New grad so discouraged.

SleeepyRN · Sep 20, 2012

I'm sorry I have no advice. Same boat here. My last bit of hope was thinking "ok, so I get my BSN, then MSN (specialize in an area) and THEN I'd be marketable. But no. To even get in these MSN programs I want, they require 1, 2, 3 years SPECIALIZED experience. For example, to get into a pediatric nurse practition program, they want 2-3 years pediatric hospital experience. To get a pediatric job in a hospital, they normally want at least med surg experience. To get med surg experience..... well, who the hell knows how to get med surg experience in this economy and where I live (Chicagoland). I thought the point of attending (going with my original example here) to a pediatric nurse practioner program was to learn pediatrics so you can work as a pediatric nurse in a hospital (or elsewhere)!!! But no, they expect you to already be a pediatric nurse. I feel that the nursing field is going to crumble in about 30 years when all these nurses who have experience are retiring. There wont be anybody to replace them because we never got the chance to train to take their place! I don't see the economy getting better enough to be able to hire more nurses on a unit (like 1 nurse:4 patients) making room for new grads. Very pessimistic and negative post, I know. Actually, you wouldn't know it by the way I sound, but I'm excited I finally got a job offer yesterday. LTC. One of the units (Alzheimers) has 60 residents and ONE RN at night. We do our best and families just yell at us and threaten to sue, like its OUR fault there aren't enough nurses to care for all the residents.

SleeepyRN · Sep 20, 2012

And oh my gosh, to top it off.... STOP ADVERTISING HEALTHCARE DEGREES!!!! Everywhere you look, TV, internet ads, its "become a nurse, become a medical assistant." (I do realize the irony in that statement regarding my "become a nurse" avatar LOL, but hey, that's for the Navy)They don't tell you the jobs aren't there. Don't get me wrong. If you have a passion for healthcare, no matter the economy, I would NEVER say don't do it. But all these places trying to recruit people into healthcare who haven't even thought of it, who just would go into it for the money they THINK they would make.... oh I just need to stop now. Ok care plan for myself

Assessment: frustration, resentment, low self esteem

Intervention: cuddle with my hubby

Rationale: He's awesome and relaxes me

Outcome: We'll see : )

er_rn_218 · Sep 20, 2012

Hey I was 37 when I graduated with my BSN and I was very lucky to get a job in an ICU. What I what I found that helped was utilizing all my preceptors in the hospitals I did my clinicals. Think back and contact everyone of them you had a rapport with and see if they know of positions available and hiring managers names, ask them to write a letter of recommendation and then apply with that attached. That is exactly what I did. Our program also had us put together a professional portfolio to take to interview which is impressive to hiring managers. Finally a friend of mine graduated and worked in a nursing home for over 6 months and now is at a hospital and on an oncology unit which she loves. Hang in there, it'll get better.