Jobs for New Grads - The Big Lie?

I swear it seems like they got at least half of their comments that they used in the article straight from this forum.

LOL that's what I thought too. I KNOW I have seen those comments here over and over.

I have to say that I was aware of the "shortage" versus real life from reading the boards here and was curious about what school would say once I started. I have to say they were honest if in a very positively spun manner. Our main instructor told us that right now the market is very hard because the economy is down, and many nurses who likely would have retired over the last 4 years are still working as well as many non working RN's doing their refresher course and re-entering the workforce. She said that as the economy improves over the next couple of years, and more nurses feel comfortable enough to retire that it "will likely" open up dramatically.

Cstatic - let us hope "it will likely open up".

Given the world economy is in a shambles, not just the U.S. and that there is so much political strife right now, I honestly am not optimistic that things will open up any time soon.

Maybe the author is a member....

I think that the article hit the nail on the head. It is a great time to BE a nurse, just not so hot of a time to BECOME a nurse. I was very lucky to have already been an employee at the large hospital in my area all throughout school doing a clerical job, so for me I just had to transfer to a new position. I will have to say that even that process was a bit nerve wracking. I had one job that I was really hoping to get in MICU but was passed up for a med-surg nurse with 2 years experience. Thankfully, I got a day shift job (YAY!) on a cardiac surgical step down unit with 4-1 patient ratio (along with a reputation as the "clean floor" because of the open heart patients that we cannot have any patients with fevers, wounds, etc.) I feel the issue is that it is so expensive for hospitals to invest in new grads with the costs of education, certifications, and preceptorships. It's much cheaper for them to hire a nurse with a year or two of experience who may or may not be a better "employee" than you are.

I've heard all this and more from friends and family members who are nurses. However, as no businesses here are hiring I figure I might as well finish my education and be ready to pounce when (if) things improve. I realize my situation is unique, since my husband has a stable career that supports our family, but I do hope to be actually employed in the future! Good fortune to us all!

For most any employer it is easier and often much less expensive to hire someone with experience in the exact or related position than train a newbie including recent graduates from school/college. There is also the fact a person with the required work history has a proven track record that can be verified. Totally new hires are a gamble on several fronts and in any event if separation happens a company is out time and money.

It's not just nursing, more and more American companies offer little in the way of "on the job training" and or apprenticeships. They seek applicants whom are ready to go out of the box or will be up to speed with just a little seasoning.