Getting acute expereince to get into SNF/nursing home? Huh?

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Jan 21, 2015

Where are you located?

Some facilities may not be inclined to hire new grads, while others are willing to hire new grads.

The company I used to work for did hire new grads, and had no issues doing so.

NightBloomCereus · Jan 22, 2015

Recent grad here. Every organization has its own parameters, so I wouldn't suggest ruling out acute care or SNF or any other type of facility that hires nurses. My classmates were able to get jobs in a variety of facilities, but you have to really look or find out by word of mouth where they hire new grads. A lot of then don't post on job search websites.

I got a great acute care job right out of school because I worked for the hospital part time while in nursing school. My hospital only hires new grads who already work there, not new grads from the outside. In fact, my classmates with hospital jobs all worked for those hospitals while in school.

It's a really good idea to get into an organization now while in school, as a CNA, tech, unit clerk, etc. They'll almost certainly hire you when you're done.

Summers3 · Jan 22, 2015

Dear Nightbloomcereus,

Thank you for your imput! But I find it hard to get into the hospital at all nowadays wherever you are even as a lower position? May I please ask how you got your foot in the door there?

I would like to try out CNA or unit clerk but I had people have hard times getting those jobs as well.

Summers3 · Jan 22, 2015

I'm in CA unfortunately.

But I'm absolutely don't mind starting in SNF/nursing home and working my way up of course since in the future I will be a new grad. But I'm just afraid that those places won't even hire new grads......

Maybe it's just based inidivually on each place (since you stated that your place did so with no problems)

thank you for your comment

NightBloomCereus · Jan 22, 2015

As soon as I for my acceptance letter to nursing school, I started applying like crazy. I had a lot of clerical experience, so was able to get a hospital clerk job after applying to about 20 jobs. My department has had good outcomes in hiring nursing students as clerks so I think they wanted to interview me as soon as they was I was a nursing student. I may have just applied to the right place at the right time. It took me about 4 months to get into a hospital in a non-nursing capacity and I didn't "know" anyone. I just applied online. The clerk job I ended up getting (and loving) was in an area I never thought of working in.

There were definitely problems, though, but a good outcome. Because I was a new grad I had to do the hospital's unpaid full time internal new grad "program" and was basically not paid for orientation. Plus I had to work another job at the same time to keep up with the bills. By the time the program finished, it had been about 10 months since I graduated. So I guess it's bad everywhere.

It's really good that you're thinking and looking now. A lot of my classmates had a rude awakening when they graduated and thought the doors would be wide open. If you're not picky and open to getting your experience anywhere, you'll be fine. I know CA is tough though. Say hello to the sun for me. I'm going to go shovel some snow...

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jan 22, 2015

Nowadays, with the glut of both experienced and new graduate nurses looking for work, even SNFs can afford to be picky about who they hire...and many of them have started doing just that.

Try applying to hospitals for CNA/tech positions now. That won't guarantee you a job after graduation, but it will make you an internal candidate which can give you some advantage. It will also let you network and make your name and face known to people.

The reason I say to apply now is that the closer you get to graduation, the less willing they will be to hire you because they know you'll bail the minute a new grad position comes along and they don't want to waste the time and money on training you as a CNA/tech. But if you can give them a year or so, that improves your odds of being hired. And THAT was told to me straight from a hospital recruiter's mouth.

Best of luck!

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · Jan 22, 2015

Dang, I have heard Cali is tough but requiring 1-2 years acute care experience for a SNF is something else. Typically those are the go to places for new grads to get some experience when the hospitals aren't hiring. The SNF facilities there must either have a much lower turnover rate that is common or there are just so many applicants that they can afford to be that choosy.

Full disclosure. I work in a SNF and have for years, this is by choice and not for lack of acute care jobs. Though there is a tight job market here for acute care, SNF are always hiring it seems.

RunBabyRN · Jan 25, 2015

Each SNF is different in this respect. I am also in CA, and I held a position (for a short time) at a SNF. It REALLY wasn't for me, but that's me. It can certainly be a way to utilize your skills and pay your bills.

I agree about applying for tech positions now- you'll have an advantage over external candidates (though it's still not a guarantee), and having healthcare experience, while it doesn't count as RN experience, is helpful.

Summers3 · Jan 26, 2015

Dear Nightbloomcereus,

Thanks again for your response. I guess I'm just scared and getting close to being paranoid... even when I'm not done with school yet.

In your case, you had previous experience as a clerk which become the stepping stone for you to get into that same position but in a medical setting. But as of right now, you have already finished the unpaid new grad program and is settled in your nursing job in the hospital (same place)?

Well I am glad that things worked out for you, gives me hope that I have a job later on in life too. I'm barely starting my program so I hope to wait one or two semesters before working anything (just so I can get used to the pace/time of the program).

I have even considered volunteering as well. Have you did it as well?

Thanks again for your time! :)