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:

I wasn't trying to be harsh, and I'm sorry if you took it that way. I even went as far to say that this is not always the case, if you'd read my entire post, instead of skimming it for the highlights to get emotional over. Of course I know that there are exceptions. I realize that there are great grads out there that are looked over, and that they are willing to work anywhere for experience. That's where the area comes into play. One may need to drive an extra 30 miles or so to a different area. I'm not lumping all new grads together, I'm just going on what I hear every day.

I applied for jobs that were a 90 minute drive from home. I applied at SNFs and LTCs. I even applied at a hospice and at a home hospice. I was willing to work anywhere just go get that coveted one year experience. Where I live, no one is new grad friendly! I got my dream job out of the blue and am more grateful for it than I can express, but some classmates of mine are still looking and a few who had better grades and more leadership skills than I have still have not gotten their first interview.

Perhaps you weren't trying to be harsh, but it really is rough out there for new grad nurses. It is soul destroying to know that these people worked so hard and are waiting tables because no one thinks that their applications are even worth looking at. I don't think (as someone said) that anyone should have to retire so that I have a spot, but I do think with so many jobs going unfilled, they could at least look at new grad resumes!

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Specializes in LTC.

It's all about the area. Plain and simple. Just because a hospital in NY or RI hires BSNs only, that doesn't mean that's the "norm" for the other 48 states. ADNs in my area are hired all the time. Straight into area hospitals. Right after passing the NCLEX. Here, it's the LPNs that are restricted to nursing homes. They have been talking about "phasing out" LPNs since the 80's, but every LPN grad I talk to has job offers.

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In my area they only hire BSNs also, and I am a BSN. They all seem to have new grad phobia.

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Specializes in LTC.
I applied for jobs that were a 90 minute drive from home. I applied at SNFs and LTCs. I even applied at a hospice and at a home hospice. I was willing to work anywhere just go get that coveted one year experience. Where I live, no one is new grad friendly! I got my dream job out of the blue and am more grateful for it than I can express, but some classmates of mine are still looking and a few who had better grades and more leadership skills than I have still have not gotten their first interview.

Perhaps you weren't trying to be harsh, but it really is rough out there for new grad nurses. It is soul destroying to know that these people worked so hard and are waiting tables because no one thinks that their applications are even worth looking at. I don't think (as someone said) that anyone should have to retire so that I have a spot, but I do think with so many jobs going unfilled, they could at least look at new grad resumes!

I hear what you're saying, and I'm glad you got a job. I agree that new grad resumes should always be considered. I hate that it's that way in your area. Maybe things will get better there. I hope so, and I wish new nurses there the very best. :)

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I applied for jobs that were a 90 minute drive from home. I applied at SNFs and LTCs. I even applied at a hospice and at a home hospice. I was willing to work anywhere just go get that coveted one year experience. Where I live, no one is new grad friendly! I got my dream job out of the blue and am more grateful for it than I can express, but some classmates of mine are still looking and a few who had better grades and more leadership skills than I have still have not gotten their first interview.

Perhaps you weren't trying to be harsh, but it really is rough out there for new grad nurses. It is soul destroying to know that these people worked so hard and are waiting tables because no one thinks that their applications are even worth looking at. I don't think (as someone said) that anyone should have to retire so that I have a spot, but I do think with so many jobs going unfilled, they could at least look at new grad resumes!

If one needs to stay in their area, then one needs to research the job market in THAT AREA before getting a degree. It's like saying, "I want to be an astronaut but can only work in Arizona, why won't NASA hire me?" Does it suck to not be able to get a job doing what you want to do where you want to do it? Yes. But if you can't move, then you have to deal with the market you're in. And before getting an education, you need to make sure it will give you a marketable degree in the area you can't leave.

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

The schools really are still misleading students. For every article about how new grads are having difficulty getting hired there must be 50 (totally unscientific) that talk about the "nursing shortage". It is shameful and it is all about the schools making money and people that need to be sure they still have their jobs.

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Specializes in LTC.

I will say that I'm lucky enough to have an honest advisor/school. She/they have been really honest in our meetings in regards to the job market. Like she says, it's the area. Right now, my area of NC is okay, but that could change at the drop of a hat. I knew that moving may be a necessity when I started my journey, and I'm prepared to do so if need be. Shame on the programs that flat out lie for enrollment.

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If one needs to stay in their area, then one needs to research the job market in THAT AREA before getting a degree. It's like saying, "I want to be an astronaut but can only work in Arizona, why won't NASA hire me?" Does it suck to not be able to get a job doing what you want to do where you want to do it? Yes. But if you can't move, then you have to deal with the market you're in. And before getting an education, you need to make sure it will give you a marketable degree in the area you can't leave.

I started my program right after high school-as a lot of people do. 17 year old kids aren't going to research, they are going to trust what they are told. Also, I was single, I got married in school to a man who works for the government here. I did not know I couldn't move when I was 17!

Schools need to practice the ethics they teach and be honest. It is not a kids job to do all that! What do kids know?

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
17 year old kids aren't going to research, they are going to trust what they are told. Also, I was single, I got married in school to a man who works for the government here. I did not know I couldn't move when I was 17!

Speak for yourself...

There are many freshmen and sophomore HS students that post here for guidance in being involved in this business; I also shared in my previous post I did the research SOLELY for my higher education; not my parents; they had no idea, because times were changing, even in my area they were closing down hospitals, this was the mid-late 1990s because of the economy back then was up in the air and there were reimbursement issues back then-sound familiar?

One parent worked for the government, the other was a military veteran; I was very cognizant of what they couldn't offer.

Also, I was all aware of the possibility of having to work at the same job when I went back for my BSN; I went to a job fair and they had told several new ADN graduates that they were preferring to higher only ADNs and/or BSNs with experience; even more so BSNs (I was an LPN back then; they were still hiring LPNs); I took that piece of information and ran with it; and sought out a BSN program;?what also helped is my school was VERY upfront and honest about the challenges in the local market.

I also understand that you were "only doing what I was told", unfortunately you are reaping those lessons as of now; only you can decide what and how you proceed with those hard lessons when it comes to anything else that happens in life as anyone else would.

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LadyFree,

Most of my classmates started right out of high school as well and we all believed what we were told. I get it that some may be more savvy than we were. Also, 17 and a new hs grad, how are we to know what the future holds. I had no idea that I would get married the Christmas after I graduated and thus be tied to this city!

As you said live and learn!

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If one needs to stay in their area, then one needs to research the job market in THAT AREA before getting a degree. It's like saying, "I want to be an astronaut but can only work in Arizona, why won't NASA hire me?" Does it suck to not be able to get a job doing what you want to do where you want to do it? Yes. But if you can't move, then you have to deal with the market you're in. And before getting an education, you need to make sure it will give you a marketable degree in the area you can't leave.

When I went to engineering school, it was with the expectation that I would go where I needed to in order to launch my career. I moved 5 times in order to keep my career going. This is not uncommon in many lines of work.

I will admit that one motivator for me to enter nursing was the intention *NOT* to move in order to get work. This did require me to work out of town every week, though.

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O.

If I had to do it over again I wouldn't have even bothered. The whole scenario seems absolutely asinine.

This was posted more than a year ago but I still agree with this members thoughts. Looking for an RN job with no BSN and no aide experience bites.

I am contemplating returning to a desk job and finish my BSN. Maybe by then i wont even want to do this anymore. Sooooo discouraged :no:

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