Few jobs for new grads? Help!

[ErinRN2B]

Hi, my name's Erin and I live in Indiana. I completed my pre-reqs last year and was accepted into my local community college's ASN program. I start next week.

I'm very excited to begin my career in Nursing! I've wanted to be a nurse since I was in middle school. I've already read through a lot of my textbooks and am very interested in the material. However, I'm a little worried about some of the things I've been hearing lately about jobs available for graduate nurses.

My mother-in-law is a nurse manager at a large children's hospital in Indianapolis. She told me that jobs were becoming more and more scarce. I'm a great student (I have a 4.0) and don't have any sort of criminal record. I've done a lot of research online lately, and everything I've read, sadly, seems to support what she told me.

I guess I was just wondering if anyone had any opinions to offer on this subject. I'm almost 22, and I have a one-year-old son and was hoping to find work quickly after I pass boards. I'm planning on continuing to get my BSN and possibly my MSN, but I'd like to work and gain experience while I do so.

[indreams84]

you're screwed in alot of areas....or shall I say we (im 4th semster about to graduate) are screwed, in that the wide open availabilities of multiple job offers no longer exist. I have an ICU offer, but only because I interned for a year and a half. Out in CA where I want to live.....nope

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

It IS a tough market out there right now. By the time you graduate, who knows. There are things you can do through school to help ensure your resume is the one hospitals pick up and look at.

You may have to be willing to relocate.

You may have to accept a job that is not your ideal dream job.

Network all through school. Learn who the floor managers are and long term nurses at your clinical sites and make sure they learn who YOU are. View every interaction with anyone from any hospital as a potential job interview. Let them know you would be interested in working there after graduation and ask if you may contact them in your last semester.

Keep your grades up. Contrary to popular belief, they do matter now.

Work part time in a hospital setting through school as either a nurse extern or a patient care tech. If you can't find those available, volunteer.

Keep in mind the job market is tough out there for ANY new graduate in most ANY profession. Nursing is not suffering worse than others really. Just suffering alongside them.

[ErinRN2B]

That's great advice, thank you so much. I am going to try really hard to find a job or internship at a local hospital once I finish this first semester of clinicals.

[Scoots]

I am starting my pre-nursing coursework too after years of wanting to pursue being an RN. I got caught up in reading on-line about the lack of jobs too. That really set me back for awhile and I almost backed out of registering for classes.

But like others have said, in time that may open up and I've got a few years to go here also before I start looking for a job.

In the meantime I like the advice about volunteering (or working as a CNA/STNA) and networking.

I just decided that I want to be a nurse, period, and I'll take my chances! Good luck to you too!

[guiltysins]

Where there's a will there's a way. It's true a lot of new grads can't find jobs but some actually do, some get lucky and some are really liked. Don't be scared out of something you want because you never know what may happen. You could be one of the lucky ones with an offer before graduation (yes people still get those).

[snkristen3689]

check out long term care... i know a lot of people are not that into this field of nursing... but there are jobs there...their ads actually say "new grads welcomed to apply". A lot of hospitals are not willing to hire new grads bc they do not want to train them...long term care can be very fulfilling and provide you with that year or two of experience you need to get hospital job!!! don't give up!