Do new graduates really get a job that easily in nursing?

umcRN, BSN, RN · May 25, 2012

Keep reading. Things are not looking good right now. I was blessed...BLESSED to get a job out of school. A friend of mine who worked as a tech in a very large teaching hospital for FOUR years could not get a job there, or anywhere after she graduated. One year after her graduation she has finally gotten a job and is relocating almost 15 hours away from her home to do so.

workingharder · May 25, 2012

I know nursing is a career that is in high demand however, is it really that easy to get a job fresh out of nursing school with a BSN? I'm just curious because I have read several different threads on this website and people are talking about not being hired due to lack of experience. I understand that there are ways of gaining some type of experience before actually going out into the field such as volunteer work, internships, and shadowing but what if somebody doesn't have those opportunities besides just simple volunteer work which doesn't even really give the experience hospitals are looking for. What should I be doing in order to ensure my spot in some hospital after graduation?

Marry the Hospital CEO.

allnurses Guide · May 25, 2012

Volunteering, internships and shadowing will not count as RN experience. They have the potential to get you connections on the inside and that is where the real value lies.

Nursing is definitely NOT a "high demand" career at this time. It is taking new graduate nurses an average nationally of 9-12 months to find their first job and the vast majority of the time it is a job the new graduate would prefer not to accept and would not were it not the only option to present itself.

The best thing you can do is treat every single interaction you have with your clinical sites, volunteer work, internship, preceptorship or shadowing as a working job interview. Make an impression and make yourself fit in with the floor's team of nurses. Make yourself someone they want to work with.

Best of luck. Its a bumpy ride.

nyteshade, BSN · May 25, 2012

Many very experienced nurses (20+ years) that I know tell me that the shortage and surplus comes in cycles.

Blessednurse13 · May 25, 2012

Pray! nothing is impossible with God. A friend of mine graduated from Nova southwestern university in December 2011 with a BSN. a month later she got a job at one of best hospital in florida.

dedicated2Help · May 25, 2012

Which cycle are in now, how long will it last and who is it affecting?

dedicated2Help · May 25, 2012

Where is everyone looking? I see alot of comments but no indication as to the areas you are speaking for, it really helps to know where. Location, Department etc. HealthCare is such a wide arena that we cannot set hopes in generality this is a much broader area to cover.

Just trying to show some light for those who are struggling. Keep in mind that our only limits are those we create for ourselves.

Hope this helps and motivates to keep looking :nurse:

zhazha1 · May 25, 2012

I agree dedicated2Help. I think that staffing is really variable from location to location. You may need to be looking in rural areas or areas that are not considered "desirable" at least to get your foot in the door. On the other hand I also know that many nurses feel they can't leave their area because of kids, spouses, house ownership or other obligations. Also because of these obligations, some people can only work certain shifts. So while being young and inexperienced may not be the greatest thing ever, the lack of obligations that younger professionals tend to have allows a degree of flexibility you can use to your advantage.

Bchung5 · May 25, 2012

What I just read is actually quite discouraging. I always thought the world would need nurses so finding a job even when nurses weren't in high demand it would be easy to acquire a job. I'm not even in nursing school yet so what could and should I do to get my foot in the door... I know an internship is my best bet but to even get an internship in Maryland I bet you would have to know somebody on the inside. I didn't think nursing was about knowing people or having the hook up I saw it as hiring and getting people to work for a hospital that are passionate, qualified, and hard working.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · May 25, 2012

Click on the link below to read this discussion that is happening over in another forum. It is relevant to the present topic:

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/how-job-market-714170-page3.html

arl6 · May 25, 2012

I would volunteer at a hospital and eventually try to work as a nursing assistant in a hospital. That is definitely a very smart move to get "your foot in the door". Although, depending on where you live, it can be very difficult to get a nursing assistant job too. I applied for 5 months and applied to 60 jobs, only got two interviews and got a job offer after the second interview. Working as a nursing assistant hasn't brought me any specific job opportunities as a nurse, but I have gotten such great experience, so I would definitely recommend it!