Advice to nursing students from a hiring manager

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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.

I though this would be relavent to this interesting topic. Gives me hope...

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/our-new-hire-521449.html

Future O R Nurse, I wish you all the best when you do graduate. There are graduates right now who had and are still trying to keep that joy in our hearts and caring and empathy that made us want to be in this profession in the first place, but 1 year clinical experience today does not mean any thing. Every interview I have ever had I came out a winner and got that job but these days hundreds of applications or resumes are being sent out by graduates with no response. Oh, I also had 2 years clinical experience in hospitals that never responded and there were at least 3.

I applaud you for your optimism and braveness but girl the nursing profession is not what it used to be. I hope that optimism still lives on when you graduate and come out here looking for a job.

Not to take aware your bright light, just sharing some wisdom and knowledge.

I totally appreciate the vote of confidence.. It is so disheartening to see other nurses dash the hopes of anyone trying to change their lives for the better. I was told I couldnt get into nursing school because it is so competitive, I got in on my first attempt. I was told that I couldn't hold a job and pass the classes, I did. I understand where you are coming from, saying that jobs are scarce. yes they are. I believe that, but the tone on this post is that it's impossible for a NG to get a job.. Telling ME... FUTURE O.R. NURSE that I can't do something will only make me stronger and challenge that statement..My momma told me never believe anyone who tries to discourage you.. and mama was right.... so I don't believe you....

This post is all in good faith... no negative tone intended... Good Luck to anyone trying to find a job right now..;)

Only to clarify holding a job during the first semester... I sold candy and cheesecakes to my friends restaurant and was able to keep up with some bills.. I didn't work outside the home which kept me close to my studies. That helped a lot... I truly don't think I could have worked outside my home and got good grades..I would have lost my mind. lol

Specializes in Medical Assisting.

I thank you for this insightful post. I was a medical assistant for 5 years and gained skills as well as knowledge that led me to pursuing nursing licensure. I chose the LVN route and was unsure of even attaining employment. Now I feel like that there is still hope out there, because like you said, I will have acquired the skills and put them in practice. After my LVN, I want to bridge to RN. Seems like I have made the right decision. An RN that I know told me to go for the LVN first, land a job, then bridge over to RN if I wanted. Then at least I'll know if I want to continue nursing or not. It's good to know the story from the other side.

*edited*

I realize that this doesn't pertain to all areas in our country. As many have advised, research nursing jobs and schools in your area first. I did that first and I am very glad that I did. I wanted to give Linda kudos because her advice applies to my area. Although it may not apply to everyone, it does apply to certain areas. Perhaps she wanted to encourage and advise those that fit into that category.

Specializes in Oncology.

I thought this post made little sense, and seemed like a lot of Captain Hindsight. Of course, relevant work experience is a positive trait for applicants for any position. However, I don't see much in this post that makes sense for new grads. Staying in school and furthering your education is actually a good idea right now because of the crappy job market.

You can work as an LPN with your BSN, but it's out of scope to practice as a BSN with your LPN. I guess I don't see the point in getting your LPN and limiting yourself when you could do an accelerated ADN program in roughly the same amount of time and have many more job opportunities.

For my part, I signed a contract with a hospital when I was a sophomore in nursing school where I agreed to work for them for a set amount of time dependent upon how many semesters of college they paid for me. I would suggest that new grads that are worried about securing a job post-grad consider the option of talking with nurse recruiters at a hospital about their scholarship programs (most of them are tuition reimbursement for employees/contractual agreements with students) and see who will give you the best deal. In my area, this is an option many of the students in my class choose and since we do our clinicals in a variety of hospitals around town, we get a chance to see all of them and get face time in with a lot of managers.

I am an LPN and I currently am getting ready to go into the final semester LPN-RN bridge program. Last week we had the opportunity of listening to a Nurse Recruiter from a near by hospital. She stated they do hire new grads there, but she said she would hire the person like us who have LPN experience and the pay would start higher because we did have experience. She said those who are newly grads need to work some where in the medical field for 6 months and not keep working in a grocery store if they cannot find nothing. A lot of nursing homes do hire new grads. It may not be what you want, but some experience is better than no experience. I am glad I became an LPN first.

Specializes in LTC, Agency, HHC.

I am in the process of getting my BSN, and I work right now as an LPN. I say experience is invaluable, no matter what nursing experience it is. I have a job waiting for me at a new sub-acute hospital when I am done. Some places will give you "credit" for your years working as an LPN, so you don't necessarily start out at new grad RN pay. You need to do what works best for you. Get your LPN if you are already a CNA and work part time or weekends during RN school. There is your experience, and it will be invaluable to you, no matter if you chose ADN, BSN or beyond. Or go directly from CNA to RN, but you won't have as much "technical" experience as an LPN going thru to the RN. However, many hospitals are phasing out LNP's and ADN's for BSN's mainly due to magnet status. This is not to say go straight for your BSN. Some poelpe (like me) couldn't do it that way. Check around at your local hsopitals and see what is happening.

I worked briefly as SDC and we needed RN's. So, any application I got on it that said "RN", I had to call and interview. There are more opportunites out there, so doing what will benefit you will benefit others, also!

Linda328,

Thank you for your advice, for the past few months I have had those thoughts running through my mind; i.e. how valuable is the BSN? Do my grades have to maintain a 3.5-4.0 (science gpa) in order to get into an accelerated BSN program or a job once i complete my education? Consistently questioning myself about the importance of gaining experience?

What advice would you give to someone who is not in doubt about pursuing a BSN program, who is volunteering at a hospital (interacting with patients), but needs a job. What advice would you give this person? And what would you do?

Remember this person has a bachelors in liberal arts and currently completing pre-requests for nursing school. Looking forward to hearing from you, have a wonderful weekend and happy holidays.

I think that this is interesting information from one perspective. However, I think that one really has to decide their own path in nursing based on their own career goals. Doing an LPN program would not have been a good option for me for many reasons. Not only that, but very few hospitals in this area hire LPNs and I don't want to work in a nursing home. I already had a BA, so I did a 24 month BSN program, but I know many people who did accelerated programs and got their BSN in 14-16 months. ADN programs in our area are actually harder to get into than BSN programs (long long waitlists and more hoops to jump through), but still those are only 2 yrs. The person in our program who was an LPN had the same experience finding a job as other people in her cohort. Lots of students also worked as NAs during nursing school, which isn't great money, but it allowed them to get to know a certain unit or many units by doing the float pool.

Specializes in PD,Nxstage,hemo.

OMG...FINALLY someone spells it out for how it really is! Thanks Linda, I agree with you 100% on everything thing you said.

C.

Specializes in LTC, Agency, HHC.

The bottom line is eventually you will need a BSN to work in a hospital, anywhere. LPN's are not utilized as they should be, and are being phased out, except for in LTC because LTC doesn't have the patient ratios or the need for a full staff of RN's. Eventually the LPN will be the "CNA/PCT", the RN will be the "LPN", and the BSN nurses will be the top rung of the bedside nurses unless you are in management. Many a hospital rating for magnet states is based on how many RN's are employed, and most hospitals are requiring a BSN for an "entry level" position. Get experience wherever and however you can get it because the competition is fierce.

thank you everyone for all your suggestions know i have alot of options to consider. I wish everyone a merry christmas, wonderful new year and happy holidays.

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