Why are there no nursing jobs available for new grads? What is going on??

Nurses Job Hunt

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I just graduated from an ASN program in May and I am about to take the NCLEX next week. I do currently have a temporary new grad license...

But I just want to know why are there no jobs available? I live in Rhode Island and the employment here is horrible. Almost every single hospital that does have positions available wants at least 1-2 years of med-surg experience. How are we ever supposed to get experience if we can't get a job?? Even the few and far between positions for nurses at clinics and doctor's offices want 3-5 years experience, plus specialty experience. It is downright depressing.

One of the reasons I chose the health care field was because "there would always be jobs available." That is such a lie. Whenever I tell people that I just graduated and will be an RN they always say, at least you will never be without a job! That is so false.

When I spoke with the nurses at the hospitals where I did my clinical rotations, they said they felt so bad for us and how back in the 80's hospitals were begging them to take positions and even offering sign on bonuses.

I just feel like it will be so long before I ever find a job that I won't remember half of the stuff I learned :no:

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

There has recently been what I consider to be a major development in the unified propaganda machine. One of those experts who could reliably be counted on to tow the most current ANA-AACN line and who's work is often cited to bolster the same, Vanderbilt prof Dr. Peter Buerhaus recently spoke at a healthcare summit in Texas. He directly shot down one of the most often repeated slogans that has evolved since it became obvious to them that saying there is a nursing shortage now faced too much reality backlash. They began to state that a devastating nursing shortage would re-appear in the year 2020. Dr. Buerhaus cast doubt on that prediction for these reasons:

● A significant number of people entering nursing in their 30s aided by growth in nursing programs and accelerated degree programs.

● Strong demand for a nursing career among young people.

● Rapid growth in number of private, for-profit programs. He said fewer than 20 for-profit programs produced fewer than 400 graduates in 2002, compared with more than 200 programs graduating 19,000 in 2012.

● The number of new registered nurse graduates has more than doubled in the past decade.

I would still not tell someone to give up their dream of a nursing career. You just need to know what you are facing and do lots of research and planning from pre-nursing student until you graduate.

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Specializes in public health.

Blame the economy, the government, nurses who should be retiring but working instead, and increase cost of healthcare. Did I miss anything?

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
Blame the economy, the government, nurses who should be retiring but working instead, and increase cost of healthcare. Did I miss anything?

None of that is accurate. The glut of nurses was intentionally created to save / make money for those who employee nurses and schools of nursing. The tool used what the false "nursing shortage" propaganda. Irresponsible propaganda is still being put out today but groups like the IOM.

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LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!

New grads here in Buffalo, NY are given a chance more so than in other places. I have a good chance of getting a new grad position with a BSN at one of the local hospitals who are only hiring BSN's because they are trying to achieve magnet status. Some hospitals hire ADN's too. I know some one who just got hired at ECMC with an ADN, only took 4 months. Nobody wants to live here so heck, I was born here, I'll take a job here, gain some experience then move if I want. And they start us around $28-30 an hour!

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.
Blame the economy, the government, nurses who should be retiring but working instead, and increase cost of healthcare. Did I miss anything?

Really?!? I should retire so you can get a job?

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Specializes in LTC.

It usually goes like this:

"I just graduated from school and passed the NCLEX. I have ZERO real world experience, and I just can't understand why I can't even get an interview for that nursing supervisor position in ICU. Therefore, there are NO jobs out there anywhere. Oh, by the way, I REFUSE to work in LTC to get experience because I WANT to go straight into a hospital."

Of course I realize that this is not always the case, and I'm not directing this at the OP. Every situation is different depending on the area and the degree, but I'd say over 50% of new grads think this way. I hear it everyday. You are NOT guaranteed the perfect job that is exactly what you want just because you passed the NCLEX. Get experience, pay your dues, love your profession and patients, and you will get there. Those who think they are entitled to an experienced nurse's job because they feel that they need to retire are sadly mistaken. Those older nurses climbed the ladder and worked their butts off. They will retire when they are good and ready. :yes: This isn't you mommy and daddy's house where you get your way all the time like you are used to. This is real life. Grow up.

