I feel truly sorry for new grads

[Concerto_in_C]

Just wanted to say that. I've been a nurse since 2008 and did ok, first in sub-acute rehab and now in med-surg, did not experience any unemployment and had very stable finances that whole time. I guess I got lucky because I graduated just as the industry was going down the toilet.

I just want to share my observation that this is no longer the industry of opportunities it once was, it has really changed for the worse, the attitude of employers has changed for the worse, and opportunities for young people have disappeared.

This industry has never been about making x or y amount of money, but it's been about opportunities for young people. Now the opportunities are in jeopardy.

Young talented BSNs can't even find work in med-surg nowadays because new grads are not welcome.

If you can't at least do med-surg because new grads are not welcome, you are setting yourself up for failure in later career because something like med-surg is the foundation, and they're denying you even the foundation you need to get started.

My advice for young people interested in a career in health care is to stay clear of nursing but do something like physical therapy. A PT degree may require 3 years more in school (because it's a PhD or a Masters) but the extra 3 years will be worth it because everywhere you go employers will accept you, nobody will give you a hard time because you're a new grad, and companies will be glad to take you under their wings and train you.

I got back from the website for the Norther Illinois University PT program and their employment rate for new PT grads is 100% (this means 100% of new grads are welcome in physical therapy).

Just my 2 cents.

[Lmonchin]

Yea for Mass state school nurses most every position requires a DESE licensure in addition to state licensure which can be obtained through completion of training programs and a minimum of 2 yrs in child health/community health/relevant clinical experience. Wish it were that easy to go right into school nursing.

[bsnup13]

I think the key to getting your dream job is to be flexible! A few of my friends and I relocated and I got a position at a teaching hospital on a med-surg unit! Given I also sent out 20 applications right before I graduated too! Also see if your schools are affiliated with any hospitals, that is how the rest of my friends got their first Nursing Jobs and we graduated in may! After I accepted my current position I was emailed by one if the nurse managers asking me to apply for where I did my internship and it was because she knew my school and I personally met with her and gave her my resume. Jobs are out there don't lose hope and be flexible without lowering your standards! My top priority was a magnet facility and I would have waited however long it took to get hired in one!!! P.s. Magnet hospitals have to hire a certain number of out-of-state RN's so keep your eyes out and AGAIN be willing to relocate! Good luck!!!!!

[Misskala]

P.s. Magnet hospitals have to hire a certain number of out-of-state RN's so keep your eyes out and AGAIN be willing to relocate! Good luck!!!!!

I've never heard of this before. Hmm.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

P.s. Magnet hospitals have to hire a certain number of out-of-state RN's so keep your eyes out and AGAIN be willing to relocate! Good luck!!!!!

Do you have a citation for this claim? I've never heard of it.

[C2CNurse]

Nursing is a second career for me. My story is that I worked in the entertainment industry prior to nursing school. In that industry, I was told how difficult it was to not only get a job, but to earn a living. As tough as it might have been to enter, I entered that industry, always worked, and earned a great living. I still can.

Upon graduating nursing school a few years back, I was interviewed by a local television news station about new graduate job prospects. Knowing the competitive nursing climate, I told them [and millions of viewers] that I had no worries about getting work. Within a week of that interview, I was offered several positions and took one locally at a prestigious hospital [who are currently in need of nurses, both new grads and experienced].

In both cases, I accepted the obstacles faced and believed I could overcome them. I completed all those 'status quo' efforts to obtain work... I foraged through job boards; worked up a smart resume; researched hospitals (both locally & nationally); thanked 'everyone' who I came in contact by sending thank you letters to both visiting recruiters and those who offered & conducted interviews with me; capitalized on my strengths; and absolutely remained flexible.

My position was that as a 'new grad' my first two years would serve as an extension of my education, so although I remained focused on my goal to obtain a position on a cardiothoracic floor, I would remain open to other opportunities because I wanted the nursing experience.

Regardless of industry, there are individuals who have it tougher than others for whatever reason individual to them. I had no more experience than those graduating who were half my age. With that, I capitalized on what I could offer like life experience and an ability to remain fearless of falling flat on my face [best learning experiences yet]. Ultimately, I get work because I set up goals, believe in my success, and am willing to do whatever work it takes to achieve a successful outcome.

I once read where a person could not find a job in a local town, and was depressed about opportunities there. Well, as a simple example, if that town has only five jobs, and there are six people looking for a job, then it appears that one of those people may not work. In that case, you might need reevaluate that locale, change the scenery and explore. But, if that town is your only option, then one option is to convince that town to either expand hiring or create a need on your own. Unfortunately, being inflexible can really hurt you. And sometimes you must simply move on.

For all you new grads, there remains a need for nurses, new grads and experienced alike, in many, many markets provided you remain flexible. In some markets, not so much! Accept the barriers presented and learn to overcome them or move on to those other markets. You will, no matter the statistics, no matter what the naysayers say, succeed provided you create and put into play an action plan. Remain positive, be kind, and enjoy the process without carrying a chip on your shoulder, too. It may be easier for some to succeed than others, but remain steadfast in the work you put into your plan and in the belief you will overcome and achieve.

[ceebeejay]

Or, they own homes, have children, and husbands and are not at liberty just freely move about the country.

