How do I get the "one year acute experience" all hospitals are looking for?

[dienne]

Hello everyone,

I know that this topic has already been discussed here but here it goes again.......

I graduated last week from an ADN program yay!!!!!! I'm very proud of myself and of course very happy. I plan to take the NCLEX sometime in late January/early February.

I'm already looking online and searching for a job and I'm getting really discouraged. It seems all the hospitals in the greater Los Angeles area are not hiring new grads. They all want at least 1 year acute care experience.

Now my questions to you all is: how am I going to get that experience if none is hiring me?

I don't have any previous medical experience other than the clinicals hours and the preceptorship I did in nursing school. I know I made a mistake by not working as a student nurse, but I wanted to do well in nursing school and what's done is done now.

I already have a Bachelor in another field and I plan to get my BSN one day. I also have work experience in other fields. Just looking for advice here.

It seems to me this is a vicious cycle with no way out, hospitals want experienced nurses and no hospital is willing to hire new nurses to allow them to get that experience. So what are we new grads supposed to do????

[2126]

Ugh, I'm sorry. I feel your pain! :hug:I'm done this coming March with a Diploma and a BA in a different field. I'm petrified to start looking because I need a job so badly and don't want to deal with the reality out there.

From what I've read thus far, try to get WHATEVER you can in the mean time. Someone wrote that she started faxing EVERY doc in the area and got a job in a doc's office in the mean time. Any experience is better than nothing.

Also, if you're willing to relocate apparently there are hospitals in more rural areas that are dying to get some nurses.

I wish I could be more of a help....I hope someone out there will help me get my foot in the door as well. I also have no medical experience and couldn't work during nursing school because I have a family to take care of.

Good luck!!

[hkirk1984]

I know what you are experiencing and my recommendation to you is the same recommendation that my sister, who has been a nurse for about 10 years now gave me, apply to the jobs anyway. It can't hurt to apply to the jobs anyway and make your resume talk about your experience you do have. If you have all the knowledge to perform the functions of the job (i.e. IV starts, IV meds, EKG, etc.) put a skills list in your resume. Just because you do not have paid experience doesn't mean you are not experienced. Another thing that may help is to list the types of clinical settings you were in. But apply for the jobs anyway. Another place to maybe get Acute care experience is to apply to work in LTAC facilities. I do not know of any specific ones in your area, but an example of an LTAC facility in my area is Kindred hospitals. Hope this helps somewhat.

[delvenia]

you need to do at least 1 year in like a med/surg environment or something similar. med/surg is considered acute care

[Dazglue, ADN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Apply for the jobs anyway. You never know. Also, try to apply for med/surg jobs even if they also say there is a 1 year requirement.

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

Keep looking, apply to nursing jobs outside hospitals and hope that in a year or so there won't be a "1 year acute care experience" requirement. Apply anyway, follow up on your applications, network, volunteer to keep yourself busy, consider relocating if you can.

[dienne]

Thank you everyone for the words of encouragement :)

I'm not picky and I will be very happy with a med-surg job, but even for that there's the same 1 year requirement.

I will apply anyway as many of you suggested. It's just a little disheartening to read all the job posts with the "new grads will not be considered" line at the end of the requirements and qualifications. I'm just wondering if hospital management thinks nurses are born with experience hehe...of course we need someone who's going to give us a chance! How long do they think they're going to be able to fill their positions with experienced nurses only??? It just seems to me a very narrow sighted vision; these nurses who are working and have experience they were once in our shoes but they were given the opportunity to gain experience and do their job. Hopefully things will change in the near future! I just want to be able to do a job I love and being a good nurse

Happy Holidays!

[evolvingrn, BSN, RN]

Keep at it, apply in smaller surrounding communities. I did get interviews at smaller hospitals and i chose to take a position at an acute inpatient hospice facility, in the large city where i live. They rarely hire new grads(even in less picky times) and have actually hired a few of us lately. so even if its not the norm , apply anyway. Good luck!

[casi, ASN, RN]

Also look into trasitional care units in nursing homes. While they aren't acute care, you can sell yourself as having woundcare experience and IV experience.

[rntim49]

thank you everyone for the words of encouragement :)

i'm not picky and i will be very happy with a med-surg job, but even for that there's the same 1 year requirement.

these nurses who are working and have experience they were once in our shoes but they were given the opportunity to gain experience and do their job. hopefully things will change in the near future! i just want to be able to do a job i love and being a good nurse

happy holidays!

yes things sure have changed, within the last couple of years this situation has become even worse. colleges are selling the nursing program like a hungry car salesman needing to put food on the table . the bottom line is this: they used to refer to it as knowing someone on the inside, however now it's referred as resourcing because it is politally correct. volunteer in an acute setting may be an option as getting your acls, pals, tncc certs may help also. take what ever you get offered because experience is vital as you know already. also try to keep a positive attitude and call recruiters to project to them your enthusiasm regarding nursing.

good luck