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Specializes in none.

Move to an area where they hire adns. Start working in the nursing home. After you grab experience, go to a hospital

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It usually goes like this:

"I just graduated from school and passed the NCLEX. I have ZERO real world experience, and I just can't understand why I can't even get an interview for that nursing supervisor position in ICU. Therefore, there are NO jobs out there anywhere. Oh, by the way, I REFUSE to work in LTC to get experience because I WANT to go straight into a hospital."

Of course I realize that this is not always the case, and I'm not directing this at the OP. Every situation is different depending on the area and the degree, but I'd say over 50% of new grads think this way. I hear it everyday. You are NOT guaranteed the perfect job that is exactly what you want just because you passed the NCLEX. Get experience, pay your dues, love your profession and patients, and you will get there. Those who think they are entitled to an experienced nurse's job because they feel that they need to retire are sadly mistaken. Those older nurses climbed the ladder and worked their butts off. They will retire when they are good and ready. :yes: This isn't you mommy and daddy's house where you get your way all the time like you are used to. This is real life. Grow up.

This is a bit harsh! We worked our butts off to get through school, we worked just as hard to pass the dreaded NCLEX, we went to school because we believed all the hype that jobs would be relatively easy to find and then we can't even get an interview. No one ever promised the world was fair, but we expected at least some consideration. Most of us are willing to work cheap-or even free to prove ourselves. I think we graduated with a right to at least not have every application we turned in go into the 'not under consideration' file as soon as we hit submit. I got lucky and I am NOT better than anyone else, but I DO work hard to earn the right to keep my coveted job. Eithers will as well!

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Specializes in MDS/ UR.

No one gets rights just because one graduates or is licensed for a job.

It's a brave new world unfortunately.

The business world is not being real kind to anyone right now.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

Uh oh, did your school fill your heads with the nursing shortage myth :(

This is a bit harsh! We worked our butts off to get through school, we worked just as hard to pass the dreaded NCLEX, we went to school because we believed all the hype that jobs would be relatively easy to find and then we can't even get an interview. No one ever promised the world was fair, but we expected at least some consideration. Most of us are willing to work cheap-or even free to prove ourselves. I think we graduated with a right to at least not have every application we turned in go into the 'not under consideration' file as soon as we hit submit. I got lucky and I am NOT better than anyone else, but I DO work hard to earn the right to keep my coveted job. Eithers will as well!
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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
consideration. Most of us are willing to work cheap-or even free to prove ourselves.

Annnd that is doing NOTHING for anyone, ones practice, let alone our wages. :no:

I had delays getting a job and I was a LPN with experience; the issue was "if you had two years along with your LPN, we would hire you!" I'm in a market where there hasn't been a true nursing shortage in decades.

My first position took me 8 months to start, and was basically a year removed from nursing school and had difficulty transitioning; I would've LOVED to be with a system hat had a better transitioning program-two years later and two jobs later (ended up going per diem and working at another facility to have a more flexible schedule and wanted a higher acuity) I FINALLY got into a hospital health system that has successful transition programs and making the amount I made years ago; I took a pay cut years ago and wasn't happy :no:, but I needed to work. I certainly did not ask for the pay cut. :blink:

It would be optimal for successful and structured transition programs; but working for free or less is a deal breaker; we're professionals. :yes:

Just my two cents...stepping off my soapbox now...

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LadyFree,

I've known loads of new grads who offer to start at a low salary or even work free as if in a clinical just for the chance to work somewhere. I don't mean forever, I mean for a probationary period.

I do not know any who got their offer accepted, but I made the offer myself. I got hired-not for free :-) but sometimes you do what you need to do to get your feet in the door. Otherwise you may end up working as a tech forever.

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