Considering a Career as a Registered Nurse in 2014? Advice from a New Grad

[tapis1326]

First, a bit about me. I chose nursing as a second career. With no prior medical experience, I attended a regionally-accredited private nursing college and graduated valedictorian of my class with an Associate's Degree in Nursing in July 2013 and a cumulative GPA of 3.89. I passed the NCLEX-RN first time in September 2013 and have my RN license. Despite my achievements, it is proving difficult to find a job, primarily because I don't have any paid nursing experience but also because I could have made better choices in my approach to nursing. To anyone considering a career in nursing in 2014, here is some advice that I think will be very useful. In no particular order:

1. Choose a Bachelor's degree in Nursing - many employers give preference to Bachelor's-prepared nurses; don't settle for an Associate's as it may no longer be enough if you want to work in a hospital or similar acute care setting.

2. Ascertain your school's accreditation - many employers stipulate that your degree must be from a nationally accredited school (eg: accredited by the National League for Nursing - NLN, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education - CCNE, etc.). Also, don't accept a school's statement that it is a candidate for national accreditation, which can take years. If/when it does achieve national accreditation, this may not be retroactive to when you graduated and therefore will not apply to you. This is very important!

3. Do volunteer work in your community - many employers ask about this, and whether you had a leadership role.

4. Volunteer at a hospital - same reason as 3. above.

5. In addition to your BLS for Healthcare Providers, get certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support - ACLS; this will help boost your credentials and many employers ask for this or require that you have it within so many months after you start work.

6. Consider qualifying and working as a Certified Nursing Assistant in a hospital or similar acute care setting for at least a year before you begin your Bachelor's so that you are comfortable handling and taking care of the basic needs of patients; you will also become adept at taking vital signs and maybe blood glucose testing if your facility permits; one facility I applied to was willing to take on new RN grads if they also had at least 1 year CNA experience (I haven't, unfortunately!)

7. Find out all you can about opportunities for RN residency programs for new graduates in your state (other states require a nursing license for that state and may not accept out-of-state applicants). In this type of program, facilities will take on new graduates with little or no RN experience and transition them with mentoring, classes, and training, from novices to competent nurses. Programs last from 4 to 6 months and are usually paid. (Be warned though, competition is fierce, you will probably need a GPA of at least 2.75, and positions may be limited to candidates already working at the facility.)

I hope this will help you as you contemplate your career choices. If I sound negative, that was not my intention; I just want others to be aware of what they may be taking on, and help them to choose wisely! Yours in Nursing.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Great advice.

Best of luck on your career.

[llg, PhD, RN]

I confess. I was expecting to be irritated with this thread thinking it was "another new grad thinking she knows everything ..." thread. But tapis1326 really has learned a lot of important lessons about nursing. The OP includes lots of good advice. I hope lots of prospective students read this thread and take it seriously.

Good luck, tapis1326. Thank you for sharing what you have learned. I hope your nursing career works out well for you.

[tapis1326]

Thank you, HouTx!

[tapis1326]

Thank you, llg!

[tigo]

Try to be open to moving around the country! There IS a nursing shortage.. just not so much in places like California.

[tapis1326]

Thanks, Tigo, good advice. Cheers!

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Good advice for other new grads, especially obtaining your BSN. We were discussing this in another recent thread and many people still don't realize that a BSN provides greater opportunities.

With respect to relocating....go rural if you need work. Small towns and rural facilities are always in need of nurses. Once you have 1-2 years solid experience, additional opportunities will present themselves.

I relocated and I'm very glad I did. I've learned a lot, my loans are paid, and I will soon move on after three years. Incidentally, I landed my possition through a friend I'd made here on AN, so you never know.

Good luck with your job search!

[kdonna]

Your advice is honest, and I think it would be a better place to start for ADN nursing schools...... I have been trying so far for 2 months and have had two offers (neither of what I would have thought I would ever be doing) and so I did not take either offer. I too am second career, and I think I am sensing ageism as well. I am coming around to the expectation that recruiters want young,cheap nurses especially ones they are friends with. I am a loyal, hardworking, and relate exceptionally well to older clients. It doesn't seem to matter that I worked as a CENA in nursing school, and many that I know of that have jobs now did not. I figure I won't give up but feel as though I have been duped, and no I won't be educating myself further in the field until I gain suitable employment. Money and paying bills does matter and sometimes the trite advice about working for free and volunteering is getting hard to stomach.

[kdonna]

Just when I was beginning to think I had made a big mistake, I did get a full time job at a nursing home. I am working second shift, and cannot believe that I could get this lucky. I start out at 28.00 per hour, and full benefits. I can only thank God because I prayed and believe I have received an answer.