What is keeping New Grads/less experienced Nurses from being hired and solutions?

Nurses Activism

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Im sure there is no simple answer to this question but people on here are quite insightful and I would Love to hear some of the responses. We all know that the job market is tough out there, especially for New Grads or those without hospital experience. However, we always hear about hospitals being short staffed or we see a million job postings for nurses (albeit they often say experienced). So, evidently that means that they DO need nurses! My question then is what is keeping the hospitals or other institution from hiring NG or people with little experience if they are so in need of staff? is it a lack of preceptors/nursing educators? is it that hospitals aren't willing to spend or don't have the money to spend on training? or is it something else? Im all ears.

My personal view is this: If it is a money issue, I would be willing to take a paycut for the first few months to offset the costs of training. What are your thoughts on that idea?

As an older "new grad", I'd like to put in my two cents here. I graduated in June, took boards in December. I followed my instructors' and preceptors' advice, and began putting in applications the month before graduation. Primarily at the hospital system where I did 3/4 of my clinical time. Here it is January. I've submitted over 60 applications to various facilities. I've gotten one interview, still no job. There are brand new grad RNs who graduated earlier this month and have yet to take NCLEX who are getting hired at the same hospital. I am willing to work any unit, any shift, though I prefer 7p to 7a. I will gladly work weekends, holidays, anything. I just want to get hired. I have wanted to be a nurse ever since I was a little girl and went to work with my (now former) RN mother at the local Health Dept. That being said, I'm not looking at this as being a curse. I decided that as long as I am unemployed, I will utilize this time to further my education. I'm applying to a RN-BSN-MSN program so that I can use this 'stumbling block' as a stepping stone.

As for CNAs, I have the utmost respect for CNAs and LPNs. I have been fortunate enough to work with wonderful ones who were happy to share their experience and knowledge with a nursing student who wanted to learn. Each of us has a role in the health care team. Some of the best nursing knowledge was shared with me by a LPN with 35 years experience. I learned the best and most efficient way to give a bed bath from a CNA who had been at the same facility for nearly 30 years. We all have knowledge to share, and we can all learn something new from someone else.

To sounappreciated: I'm sorry that you seem to have had bad experiences dealing with other members of the health care team. Unfortunately, sometimes in life we have to learn to deal with the bad situations and the difficult coworkers. Please, do not make the mistake of painting all nurses with the same tainted brush. You wouldn't want to be lumped into a category with "those lazy do-nothing CNAs", so please have the courtesy not to lump all nurses together in the same pile.

I'll get off my soapbox now. Thank you all for your understanding and for allowing me to vent just a little bit.

You have a great way with words, very well put :)

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Specializes in Pedi.
i am not bitter yes some of you have a lot of responsibilities but a lot of you dont such as psych nurses overpaid underworked. and i am in school i am tired of the board of nurses turning out money hungry no compassionate nurses. nursing is taking care of patients. icu nicu trauma nurses L&D ER nurses yes well deserving nurses and should be paid top dollars. I'm speaking to most of the nurse in longterm care unit in hospitals and longterm facilities dialysis nurses who for the most part think their job is basically come in and give out orders to the little people. I know a lot of them who would go and jump through hoops to find a cna to give a patient water rather then go and get them some water. I am in school so i can eventually change the way some of the jobs in hospitals run their facilities in longterm care you pass the pills you should pass the water. what task the medication that comes is faxed to the pharmacy the pharmacy prepares the orders you follow up on the orders I'm not knocking your duties as a nurse Its all about organizing your duties you have cnas and lvns or pn and a unit secretary that are assisting you as well so your job isnt that hard and you work 3 day wks.

Come talk to me after you've worked a 16 hr shift on your feet the entire time with no food, no water and no bathroom break.

And, FTR, my unit has no LPNs, no secretary on nights and frequently no CNAs.

To the OP, I agree with the poster who said the hospital would rather overwork the staff they have than spend the money to hire/train new staff. My unit is currently working down 5 nurses right now (lost 7 in the past 6 months and have hired only 2). We don't have any jobs posted. Last week I got called EVERY SINGLE NIGHT to see if I would come in.

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i am not bitter yes some of you have a lot of responsibilities but a lot of you dont such as psych nurses overpaid underworked. and i am in school i am tired of the board of nurses turning out money hungry no compassionate nurses. nursing is taking care of patients. icu nicu trauma nurses L&D ER nurses yes well deserving nurses and should be paid top dollars. I'm speaking to most of the nurse in longterm care unit in hospitals and longterm facilities dialysis nurses who for the most part think their job is basically come in and give out orders to the little people. I know a lot of them who would go and jump through hoops to find a cna to give a patient water rather then go and get them some water. I am in school so i can eventually change the way some of the jobs in hospitals run their facilities in longterm care you pass the pills you should pass the water. what task the medication that comes is faxed to the pharmacy the pharmacy prepares the orders you follow up on the orders I'm not knocking your duties as a nurse Its all about organizing your duties you have cnas and lvns or pn and a unit secretary that are assisting you as well so your job isnt that hard and you work 3 day wks.

I have got to tell you this... I spent a few weeks in my clinical rotation working in adult and pediatric Psychiatric ward and wow it takes a special person to work on those floors. It was the most emotionally draining department of any nursing speciality that I have ever experienced out there. Nurses DO NOT have it easy on this floor and the same would go for CNA's. You do seem really bitter about whatever experiences that you have had and no one will ever understand that as much as you will but trust me, until you are an RN, if that is ever is the path you choose to pursue, you can never really understand what it is like to be one and all the responsibility that goes with it.