[Concerto_in_C, BSN, RN]

Or, they own homes, have children, and husbands and are not at liberty just freely move about the country.

This is the big obstacle for young women with families. I was able to move to another part of the country to get a med-surg offer because I'm single and have no kids.

I think this is a troubled industry if you have to re-locate to another party of the country in search of an entry-level job like med-surg.

Another problem is the expense. I easily spent $1500 on my move, and only because I found a company that was willing to move my stuff for $650, so I got a great deal. I manage my money well, I always have a few grand saved for a rainy day, but a majority of my RN/LPN colleagues I've met in my career have a great difficulty saving even a few hundred dollars, not to mention a couple thousand.

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

When I graduated from nursing school, I had a husband who didn't drive and didn't want to leave his ill father. My mother was diagnosed with cancer 2 weeks after I graduated. Moving wasn't really an option. I finally found a job 10 months later, 250 miles away, and it took a lot of persuading for my husband to agree to move.

[Nonetheless]

A major part of the problem is that there are too many for-profit nursing schools. If you are willing to drop $100K, there are a billion for-profit universities that will take advantage of you and give you a nursing degree, promising you a future full of easy to get employment. These schools do not look so good on your resume. Even though it's a Bachelor's program, people still know if it is an online school or a for-profit (think Art Institute or DeVry University. No one looks at a DeVry University degree and says "fantastic"! ). If a school admits 100% of it's applicants, then reassess its quality. They MAY be ripping you off. Good nursing programs are notoriously competitive.

Another problem is that the ADN programs. Where I am from, the ADN is useless unless you are a nurse with 20 years experience. And even then, wherever you are employed essentially expects you to get your BSN. An ADN not worth it in this day and age. It may have lead to a good, solid living 20 years ago, but that age has ended.

Finally, there is no magical career out there where you will never struggle to find jobs. EVERYONE struggles to find a job. Especially local jobs/ jobs in their area of choice. Not just nurses. Engineers, doctors (believe it or not), lawyers, counselors, researchers, professors, etc. There is no golden gate of opportunity.

Nursing still is one of the more stable and better-paying Bachelor degree professions out of the bunch (along with Engineering). But this doesn't mean that finding employment is easy.

[kmart89]

This is truly a thread for the times!

I graduated in August and recently passed boards... onto the job hunt.

I am in the Dallas, Tx area and work at a large hospital in a large hospital system as a tech. Luckily, I have been blessed with 4 interviews in one week for new grad residencies that start in... February... late February.

My area is probably not as bad as other places in the country and in general, the medical field doesn't provide too much unemployment for new grads that finish school in December and May. But for August graduates like myself, there is almost no work available in the hospital systems at this time for new grads... even in small outlying hospitals on a medsurge floor. I find it hard to believe that they can't train in medsurge in the smaller, lower acuity hospitals at any time of year.

The good news is that my manager will allow me to continue my time as a tech even though I am licensed as an RN. I know that I will find a job eventually. Some of my fellow new grads from my ADN program have found jobs at decent places but none of them are in the DFW metroplex. With the implementation of Obamacare my hospital alone has had to cut back on hours and severely limit OT. The patients never stop coming and it worries me that we won't have enough trained nurses for the inevitable amount of patients. It's quite a predicament... however, in my area, I think the employment has gotten better for new grads than when I started nursing school at the beginning of 2012. I agree that it's all very cyclical. Only 5 years ago, new grads in my area could work nearly any job they wanted.

[Misskala]

But for August graduates like myself, there is almost no work available in the hospital systems at this time for new grads... even in small outlying hospitals on a medsurge floor. I find it hard to believe that they can't train in medsurge in the smaller, lower acuity hospitals at any time of year.

The non-magnet level II hospitals in my area and the really rural hospitals in my area are on a hiring freeze....pretty much. Everyone is scaling back on work force from middle management being laid off, to not taking on new hires. All the jobs at this one hospital I have been stalking for the past 8 months have gone to internal hires.

**And I want to add, these hospitals are now stating they want "current acute experience" meaning working in a hospital as an RN at the time of application. :)

[Concerto_in_C, BSN, RN]

A major part of the problem is that there are too many for-profit nursing schools. If you are willing to drop $100K, there are a billion for-profit universities that will take advantage of you and give you a nursing degree, promising you a future full of easy to get employment.

I agree and this seems to follow the usual pattern, similar to computer science degress and real estate certifications 10 years ago. Somebody spreads the word that industry x is a hot area to work, soon the job market is flooded with newly graduated but inexperienced specialists in x. Human resources departments are overwhelmed by thousands of applications. Employers look at the candidates and try to pick the best resumes, but there aren't enough jobs for this vast sea of humanity.

The commercialization of higher education as seen in America has pros and cons. The pro is ready availability of higher education, even for mediocre students. People who would have never attended university in Europe (mediocre students) get a baccalaureate degree.

The con is employers have the impression that college degrees are a dime a dozen, because if you want one, you just buy it, like you buy a bag of diapers at Walmart. For this reason, it's very difficult for college grads to shine in this country, because there are so many. I have 2 baccalaureate degrees and if it wasn't for nursing, I would have ended up living in some motel and collecting food stamps.