Getting experience vs entering new grad program

just_cause, BSN, RN · Nov 7, 2008

check out the hospitals in you area - most disclose the max amount of time which would exclude you from a 'nurse residency' or 'transition new grad program' or perhaps just give their HR a call.... I can definitely hear the situation of wanting to utilize your new grad status vs having job security

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 7, 2008

your whole post is confusing because you are using terms not everyone uses around the country. best advice is similar to the above poster. contact hr of the hospital to inquire about the amount of experience you will need to start at whatever rn positon you wish to start (i think that is what you are asking).

keep in mind that new graduate nurses who work full-time for the hospital have a better shot of landing a job on other floors within the hospital then an outsider after six months. also, per diem jobs normally go to experienced nurses rather then new grads because most facilities want you to work full-time to gain the necessary experience. however, every facility is different. hope that helps...

spongebob6286, BSN, RN · Nov 12, 2008

do all graduate nurse need to attend a residency program before they get hired?

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 12, 2008

do all graduate nurse need to attend a residency program before they get hired?

no. however it is my understanding that having a residency program reduces the turnover rate for hospitals. new grads without hospital work experience (such as being either a tech or a nurse extern on the floors) are the first to quit in less then 6 months. such rns either choose to work somewhere else or to drop out of nursing all together. after all of this work, do you really want to take a chance of it going to waste?

by the way, medical surgical is a specialty too. this is why i advise new grads to run from a hosptial that states that they do not have a residency program because they start all new grads in med surg. even new grads on medical surgical floors need to be properly trained and supported. medical surgical floors are not in themselves a training program. i know, i work on one now. :bugeyes: gl!

Melinurse · Nov 12, 2008

You could also do the minimum number of required hours to be in the " Nurse Residency Program or New Grad Program " and also do per diem at a nursing home for even more experiences. I actually work per diem at 2 nursing homes and work agency per diem. I did med-surg for 4 years as a LPN though and needed change. All depends on your long term goals and where you want to be.

jmCARing4u, BSN, MSN · Nov 14, 2008

I think I want to retry asking my question... re-word it i guess, haha.

From what I understand, less than 6 months experience working as a nurse is considered a Staff Nurse 1 and 6 months or greater experience makes you a Staff Nurse 2. I am a new grad... If I got a job at a nursing home or convalescent hospital and worked there for at least 6 months, and if I applied at hospitals (acute care) such as Kaiser or those under SUtter Health (after those 6 months), would I be considered staff nurse 2 there? Do you think hospitals would consider that (those 6 months) enough experience to work on their floors like Med/surg and make me a staff nurse 2? I'm sorry if I'm not making sense. I've been trying for a while now to find a job, applying at many hospitals, and am now considering nursing homes to start out with.

In your opinions, taking consideration into how the economy is and how hard it is for new grads to get jobs, what would you recommend? Do you think it would be better to start at a nursing home or try to hang in there and go straight into an acute care hospital?

As for the other part of my question in the earlier part of this thread... lemme throw this out to anyone who got into a new grad program... did any of you work in an RN position, like in a nursing home or per diem anywhere, before getting accepted into a new grad program? Or did you basically just graduated, took the test and passed, and got into a program with no working in between? Hope this makes sense or else I'm just rambling and confusing everybody else :uhoh3: ... haha

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Nov 16, 2008

in your opinions, taking consideration into how the economy is and how hard it is for new grads to get jobs, what would you recommend? do you think it would be better to start at a nursing home or try to hang in there and go straight into an acute care hospital?
as for the other part of my question in the earlier part of this thread... lemme throw this out to anyone who got into a new grad program... did any of you work in an rn position, like in a nursing home or per diem anywhere, before getting accepted into a new grad program? or did you basically just graduated, took the test and passed, and got into a program with no working in between? hope this makes sense or else i'm just rambling and confusing everybody else ... haha

i know of sutter and kaiser but i do not know much about their hiring practices so i cannot answer your first question. as for your second question, my hospital will hire new grads for the rn residency program with 0 (new grads with no work experience)-two years. afterwards a nurse is considered experienced and will only need training on the floors.

i personally think you should work where you feel you will be happy. i don't think you should work in the hospital unless that is your choice. i know of new grads who plan to work ltc, rehab, home health, hospice, etc. thus bypassing the hospital setting all together; you can do the same. on the other hand, if you want the acute setting then go for it.... you may have to move if there are only a few choices at this time.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Nov 21, 2008

as a hospital nurse manager if you came to me with zero experience I would place you with a preceptor and treat you as a new grad. If you had gone from school to NH I would do the same. Every job is a new experience.