Lots of new hospitals opening, but two years experience required?

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jul 19, 2005

Much like hospitals that "require" a BSN and yet accept many candidates with less.

When said facilities find that they cannot attract enough staff, they will be scrambling for what they can get.

The other issue, is that they are looking for experienced nurses, thinking that they will be less likely to "job hop". New grads will take a job, getting training and then sometimes leave. This contributes to turnover and is costly. In theory, more experienced nurses have the training and are looking for a place to stay.

Newer nurses also require more orientation time, theoretically. You also cannot staff a floor entirely with them unless you want some chaos to occur.

And think that your hospitals will be changing their tune when they cannot get enough staff.

BandEmom · Jul 19, 2005

The same thing is happening where i live too, (pacific NW), but I think too that when a new facility opens they want it to be staffed with experienced nurses to make the initial start-up easier, and reassure people that although the hospital is new, the skill level of the staff is solid.

Keep in mind that these 'experienced' nurses will be leaving jobs at other facilities to work there, so these former employers will not be as picky when looking for replacements.

Good luck.

SmilingBluEyes · Jul 19, 2005

You simply cannot allow that to discourage you. Keep trying. MANY places say "experience only" but do hired new, or inexperienced people. You have to be tenacious and follow up. But you will get a job if you keep trying.

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Jul 19, 2005

Along with the new facilities comes the "new" thinking of what a nursing staff should be. Too bad they don't read the fine print about how administrations should treat the nurses to keep/attract experienced nurses. Do not let this so called requirement of 2 years experience discourage you. Just by opening these facilities, a demand for nurses was created, since there is a national shortage, you will be seeing less than 2 years experienced nurses on the floor of these facilities soon. Keep trying, don't let this discourage you.

sjt9721, BSN, RN · Jul 19, 2005

The same thing is happening where i live too, (pacific NW), but I think too that when a new facility opens they want it to be staffed with experienced nurses to make the initial start-up easier, and reassure people that although the hospital is new, the skill level of the staff is solid.
Keep in mind that these 'experienced' nurses will be leaving jobs at other facilities to work there, so these former employers will not be as picky when looking for replacements.
Good luck.

I agree with the above. Imagine yourself the CNO of a brand-new facility. The budget was created by relying on projections & similar-sized hospitals. Your ability to educate/train staff is limited due being brand new. You want the grand opening phase to be as seamless as it can be. Patients want to know that the staff has experience even though the building is new.

I'm not disregarding new graduates or those with limited experience, but wouldn't you want to first advertise & establish a base of experienced nurses? After doing that...then you would have more resources for hiring & orienting newer graduates.

Make sense?

suzanne4, RN · Jul 20, 2005

You want to have fully trained staff there to begin with. Who is otherwise going to preceptor the new hires later on? It takes about two years for many to feel comfortable with what they are doing. If this facility is brand new, they want to be able to be up and running with only minimal orientation to the initial new hires. Six months down the road, they will be looking to add to staff, that is the time to apply.

elkpark · Jul 20, 2005

I agree with the other posters that new hospitals want to "hit the ground running" -- they can't afford the time and staff to be orienting new grads. The policy will probably change as time goes on and they become established.

Keep in mind, though, that many of the experienced nurses they hire will be moving from other hospitals in the area, so there will be more openings at the other hospitals ...

Also, frankly, my advice to new grads would be not to take a job in a new hospital that is just starting up -- new grads are much better off stepping into an established system that is accustomed to orienting and precepting new grads, not someplace that is figuring out how to do things as they go ...

Nancy2 · Jul 20, 2005

In the central Indiana/Indianapolis area we have what I consider to be a perplexing trend. We have had Clarion open at least two new hospitals one on the North side and the other in Avon. In addition, we have had Saint Vincent's and Community open new facilities on the North side/Carmel area. One would think that this would mean significantly greater demand for nurses. However, all of these institutions are asking for a minimum of two years experience even for med/surg positions. The "downtown" hospitals are still not requiring this (except for Wishard which is also asking for two years). Is this a national trend? Locally, we have seen many universities end their ADN/ASN programs so I would expect that this fact combined with the new hospitals would portend anything but requiring two years experience. Have you seen this in your area and if so what is your explanation?

I agree with the other posters here. The jobs will open. I would recommend that you practice marketing yourself. Make a list of things that are special about you. Take an acurate look at what you need to improve. Figure out how those two things can figure into your work life. When selling yourself to a recruiter it's important to know what your strong suits are and be able to sell those, but also which areas need improvement and have a plan to improve them. That was the question that always tripped me up when I was a new nurse.

Good luck with your career!!! :)