After finishing nursing school, it took me several months to finally get a job (I live in San Francisco and the market is tough here for new grads). Other RNs advised me to start anywhere, such as a clinic. I finally did get a position in a women's outpatient clinic (yay, income!), but I've always felt somewhat envious of my friends who started on the floor, because most RN attitudes that I encounter are that of "you have to start on the floor to be considered a 'real nurse'". I do a lot at the clinic, but other RNs seem to think that working in a clinic is not "real nursing." Even a couple co-workers who started on the floor have made comments.
Now we are facing layoffs due to budget problems, and I'm likely to get the axe in the next couple months because I'm per diem (though I work 5 days a week). I've been looking for another job but the problem is that even though I've been at the clinic for over a year, all the available RN jobs require the famous "minimum one year acute care experience," which I don't have. I had an interview at a hospital a few months ago (maternity unit), and was hopeful because they had six openings, and the Nurse mgr said my chances were good because they had so many openings. But I didn't get the job, and when I called to ask why or what suggestions they had for me to improve in future interviews, they told me they preferred to hire new grads.
So I don't qualify for new grad training programs because I'm not a new grad, but I don't have floor experience either. Is it only like this in the San Francisco Bay Area??? When I tell people I'm a nurse they often say "Oh good, you'll always have a job." And on a recent news report about the economy they reported that healthcare is one of the very few industries to not be affected by the national economic crisis, but I'm not feeling safe at all. And I have about $40,000 in student loans to pay off. I don't know what to do. Anyone else been in this situation?
I've looked into relocating, but I'm living rent-free here and salaries seem much lower in other areas, so I don't know if it'd be a good financial move.
Hi, it is the same story in the Sacramento area, I graduated in December and there are no job openings for new grads. I was told by one hiring manager that the nurse shortage ended 18 months ago in the Sacramento area. Nurses with experience can still find positions but no one wants to spend the money to hire/train a new grad if they can get an experienced nurse. Even the SNFs and LTC want experience. I'll keep applying everywhere and talking to anyone I can but come May another 130 new grads will be looking for jobs.
I too agree with MBA and play up that you are still a new grad. It might help you get your foot in the door. But you might have to consider moving for a year or two just to get some experience to a place that really needs nurses.
Nope! We are not in a depression yet. During the last depression the unemployment rate was 25%. Heck, we are not even at 10% unemployment yet!!!!
But it is time to send all the nurses working here on VISA's back to their country to ensure our citizens keep working!
I totally agree. I had my ex get a liver transplant at our "great" hospital... Couldn't understand the nurses when the spoke. I stated to one of them one night. He doesn't get Zantac... He gets Zosyn.... she say... no, no...he was already on IV protonix... Dear God in Heaven...Save us. Send the nurses from whince they came. The US has scabbed from other countries until our services have degraged to an area where it is unsafe without a list from the doc and a family/friend nurse at bedside to check againt their errors. PLEASE.
I totally agree. I had my ex get a liver transplant at our "great" hospital... Couldn't understand the nurses when the spoke. I stated to one of them one night. He doesn't get Zantac... He gets Zosyn.... she say... no, no...he was already on IV protonix... Dear God in Heaven...Save us. Send the nurses from whince they came. The US has scabbed from other countries until our services have degraged to an area where it is unsafe without a list from the doc and a family/friend nurse at bedside to check againt their errors. PLEASE.
These foreign nurses and MD's were required to pass the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), TSE (Test Of Spoken English) and TWE (Test of Written English). Remember, these tests were made and administered by the US people according to the US Standard. Maybe you have to recommend that they need to set-up the passing rates higher.
When the US was in great need of nurses, these foreigners were begged to work to help the over tired nurses on the floor. When the US doesn't need them anymore, they can ditch them away like a 2nd class citizens. Poor Filipinos, Indians, Africans, etc...
And don't forget the hard working MD I call at night. However I would like to do it, I really can't understand his accent. I don't have anything against him. He is smart, takes care of his patients real good. I hate to see him leave. It's only that damn accent....
Nurses that come over via an employer sponsored petition must have passed the English exams in order to qualify for the visa, no matter the type.
However, those that come over on a fiance visa or were petitioned by spouse or parents, do not need to pass the English exams since they are not directly applying for a visa on their own, but as a dependent.
But the Bay Area has not petitioned anyone in several years, and they are not taking any nurses that have trained overseas as well at this time.
The greatest danger to a patient are not nurses, domestic or foreign. It is corporate greed which prompts hospitals to cut corners and give dangerous assignments and inadequate training to domestic nurses.
On my unit, we used to have about 6 postpartum mothers. The babies went to nursery. Now they have done away with nursery and you get 4 to 5 postpartum mothers, but that translates into 8 to 10 patients. Some hospitals give 6 to 7 couplets. They say babies don't count. The hell they do when they start to crash. Even if they don't, you have to assess them, draw blood, chart every 2 hours and keep track of I/O's.
I feel you on this one...what is there, around 6 nursing schools in a 20 mile radius of SF, and they're just pouring out grads with no where for them to go. The "job fairs" are like feed lots....hundreds of new grads applying for a few jobs. It's depressing. One nurse interviewer at a job fair told me to try LTC for a year, then apply at hospitals....yea, the magic "recent 1 yr. acute exp." ain't so easy to get unless you move to the central valley or something...nursing shortage...hah!
By the way, the nursing shortage is not because there are not enough graduates. It is because nursing is so trying, only 5% of the new grads will stick around after 1 yr.
Acute is not the end of the world. LTC is as important and more rewarding.
Well, 5% isn't quite accurate. The statistics I saw were that up to 40% of new grads leave the hospital within one year. Which is still a huge waste of $$$ for the hospitals hiring them. I would love to get at start even in LTC but they all want experience also.
The dems have been in power in CA for over 20 years, need I say more?
Yes I think you do since Pete Wilson and Arnold Schwarzenegger are most certainly NOT Dems. Remember who said he was going to "kick the nurse union's ass"? I'll give you a hint, he was in three terminator movies
Go to where the jobs are! Don`t **** and moan. This is a new world we are heading into. It may never be the same go-go economy we all were seduced into believing in. New grad jobs may take years to make a comeback. So what are you going to do, sit around working at Safeway until the economy comes back in your neighborhood. Recessions aren't new but this one is worse and you new nurses need to think out of the box. Yes, relocating or long comutes are the pits but you do what you need to do. MY FIRST YEAR OUT OF SCHOOL IN THE MIDDLE OF A RECESSION: i FOUND A rented ROOM 100 MILES FROM MY HOME AND WORKED in A HUGE FACILITY WHERE THEY WERE DESPERATE FOR NURSES. They let me work 8hour shifts for 6 days/week then i was off for 8days and would go back to my town. After 9 mnths I went back to my home town permanently to find my former classmates were underemployed or working at Safeway. I landed a great job in a stepdown cardiac unit 1 mile from my home.
wendyem
3 Posts
Hi, it is the same story in the Sacramento area, I graduated in December and there are no job openings for new grads. I was told by one hiring manager that the nurse shortage ended 18 months ago in the Sacramento area. Nurses with experience can still find positions but no one wants to spend the money to hire/train a new grad if they can get an experienced nurse. Even the SNFs and LTC want experience. I'll keep applying everywhere and talking to anyone I can but come May another 130 new grads will be looking for jobs.