Advice to nursing students from a hiring manager

[Linda328]

I wrote this as a reply to a question regarding LPN to RN. I decided to repost it here for those interested. My intent is to provide advice to help nursing students and new grads enter the job market.

My name is Linda and I'm a manager. I found this thread and site by accident while doing a web search. I wanted to add a few notes in case the OP is still checking replies. I started as an RN in the early 90's and have been a manager since 2000. I have seen hiring booms (like the "nursing shortage" a few years ago) and times when the only RN's hired are from within. Right now is a very tough time to be a new grad. Everyone blames the economy but that is only part of the reason. The other equation is the sheer number of nursing grads. A few years ago when hospitals couldn't staff enough nurses, schools capitalized on this by luring new applicants into nursing programs and boasting the extremely high placement rates of nursing grads. That was true of students graduating at that time. However, there are far too many new grads than there are openings for them. If you live in any fairly large metropolitan area (I'm in a city of approx. 2 million), chances are you have a network of community colleges with nursing programs. Add to that at least one to three universities. Then add in the for-profit schools (Bryman, Apollo, etc) and hospital training programs, and there could be well over a thousand new grads each graduation period.

The hospital system where I work is one of the largest in the nation and we have facilities in 7 states. Since last spring, we have not hired any new grads and the openings we have are mostly filled by internal applicants who have continued their education to attain RN licensure. if you are considering going to school for LPN or RN, let me give you my most valuable piece of advice: I would suggest you go the LPN>RN route first. Why do I say this? Because as an LPN, you can gain licensure and begin working much sooner (years sooner) than someone pursuing an AS RN degree, not to mention someone working towards their BSN. This will give you two advantages in the job market. You will be gaining valuable work experience while the AS/BSN student is sitting in class. You will also be establishing a work history in a healthcare setting as an LPN, earning income along the way, and you can still continue in an LPN to RN bridge program if you still find that nursing is the right fit for you.

If you were applying at my hospital, and I read on your app that you worked as an LPN for a number of years while completing your bridge program, I would hire you over someone with a BSN and little or no experience. No question about it. I've hired nurses with exactly that scenario many times. Don't let people fool you into thinking that just because you go the BSN route, you have a better chance of getting hired. BSN is valuable if you want to get into management or supervising at some point, but to a hiring manager, in terms of new grads an RN is an RN. I can tell you stories from applicants who have gone into many thousands of dollars in debt getting their BSN, and can't find a job. This desperation comes across in some of the postings on this site, and even more glaring when an applicant is sitting in front of me (or in phone interviews). And yes, having a good GPA in nursing school is good, but still won't convince me to hire you over someone with more experience. There are many people who excel in the classroom yet can't apply any of that knowledge to actual work settings, or fold under the stress of the job. Another thing that hiring managers look at is the amount of time since you graduated. It is an unfortunate reality that the longer it takes for a new grad to find a job, the less desirable that person becomes. The primary reason is because the grad has not been using their skills all that time, and we all know how easily some information can be lost when not used.

Please understand that I am not putting anyone down nor am I discouraging anyone from furthering their education. I probably wouldn't have been where I am had I not continued on to earn my M.S. But there is so much misinformation and speculation (about 99% of which is from other students and new grads, or floor nurses with no management/hiring experience) that I wanted to give a few words of wisdom to those contemplating nursing school or about to complete a program.

[soon2Bmurse]

Linda,

Thank you for your words of wisdom and expertise. My question would be, what would your suggestion be to those of us who dont have health care experience other than graduating with out ASN degrees? I could certainly understand your hiring rational however a lot of us arent in that boat and most adjust accordingly.

[jo'ee]

I agree with the LPN route and the reasoning why one should take that path, but in my area LPN's have all been laid off and cannot find jobs either. LPN's are not marketable here. For myself, still a student, I am going to school attached to a teaching hospital. They make every effort to provide us with opportunities. For instance, the hospital hires CAs from only our school and as those CAs graduate they are hired into RN positions opening up CA positions to the incoming students. However, the two years working for the hospital as a CA is a 2 year interview. Do well and the CA will be in line for a position as an RN, do poorly and your out of luck. The hiring managers are actually fighting over the graduates of our school that proved themselves as a CA.

[Rags2Riches RN]

Interesting. In my area, there are hardly any LPN programs. In fact one of my nursing instructors said that she could not understand someone wanting to get their LPN in our area because there are a plethora of diploma, associates, & bachelors (both traditional and accelerated) nursing programs.

[dienne]

Yes I would like to ask the same thing. I am about to graduate next week with my ASN and I have no previous medical experience. This is a second career for me (I already have a bachelor and another associates in two different fields).

I am fully aware that it will be very hard for me to find a job since I lack experience in the medical field. However, I know that if given a chance, I would be a good nurse. It's very discouraging reading the many posts on this website and reading the job openings. Almost all of them require 1 year experience in acute care. My question is, how does anyone get that 1 year experience if most hospitals don't hire new grads?

Please, understand I'm not attacking you. I'm very grateful for your advice but unfortunately it's a little too late for us who are about to graduate with our ASN. So maybe you can give us some advice on how to "convince" an hiring manager to give us a chance :)

Linda,

Thank you for your words of wisdom and expertise. My question would be, what would your suggestion be to those of us who dont have health care experience other than graduating with out ASN degrees? I could certainly understand your hiring rational however a lot of us arent in that boat and most adjust accordingly.

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

Do you think there would be any benefit to working as a PCT while in nursing school? I don't know whether that would be considered relevant experience, but I've been thinking about trying to do that to get some experience in addition to my nursing clinicals. (I'm finishing first semester of an ADN program, already have a BS in another field) Thanks.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

let me just add that someone who is getting their bsn as a second degree, nursing as a second career is a probably a more desirable job candidate than someone who is a brand new bsn and has no previous work experience. an older graduate who has already had a track record of being able to keep a job, show up on time (or at all), work hard and behave appropriately in the work setting is more desirable than a 21 year old just graduating from school who has never held a job, or who has a track record of a less than desirable work ethic.

[Meshell92183]

What about nursing student's who are currently CNA's? I have worked as a caregiver for several years in one of our local hospitals and am going to be graduating with my ADN in about six months. Do managers take this into account? I am in the exact situation that you have written about. We have hundreds of nursing students graduating every quarter, and I have heard that for every position available there are hundreds of applications submitted. Do you have any other advice on what sets applicants apart from the rest, for example being ACLS certified? Thank you for your post!

[ImThatGuy, BSN, RN]

Maybe I should be getting an MHA instead. That's where I'd rather be long-term. I was promoted into an administrative position in my last career and enjoyed it. I thought the BSN and some clinical exposure would be helpful considering my only prior medical experience, which isn't recent, was working as a paramedic part-time when I was a patrol officer.

[Spikey9001, BSN, RN]

Tag...

[tmow86]

I start my diploma program in June. I just finished my CNA training. I called the nursing recruiter for the hospital to which I am attending their school and she said as soon as i get my testing date for the state exam to give her a call and rest assured they will have a CNA position open for me and I can work their while p/t while in nursing school. I am hoping that this might help me keep my job in that hospital after I get my RN. Only the future knows.....

[llg, PhD, RN]

I'm sure Linda means well with her advice ... but you all have to remember that she is just speaking as one person. What is true for her as a hiring manager (or her particular hospital system) may not be true where you live.

My hospital has continued to hire some new grads throughout this recession -- mostly BSN grads with either an externship or senior practicum in a relevant area. (I work for a children's hospital.) We also consider new grads who have worked as either CNA's or LPN's in relevant areas.