before us, teaching us, and making the nursing profession what it is today, none of us new grads would be able to continue on and be a part of such a wonderful profession!!

REDDOG RN

Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

If I was a Nurse Manager I would hire you too, REDDOG. Simply using the terms "experienced" over "new grad" doesn't paint the whole picture when talking about a specific pool of candidates for a specific job.

That's why I try to encourage people who are wondering if they should even bother starting nursing school when they see the difficulty new grads are facing in getting their first job. Really excellent people will normally stand out from the pack.

The idea of loyalty to an employer is seen as outmoded and quaint by some people. At times there is ample reason for it, as not all employers reward longtime nurses at their facilities with the value they deserve. There are too many stories here from nurses fired over something trivial after twenty or thirty years of service and shaken off like excess weight for me to believe otherwise.

There are people who throughout my career have believed in me, taught me, and encouraged me. I would do just about anything they asked me to do. The hardest part is when you have to move on, or want to move on! :-( That is always hard. Thankfully those who gave you the leg-up while sorry to see you go, are happy for your new opportunity, anyway. I try to maintain contact with them as much as possible. Best wishes to you!:up:

Old thread, but found it through a search. So I am no longer new. Two years ago I was hired as new grad in postpartum at an NYC hospital and also have float experience in post-op recovery as well as medsurg for pregnant women. I have been trying to move out of postpartum to something more challenging such as L and D, PICU, ICU, etc.... But i am barely getting interviews and the three interviews I went to ended up hiring new grads instead! What to do I feel stuck! I even applied to medsurg position (not at my hospital though because the staffing and hours are very bad) but I get no calls. I thought I did well on those interviews I had but still no one wants to hire me. I dont know what is happening because supposedly once you have your 1-2 years experience every hospital wants you. I find this more true for medsurg as my nursing school classmates who had their first RN job in medsurg where able to go from a bad condition hospital to a great private hospital in a year of experience. BUt not even medsurg gives me a chance unless its the bad conditions hospitals with bad hours. I think i paid my dues of 2 years and i dont have to do yet another pay my due of medsurg in bad conditions for me to have a better chance at a specialty. What do you advise! Thank you in advance!

Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.
I think i paid my dues of 2 years and i dont have to do yet another pay my due of medsurg in bad conditions for me to have a better chance at a specialty. What do you advise! Thank you in advance!

I know how you feel, but you are incorrect. I get it, you paid your dues at the beginning of your career, but sometimes it is not enough. You may need to pay more of them to get to where you want to go in your career; fair or not. On a more positive note, you are not alone! A lot of nurses are finding it hard to change specialties or move up and on despite way more nursing experience than you or I. The ones I know that are having an easier time of it are those that have an inside track (know someone who knows someone) and/or he/she accepts a job that NO ONE wants in the facility NO ONE CAN STAND!

For example, I know a nurse that worked Staff for over a decade and tried to break into management to no avail. Then he moved and started working in a facility where other managers pitied the nurses. That same nurse moved up fast and now is on his way to running a regional division! Another nurse I know wanted to work as a nurse manager, but could never land a job despite former management experience at the executive level outside of nursing. She worked the worse facility in the area for a few years and landed an even better job on the shift of her choice afterwards. I could go on, but because of those nurses and others like them I decided to walk their path to fulfilling some of my career goals.

For instance, I have applied and failed to land my first management job in nursing for almost a year now. I have done everything anyone has asked of me and made the changes I needed to make to become a better candidate to no avail. I was constantly competing with 20-50 good or better candidates every time I applied for a position because all those positions were in prime facilities and departments. However, an opportunity has popped up at a not-so-hot/hated facility that may be the worse, if not second to worse, facility in my region. I have been asked several times by friends to apply for a positon especially since NO ONE has applied for any of the jobs (Yes, it is that bad)!

My plan: Land one of those entry-level management positions, pay my dues/serve my time, and do what it takes to prove myself to future employers! Of course, I have to get hired first. :cheeky: So good luck to us both!

Specializes in Medical Surgical & Nursing Manaagement.

I actually prefer hiring new graduate! They are smart, enthusiastic and willing to learn. I work at an institution that only hires BSN with a GPA of >3.2. Our vacancy and turnover rate is very low. When we interview we have a staff nurse participate in the process......who better to select a candidate then a nurse that is going to work side by side. I am very lucky.....I have a staff that were all hired as new grads when they were hired. Our unit had the highest NDNQI scores in the building and the collegiality, support and teamwork can not be surpassed.

So if i was hired as a new grad on a unit that I feel I have learned everything about (postpartum) and I want to move into critical care type unit what can I do? These units all want "2 years experience in specific unit" but yet hire new grads. Im neither a new grad nor do i have the unit specific experience so I would be learning also. However I have transferable skills from my previous unit. I tried applying for med-surg but I have received no calls.

Specializes in Medical Surgical & Nursing Manaagement.

What the rush? If your institution wants 2 years experience, then wait the full two years. Nurses are still acclimating to their units during the first 12 months. I will be honest with you.........as a manager of a medical surgical unit, I would not take a postpartum RN or if I did, I would treat her as a new graduate because of the vast difference in patient population and disease processes.

Im not saying i want treatment as an experience med surg nurse bc im not...i meant to have a plus on the hiring side of things at other hospitals also. (Med surg at my hospital is very understaffed and people always leave). I have more nursing skills than a new grad but I would still be learning a new unit. However I find new grads have a leg up even though I have acute care experience. So just b/c i was hired in postpartum as a new grad....am I stuck there for life? I enjoy when we have challenging medical patients on our floor (basically all preg women with medical issues are sent to our floor and not to medsurg) but most patients are simple. Postpartum is nice but I feel at a dead end in terms of learning new skills.

Specializes in MedSurg, PACU, Maternal/Child Health.

how can a nurse with experience in inpatient women's health get hired into other areas of inpatient nursing? I feel that though i have 2 years of experience in the hospital...i am passed up when i apply to other areas...med surg, ICUs, NICU, PICU, etc and new grads are favored. I dont understand...i have more nursing skills than new grads...assessments, meds, procedures, blood draws, IVs, etc. Yet i get emails from HR departments saying i do not meet qualifications in term of unit specific experience. However new grads are hired for those units. Yes my experience is in another type of unit but i would require less orientation time than a new grad as i have basic nursing down and its all about learning the unit specific procedures.

+ Add a Comment