Good luck to you and I hope that in the future you have much better experiences. Perhaps a different perspective will help with that. :)

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Specializes in Pedi.
I have got to tell you this... I spent a few weeks in my clinical rotation working in adult and pediatric Psychiatric ward and wow it takes a special person to work on those floors. It was the most emotionally draining department of any nursing speciality that I have ever experienced out there. Nurses DO NOT have it easy on this floor and the same would go for CNA's. You do seem really bitter about whatever experiences that you have had and no one will ever understand that as much as you will but trust me, until you are an RN, if that is ever is the path you choose to pursue, you can never really understand what it is like to be one and all the responsibility that goes with it.

Good luck to you and I hope that in the future you have much better experiences. Perhaps a different perspective will help with that. :)

The quote you attributed to me was a quote from a previous poster (post #11 on the second page) that I was responding to. For some reason, the format made it seem like the second paragraph of the quote was not part of the quote... note the noting the end of the quote. I am RN, I have been an RN for nearly 5 years and I do not doubt for one second that Psych RNs earn every penny they make and I adamantly disagree with the statement that "[my] job is not that hard" because I only work 3 days a week (statement made in previously referenced post).

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The quote you attributed to me was a quote from a previous poster (post #11 on the second page) that I was responding to. For some reason, the format made it seem like the second paragraph of the quote was not part of the quote... note the
noting the end of the quote. I am RN, I have been an RN for nearly 5 years and I do not doubt for one second that Psych RNs earn every penny they make and I adamantly disagree with the statement that "[my] job is not that hard" because I only work 3 days a week (statement made in previously referenced post).

Oh yes I appologize for the confussion. Yes I agree, there is nothing "easy" about being an RN.

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As a new grad, I heard all the stories about many new grads not being able to get jobs. I moved to MD after I finished school, and applied to three places. Two of them told me that I would have to have at least a years experience before they would even consider an interview. The third Hospital has a new grad program, (which I don't know if I was told this but I never knew about it). I started out working as a CNA and about a month later I went back to orientation for RN. Im not sure if the hospitals around you have a new grad program, it might be something to look in to. I wish you the best of luck.

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Specializes in Med Surg - Renal.

It's a business decision. If an employer needs bodies and can't find experienced nurses, they will train and hire new grads.

But if they don't need people - or they have ready supply of experienced RNs to hire, they won't hire and train new grads.

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Specializes in LTC, AL, Corrections, Home health.

Definitely a variety of things and it varies depending upon the type of facility. In LTC there is definitely a shift toward using a lot of lpns, and minimizinf RN use just for the sake of what is legally required, like for medicare. In LTC there are very few things an LPN cannot do that an RN can. A facility I worked at layed off an RN who was part time, 3 evening shifts a week in assisted living stating it was not necessary to have an RN in that role. But they did not even ask an LPN from skilled to switch with her so I am guessing that was an excuse.

In doctor's offices/clinics, medical assistant are preferred, because they are cheaper and can do all of the routine tasks. And also LPN for some of the critical thinking types of things.

Of coorifice with the economy, a lot of older nurses have seen their nest eggs shrink or their husbands lost their jobs so they feel they have to keep working for their own security, when they would rather retire or even return to work. Also young people, particularly, and those newly licensed that the first decent offer they get but statistics show that once they are able to find something better they do. So you put all this money in to training then a year and a half down the road they leave for what they think are greener pastures. Plus it is expensive to train a new grad, and cheaper to just give someone who has been around the block, a short few weeks of orientation on the computer and what forms are for what, etc.

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Believe me, I know. I work in a LTC with no CNAs and only two LPNs, who i havelearned immensely from so, I do not underestimate them at all. I just theorizing that there are duties that LEGALLY LPN may not be allowed to do, so in some cases it may make sense just to hire an RN.

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As a new grad, I heard all the stories about many new grads not being able to get jobs. I moved to MD after I finished school, and applied to three places. Two of them told me that I would have to have at least a years experience before they would even consider an interview. The third Hospital has a new grad program, (which I don't know if I was told this but I never knew about it). I started out working as a CNA and about a month later I went back to orientation for RN. Im not sure if the hospitals around you have a new grad program, it might be something to look in to. I wish you the best of luck.

Did you get a CNA certifiate or we're you allowed to work as a CNA without one because you already had a RN license?

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This is just me, I read previous posting on how they wouldn't take a paycut. I certainly would, in fact I often asked my employer to consider giving me a paycut for at least two months while I was training with someone else or new to the job with no experience. They still didn't take me. If I'm a nurse with or little experience you have to make yourself somewhat more marketable than experienced nurses. Experience comes with time and we get more efficient with skills and care when we are working anywhere. Taking a paycut ONLY for first few months or so. Eventually you become as efficient as other nurses, of course you still lack things they already know, but again this comes with time and seeing things. If we don't begin to work or take paycuts then we will never gain the experience they want from us.

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Specializes in ICU.

In my area you are not allowed to work under your education. An RN cannot work as an LPN or CNA and an LPN cannot work as a CNA. I was told this is due to they do not want someone that is working as a CNA, but holds an RN Lic. to do something outside that scope of practice setting the hospital up for a lawsuit. I was under the impression this was national not just regional.

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