Exploitation of New Grads in California

lindarn · Mar 17, 2011

Has anyone complained to the Department of Labor in California? Do the schools that these individualsgraduated from have anything to say?

I would strongly suggest that no one works without getting paid, regardless of the desire to obtain experience. This is like the old days, when diploma grads would work day and night in the hospitals, and did not earn a penny.

I would make noise about this to the higher authorities. and new grads, there are jobs someplace, even if it is in nursing homes.

JMHO and my NY $0.02.

LIndarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Somewhere in the PACNW

MrNurseRN · Mar 18, 2011

I absolutely I agree LindaRN. I know that this is a new observation in California. I would hope that new grads would fight against this type of exploitation and not supports such practices. However, because of the extreme lack of jobs and the fierce competition, it may be highly likely that new grads will be willing to do ANYTHING to get an edge in getting a job. I would if the Strong unions in Northern California have any influence on such practices.

NurseCubanitaRN2b, BSN, RN · Mar 18, 2011

Join CNA & ANA and have them fight for you! Most nurses are getting canceled and laid off so why would the hospitals bring in new grads to train them and the new grads not get paid for it. The experience is useless because in order to be RN II you need over 2000 hours of PAID work experience. Most of the positions are for RN II. New grads need to start making some noise against slave labor.

MrNurseRN · Mar 18, 2011

NurseCubanita,

Great point about PAID experience as being valid towards getting a job. Very helpful info to spread to all the desperate new grads looking to work for no pay.

NurseCubanitaRN2b, BSN, RN · Mar 19, 2011

If it's not PAID EXPERIENCE, then a new grad who worked for free can't apply for RN II because a requirements is about 2000 hours of PAID WORK EXPERIENCE. Don't sell yourselves to slave labor because it will only benefit the hospitals, and not yourselves. Look at all the desperate Filipino nurses PAYING to work for free back in the Philippines. They are working like dogs for no pay, and the nurses sit back and watch these forced-volunteer nurses do everything for them. The ones who do the work don't get paid, and the ones who get paid, don't do the work. Something is wrong with this picture. Everyone needs to fight against stuff like this because according to the BRNs you're licensed and are capable of working for pay. Good Luck to all!

Mike A. Fungin RN · Mar 20, 2011

Hello fellow Nurses
What's is your opinion about California programs that are utilizing New Grads without paying them.
Because of the bad job market for new RN grads, there have been programs that hire new RNs to work 3 months or so without pay and without guarantee that they will be given a job. I understand that these programs may help new RNs gain experience and a foot in the door, but it seems convenient for hospitals to take advantage of the situation. Does anyone have any stats about the number of RNs who get jobs from these programs?
Cheers

Could you be more specific what "California programs" you mean so we are all clear what we're talking about?

There's a "T2P" or Transition to Practice Program in the SF Bay Area, which a lot of people have been talking about, that sounds a lot like what you're describing.

It's far from "exploitation" though. It's basically an unpaid new grad residency program, where the new RN get's training and experience to hopefully make themselves more marketable and keep their skills up to date. But make no mistake about it, these people are not "working for free", they're being precepted. It's not like they're being put to work and taking their own patients.