New Grad...A must read!!!

[Thank_You_RNs]

Has anyone been turned down by a hospital nurse recruiter because you work in a long term care (LTC) facility (not an Acute experience)? Also, has anyone been told by a nurse recruiter that you might not be eligible to apply as a newly RN grad anymore because you are currently working at LTC? Or been told that you might not be eligible for the Versant Program because by the next hiring date (assuming feb 2010), it will be past 12 months from your graduation date from nursing school (a program criteria)?

The reason why I am asking is because I had this experience with a nurse recruiter and its really frustrating. I really wanted to work in a hospital setting. The problem is that they wanted experience nurses only. For new grads, they have these criterias which makes it hard for some of us, who have no choice but to work in LTC so that we can pay the bills, to set our foot into their doors.

Please share your experiences.

[SunDazed, BSN, RN]

One of my classmates was checking out the SF Bay area prior to graduating in Dec '08. She was flat out told by HR at area hospitals that the economy had changed the market. Examples she was given included part time nurses with experience were going back to full time and nurses delaying retirement.

It seemed that the people assessing the hiring needs found that the huge losses in home equity and stock portfolios and possible unemployment of spouses/life partners changed the needs in that market.

I think there still is a shortage, but right now the hospitals would rather hire experienced than put $40-80K into training each new grad they hire.

[xNurse415X]

One of my classmates was checking out the SF Bay area prior to graduating in Dec '08. She was flat out told by HR at area hospitals that the economy had changed the market. Examples she was given included part time nurses with experience were going back to full time and nurses delaying retirement.

It seemed that the people assessing the hiring needs found that the huge losses in home equity and stock portfolios and possible unemployment of spouses/life partners changed the needs in that market.

I think there still is a shortage, but right now the hospitals would rather hire experienced than put $40-80K into training each new grad they hire.

This is sad but true!!!! Has your friend found a job yet??!?!?!? I'm still looking and it seems that wherever I have applied, they give preference to those who precepted there or had some type of fat a** connection to the hospital. SO FRUSTRATING!!!! BUT gotta keep our heads up!!!! Like my friends tell me, the "RIGHT JOB WILL FIND YOU...." I really do hope so.....i'm thinking positive and maybe GOD has a better plan for me and those who haven't landed jobs yet. You know that saying, "when one door closes, another one/a better one opens...." just be patient... :loveya:

[hangin'inthere,RN]

sistasoul:

"additionally, hospitals in arizona, texas, washington and others have many, many positions that seek an rn with "less than 1 year experience." again, i am not sure where you all live; but you might want to consider applying for rn positions out-of-state in order to get a job."

i don't know where this information is coming from. i have seen in several posts how arizona is looking for people. let me assure that is far from true. i live in tucson and it looks like none of the hospitals are going to have their new-grad programs this january because of contracted people who were not picked up by their contracted hospital. these other hospitals therefore felt obligated to give them what would have been open new-grad positions. i have a friend in phoenix who was just plain lucky and got a job at a snif. let me reiterate. arizona is not open to new grads. as everywhere else they want experienced only. i am here in arizona and have applied to, and am now praying that, i will be accepted into the samaritan health critical care internship program. snif's here, as elsewhere are only taking experienced nurses also, or are just not hiring at all. good luck to all in your search. i will keep you all in my prayers, as i hope you will keep me in yours.

[Thank_You_RNs]

I haven't been here for quite sometime now. After reading all the post, it made me realize that the problem is not only here in California, but everywhere else. Just like everyone else who doesn't have enough acute experience, i'm still hopeful that one day, there will be a newly grad program awaiting for me in a hospital. However, as California HUGE budget deficit seems to be getting worse day by day, my hope of landing a hospital job is going down the drain. Some say by next year, there will be a hospital opening for newly RN grads...is this really true? Even if its true, how many openings will they have? Is it enough to accomodate the number of RN graduates? Probably not. Correct me if I am wrong but nowadays, we need inside connections in order for them to pull out our file and even be considered for a position. Do you really think that nurse recruiters will go thru each application one by one... Sorry for being to pessimist.

[job2010]

hi nurses!!! i'm new graduate as well. this is really problem now as i see all over the country. it's sad. where we can get experience if nobody wants to give us chance? :ounfortunately, this was not a good time to finish the school. but i'm sure everyone will find place its matter of time, just be positive and keep going:loveya:we came here in the world of nurses and we have to stay here for those who needs us. good luck to all.

[smn2010, BSN, RN]

while medical facilities may not be conducting a "new grad/nurse residency program" they are filling positions in arizona, new mexico and washington. i will now add nevada and texas (dallas, houston and austin). i have friends who have relocated (or will be relocating) to these states to start working as new nurses on various units. they are not part of the new grad programs that these hospitals normally have. they were hired directly into nursing units. most of them graduated in may 2009. none of them had previous nursing experience. they did a lot of networking (long-distance) and had very well prepared resumes/cover letters to represent their knowledge/skills/abilities.

best of luck to all the new grads that seek employment. just be patient.

[Reno1978, BSN, RN]

"many many positions..."

I'm calling BS on this post. There are no jobs in LTC or ANYWHERE in Washington for new grads!!!

We should all be on the pre-nursing school section of this site right now dissuading the poor innocents from even attempting to get into nursing to begin with.

WA has jobs for new grads. Heck, the nurse recruiter where I work has been recruiting new grads from Portland. I don't think you can generalize the nursing culture of the entire state just because you aren't having luck finding a job wherever you are.

[smn2010, BSN, RN]

Reno...

Thanks so much for your post. Several have called my posts "BS" because I stated that several states are hiring new grads in Arizona, New Mexico and Washington. As you stated, people need to realize that just because they are having a hard time finding a job does not mean it is the same for everyone else. Additionally, one poster indicated that hospitals are not spending money to relocate new grads from out of state. This is so untrue. I have many friends that are in the process of relocating--or have already relocated--to other states...that are "supposedly" not hiring new grads...

[zebsmom2002]

I'm in the bay area (CA) and it's quite difficult to find a job, but my understanding is that there are many opportunities elsewhere in the state. It may be a similar situation in other areas. The individual may not be in a geographic area that's hiring right now, but there may be jobs a few hours away. Good luck.

[Reno1978, BSN, RN]

As a nurse with 1 year of experience in the ICU, I was given a generous sign on bonus and had my relocation costs paid to move from NV to WA state. The benefits, compensation, and working conditions where I work are excellent!

As far as new grads, we just opened a new/larger pediatric unit, and a new cardiac unit opens in December. Lots of new grads have been hired for the cardiac unit, medical, surgical, intermediate care/step-down, and we even take a few new grads in the ICU throughout the year, although most new ICU employees are experienced RNs from other ICUs or have at least 6 months experience on another floor in the hospital.

I live in southeastern WA, and a friend of mine that just graduated from the ADN program here says that the new grads from his class, that decided to stay in this area, are employed. The ones that came here for school from larger areas like Portland or Seattle and have gone back looking for jobs are having difficulty.

As far as the Bay Area, going to school in NV, I thought about moving there after school, but after touring some hospitals and talking with the recruiters, it's such a sought after location to work that they have the ability to be very particular and require years of experience and they'll still get loads of qualified applicants, which essentially pushes new grads to the side. I think people who have a few years experience are much more able to find a job in that area. I have a good friend from Reno who recently landed a job at UCSF and one of my classmates (I graduated 12/2007) just moved to the North Bay and had no problem landing a nice job. Makes me wanna head to Cali!