A Day In the Life of a New Grad

Does your nursing school have any affiliations with hospitals to place your new grads for work?
I live in Cali and my kid just graduated a BSN program and was lucky to get accepted by the hospital where she worked 2 years as a Nurses aide. The hospital with whom her school was affiliated was not one she choose to work for.

So it seems thats the only way to get hired in southern Cali by being in a program that hs an articulation with a hospital to accept their students for employment.

The bottom line is - no one can PLACE you if there aren't any positions open. There is not a nursing shortage. News Flash - There is not a nursing shortage.

Um no, I am neither a glorified drug dealer nor a prostitute. I think they both get paid more than I do and definitely get more respect.

I am, however, a hand holder, caregiver and a paper charting fool.

soon to be an emotionally and verbally abused caregiver (by families, patients, co-workers, bosses, pharmacy, you name it), while taking a pay cut.... Have Fun!!

I'm so desperate I am applying in areas I never considered b4 because they are willing to accept some new grads....ED, plastic surgery, etc. Still praying!

If it was always your dream job - to become a nurse, then keep trying. However, if you bought into the pipedream "we have tons of jobs" in order to flood the market with nurses, then continue your degree and mold it into that career you really want. As you can see - there is no shortage of nurses. It was a scheme to "flood the market" so employers could reduce salaries and treat the employees like they are walking on thin ice every day... Even if you finally land one of those "anything" jobs you are praying for just to have a job, in the long run you will not be happy. Continue your education for that career you really want.

cosmic why are you so negative? It's bad enough that people can't find a job, but your incessant "realism" is just too marose. Sometimes in life you have to ignore the realities of life just to get through the night. I'm not sure if your words of wisdom are to help or discourage. I don't know what your current work situation is, but please realize that looking for a job in a tight job market is very a tring and thankless task and sometimes the only way to stay dedicated is to keep a positive attitude. The real truth to the situation is that anybody who has gotten through the rigours of nursing school is surly not going to give up because they couldn't find a job right away.

If you went to nursing school for the wrong reasons - to land that guaranteed job - it's not going to work out for you. You may find it hard to believe, but a lot of people did just that...and look what they are running into. I used to love my job, especially interacting with the families and patients. Something has changed in the past year or so that is so disheartening. I still go to work positive and happy, but on guard at the slightest indicator of danger. The "walking on glass" working conditions are real. I still joke around and laugh with my co-workers and patients (who are in that mind-set), but always be aware of someone who doesn't want anyone to be laughing.

If you are young and have your whole life ahead of you, as a friend, I would highly advise you to go for your dreams. If this is your dream, then go for it. Eventually, when people realize the market has been flooded, the supply will even back out and hopefully employees will be treated better. I watch, try to learn from other people's mistakes and be a perfect as possible. I've seen good nurses get fired for "nothing." Their careers OVER, pretty much. They can't get back into that hospital "system" that fired them, and now they have a huge ding on their resume; and there are a million nurses wanting a job....

I am very saddened by the profession. I never thought it would be like this. I'm not thrilled to have my job threatened with 50 million people wanting it - you will be in the same boat....

There will always be healthcare. If it is truely your dream - then you will succeed. I have no doubt about that, but a piece of advice - watch what you say, even in jest. I can vent on this forum and I'm actually really nice. I would never hurt anyone, hurt their feelings or be intentionally cruel. But I see that behavior from different people at different times, unexpectedly, and it's very unsettling. I don't even undersand how people can snap at you, with these attitude in their voices, even over the phone taking report. It's non-stop.

Thanks.

Cosmic, I think it is great that a forum such as this exisists so that nurses can have a place to vent. There is no doubt that you are faced with unfair judgement of your intentions and poor attitudes from every level of the hierarchy. The fact that you feel as if you are walking on glass must be very troubling. But please listen to your own advice when knowing your audience; this thread was started by somebody who is feeling beaten up by the constant rejection of this job market, not by the state of the job itself. I feel as if you chose this thread to vent because you resent the fact that people want so bad what you used to want so bad. I am sorry that you feel so betrayed by the nursing profession, but this thread is not the place for your disdain. Let new nurses develop their own perception of the profession.

I did get a little off track from my original posts on this thread. Thank you so much for putting me back on track, I thought new grads should be aware of the whole picture. Again, to the frustrated new grads who cannot find jobs - there is no nursing shortage.

Keep going for your dreams. If nursing is your dream, then keep going for that. Of course, there are good days - not-so-nice people exist - and you will find plenty of that in this field. Nothing I say will change any of the new grad's opinions - they already experienced some of it during their clinicals...

If I can help one unemployed new grad realize there is not a nursing shortage, and they continue their education towards a career they really want (not one they pursued because they thought they were guaranteed a great job), then I'll be happy for them.

What else do you want this thread to be about. Don't worry, you'll get a job, keep trying. Just hang in there. You'll get a job. One is bound to come your way soon. Pray. Do you know anyone who may know someone who could get you in? Don't worry, keep trying. These kids are sitting at home without a job. There are many more in nursing school heading toward the same fate.

Where are the jobs????