Perhaps it is the sections that I tend to look at (LPN, Private Duty, HomeCare), but I seem to be reading alot about there being no jobs for new nurses, that the new jobs you can get are pretty ucky and there is a general malaise in the professional. But don't worry, new nurses only last about 8 years.
Huh?
What nursing school did you go to? Mine told me that there was a nursing shortage, and that I was embarking upon a career that would make me feel like Florence Nightingale. And I would be forced to hire a financial manager because I was going to make fantastic money.
Well I am still waiting for my lemons to taste like lemonade but I don't get what all the belly aching is about. I suspect I am a bit older than some but I have a hint. Your country needs you, and it is probably the best nursing experience out there you will ever build your career on. I am NOT talking about the VA system, although that is getting better, but I am talking about doing a few years in uniform.
I wasn't a nurse when I was in boots (105 mm gun bunny) but I wish I was. My instructor was a army nurse and her command presence reflected it.
If you have talked to someone about what military nursing offers new grads, please share it. I suspect you do not need to be a GI Jane to enlist but what are they looking for?
Oh, and why isn't there some PSA's on this website that point visitors to a site offering more information about this career option?
Well, I don't have knowledge about military nursing but here is my outlook about why there are no jobs (especially new grad jobs).
I am an LPN with no nursing experience, and have been looking six months for a job. I currently work in human services and several years ago when I began working here we received medication administration training in our initial 2 weeks training. Soon many applicants were coming to work here to get the med training and then moving on to other jobs. Now our company does not med train until after an employee has worked for the company 6 months.
When I was in nursing school our local large hospitals hired new grad LPN and RN's and provided excellent training. Then we were told that hospitals were trying to obtain magnet status and they were no longer highering LPN's and the number of new grad RN positions dwindled too.
I would think the large hospitals would have a larger budget for training than the smaller assisted living facilities or agencies. However as the large hospitals stopped training as many new grads the training had to be shifted elsewhere.
In my area it appears now some assisted living facilities have decided they don't want to do the training and have the nurses they trained leave for another job.
I called an assisted living that was in a bad area of town thinking maybe they don't get as many nurses apply there and maybe they could not be choosy and might take a new nurse. The DON said she could not hire new grads but go get a year experience and come back and she would hire me. I asked her where a new grad is to get experience. She stated a list of 4 rehabs and 2 nursing homes to call and she seemed to think if I applied to them I would have a job within a week. She said she had another new grad call her that same day and she had told that new grad the same thing.
I tried to apply to her list but most of them did not want new grads either. One stated they would possibly consider a new grad but did not currently have any positions open.
I read on allnurses that RN's are going to LTC when they can't get on at hospitals. One LTC stated on the phone that they hire new grad LPN's. I applied had an interview and in the interview was told that the position did not actually require an LPN it could just be a med tech and that if I took the job and worked there a year they did not feel that would count towards those other jobs who are requiring 1 yr. nursing experience.
So the problem I see is most places don't want a huge training budget and have only a few or no new grad positions. And new RN's are having to settle for jobs that used to be LPN positions. And LPN's are having to take med tech, CNA or even volunteer work just to get their foot in the door in hopes they might land a job.
If the military has any openings and is an option for some then I wish them all the best.
tlc2u
226 Posts
Well, I don't have knowledge about military nursing but here is my outlook about why there are no jobs (especially new grad jobs).
I am an LPN with no nursing experience, and have been looking six months for a job. I currently work in human services and several years ago when I began working here we received medication administration training in our initial 2 weeks training. Soon many applicants were coming to work here to get the med training and then moving on to other jobs. Now our company does not med train until after an employee has worked for the company 6 months.
When I was in nursing school our local large hospitals hired new grad LPN and RN's and provided excellent training. Then we were told that hospitals were trying to obtain magnet status and they were no longer highering LPN's and the number of new grad RN positions dwindled too.
I would think the large hospitals would have a larger budget for training than the smaller assisted living facilities or agencies. However as the large hospitals stopped training as many new grads the training had to be shifted elsewhere.
In my area it appears now some assisted living facilities have decided they don't want to do the training and have the nurses they trained leave for another job.
I called an assisted living that was in a bad area of town thinking maybe they don't get as many nurses apply there and maybe they could not be choosy and might take a new nurse. The DON said she could not hire new grads but go get a year experience and come back and she would hire me. I asked her where a new grad is to get experience. She stated a list of 4 rehabs and 2 nursing homes to call and she seemed to think if I applied to them I would have a job within a week. She said she had another new grad call her that same day and she had told that new grad the same thing.
I tried to apply to her list but most of them did not want new grads either. One stated they would possibly consider a new grad but did not currently have any positions open.
I read on allnurses that RN's are going to LTC when they can't get on at hospitals. One LTC stated on the phone that they hire new grad LPN's. I applied had an interview and in the interview was told that the position did not actually require an LPN it could just be a med tech and that if I took the job and worked there a year they did not feel that would count towards those other jobs who are requiring 1 yr. nursing experience.
So the problem I see is most places don't want a huge training budget and have only a few or no new grad positions. And new RN's are having to settle for jobs that used to be LPN positions. And LPN's are having to take med tech, CNA or even volunteer work just to get their foot in the door in hopes they might land a job.
If the military has any openings and is an option for some then I wish them all the best.
Best of luck to all of us looking for a job.