Experience Required

Whispera, MSN, RN · Jul 23, 2009

Probably some positions "require" experience, but just because it says experience is "required" doesn't mean it really is, if someone is awesome otherwise!

MiaNJ · Jul 23, 2009

I'm seeing that a lot of new grads are snagging positions that "require" experience, but they are given to new nurses anyways. Even when they require experience, is it really just a want? Some of the job posts seem so discouraging because they give off the impression that nobody wants a "new grad."
Experiences and opinions more than welcome!

Really? Where are you seeing that? I've seen and heard just the opposite from several nurses and past peers. If a job says 'prefer' experience, I can see how a new grad can be accepted maybe. But if it says 'required', then it most likely means they won't provide the required orientation/training. Of course, every hospital has a short orientation for any experienced nurse, if they are new to that particular hospital. But nursing school doesn't prepare you thoroughly for all skills needed as an 'experienced' nurse. Maybe some schools are better than others, but I know in my school, and other friends' schools, we didn't get to do every single nursing task - i.e., not all students got the oppty to insert a foley on a live patient (many just got chance to watch, but not the same as doing, and doing it a hundred times on a dummy is not the same either; not everyone got to start an IV, on a live patient, etc. etc. I wouldn't feel comfortable being 'thrown' into a place where they expect me to know everything and then ask questions and maybe not get a chance to have them fully answered, or worse do my job wrong or unsafely since I am not getting the proper orientation as a new nurse.

RNperdiem, RN · Jul 23, 2009

Nursing education is one of the things cut out of the hospital budget when money gets tight.

Experience means less money spent on orientation.

Nursing positions like PACU and flignt nursing truly require experience, others vary depending on the nursing supply.

Diaper, RN · Jul 23, 2009

Well most jobs that I applied, they stated: "required/prefer 2 yrs of experiences..." Even though I had no experiences, I applied to the positions anyway. I got some rejections but I also got calls for an interview. In contrary to most beliefs, my manager said that it's easier to train new grads than experienced nurses. So I was hired right away.

My suggestion to new grads is that just apply to the positions even though they said "prefer/required experiences..." Once when you're hired, they'll give you orientation. A lot of my classmates (new grads) were hired from the same hospital and they trained them for OR and other specialties. Usually the orientation for new grads are longer than experienced nurses so you'll definitely have plenty of opportunities to have 'hands on' experiences.

MiaNJ · Jul 24, 2009

Well most jobs that I applied, they stated: "required/prefer 2 yrs of experiences..." Even though I had no experiences, I applied to the positions anyway. I got some rejections but I also got calls for an interview. In contrary to most beliefs, my manager said that it's easier to train new grads than experienced nurses. So I was hired right away.

I wish that was my experience, but I've applied to many, many, positions over the past year and a half, and didn't have luck. I applied to BOTH new grad and experience preferred, just in case. Many times, when I called the recruiter on the phone or they called me, they said, 'we really wanted at least 1 yr experience, but we'll keep your resume on file'', or ''we are not hiring new grads right now'', or ''sorry, there isn't anything for your particular experience at the moment''.

I've even called agencies which recruit for hospitals, and tried to be assertive, confident, and when told that the positions they had all required experience..I asked if they are willing to train, and I'm a fast learner, etc. etc. they said " they don't have to train, there's too many experienced nurses ready and looking for work now''.

So I guess not everyone has luck with getting those jobs willing to train new grads. I know some people who have, but there's only a handful of openings in each hospital for new grads or inexperienced nurses, and some people are probably in the right place at the right time.

I guess I just haven't had luck, especially not now, in this economy.