New Grad Dilemma

[nurse_kv]

So if a new grad, such as myself, has been applying and searching for a new grad acute care program for the past 17 months with no luck, should I choose another route such as dialysis for the mean time? I've read through the threads that talk about how a new grad should do med/surg or critical care before dialysis but in this job market, I don't have the luxury to choose one or the other. It's either go with an non-traditional new grad nursing job or keep waiting until who knows when I'll finally begin in acute care. I've been doing work at a primary care clinic per-diem, flu shots seasonally, as well as wellness clinics sporadically. An possible opportunity just came to start as an RN trainee for dialysis, and I'm just wondering what I should do.. Thanks for any advice in the advance!

[nativehunny]

Hello

I think this kind of thing is a dilemma for all nurses who are within 5 years of post graduation. At a recent nursing conference, it was stated that 40% of new grads cannot obtain permanent work. Why is it that nurses are in shortage? Where are they in shortage? I don't know. I live in quite a rural area on a reservation and even with my Master's degree I cannot get hired.

I would take whatever you can get at this point. I know this is hard because you do not want to take a permanent job and then leave but I think you will find great joy and job satisfaction with dialysis. Remember there are many types of nurses and nursing not just the typical acute care or MS nurse. When considering a job think also think about the pay, OT, enviroment, and hours/days involved. This may make the dialysis job worth it. Hope this helps :)

[PACNWNURSING]

17 months looking for work that is really tough. Your story unfortunately is going on all across the country. The over exaggeration of the nursing shortage has reached a point where people have spent a large amount of time and money with no payoff. This is not going to change for a while. Nursing has finally reached a point with other college professions with no guarantee of work upon graduation. The ANA needs to stop allowing the false advertisement of nursing being a recession proof career. As far as finding working, my recommendation would be to do a nursing refresher course in order to get yourself back in a clinicals to get your face and work ethic in front of charge nurses and managers. Nursing students clearly have the advantage of doing clinicals in the hospitals and catching the eye of managers. Dialysis is a good alternative in the interim.

[himilayaneyes]

Yes, it is recommended that anybody in dialysis have some type of critical care experience. Most dialysis nurses I know were critical care nurses. However, 17 months w/o a stable job is a long time. I say take the job. However, if you take the job...brush up on your acls and take a critical care course..various companies offer them like critical care concepts...it'll give you some type of education especially since you don't have any acute care experience. Unfortunately, this is happening to new grads across the country despite the so-called nursing shortage. Good luck.

[Tsiasn]

So basically you're asking if you should take a job which will pay some bills..... or be unemployed for who know's how long....?

tough one :)

[netglow, ASN, RN]

Me too OP, dialysis however in my and neighboring states, is a no go unless 2yr medsurg or preferred ICU experience to be considered, and then... they will teach you dialysis.

I am at my wits end as well, and am even heavily considering Hospice RN case management (LTC, not home). Sure, would rather start elsewhere as we should all, but it's not happening. I have experience being self-employed, and in management, and have no problem being on my own, being in charge, and finding my resources on my own if need be. This company has a short orientation. So, maybe I'll fly?!

Was unhappy to get a mass email recently from a large hospital network near me of an open house, NO NEW GRADS. Only those with 0VER one year need show up. To this, I immediately hit up the recruiter for info on WHEN they will consider NGs, he said not in the foreseeable future. All facilities in my wide scope are now part of huge networks, even LTCs. Gone are the days where you could give each hospital a try. It's all through the websites, and all through a central website for all satellite hospitals.