New Grad to be 4 months pregnant when applying

[newgrad2012xx]

Hi there!

Does anyone have any advice about applying while pregnant, and the risk of becoming the dreaded "old new grad?"

So, I recently found out that I'm pregnant. I'm now about 6 1/2 weeks along. I'm due to give labor in late December, 1 year after graduating nursing school.

Currently, I live out of the country with my husband due to his work. The plan is, and always has been, to head back to the US July 31st. I live in Italy and cannot work as a RN in the country, but I have been able to volunteer a small amount on the US military base where they've taught me to draw blood and place IV's.

I was already concerned about the job hunt when I get back home, as I'll have been out of the country and job search for 6 months! But now I'm going to be over 4 months pregnant when I start looking for jobs, so I'm REALLY concerned. I know a lot of people have had trouble finding jobs in general, and I think that being mid pregnancy is really not going to be in my favor. Especially since new grad training programs are often 6 months long and I'll be going into labor before that 6 month period is up. How do hospitals handle hiring new grads who are pregnant?

If I don't manage to start a position before the birth, I'll end up and old, new grad. What happens to old new grads?

One thought I've had was to start applying for jobs now and if I hear anything that seems like there is a good shot I'd get it, to head back to the US early. But is even possible to know if there's a good opportunity, or would I need to be physically present before finding anything out?

As a side note, I wouldn't be opposed to taking a job in LTC, or doing an immunization clinic job. I'd prefer med-surg or another hospital-based job, but I'd take anything!!

Any advice is appreciated!!!

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Welcome to AN! The largest online nursing community.

The job market here in the US is very poor. New grads are finding it difficult to find jobs without being pregnant. It will depend on where in the country you are looking, but the market remains pretty bleak. There are federal laws that prevent discrimination against pregnant women....but it is difficult to prove. Just last night 20/20 had a special called True Confessions and there was a section about HR departments towards the end......very interesting.

20/20 Season 31 Episode 102 | Full TV Episode Online - ABC.com

Congratulations on the new baby and Have a safe trip home. Good Luck!!

[h=3]The Big Lie?[/h]Without a doubt, the main source of frustration experienced by recently graduated and licensed but still unemployed nurses is what could be called "the big lie."In other words, the television commercials that encourage young people to become nurses -- and then abandon them for months (or years) without employment; and the educators who tell them that the associate's degree is perfectly adequate to guarantee employment, that they will have their pick of jobs when they graduate, and that there is plenty of time to get a BSN later on. Who knows whether it is greed, ignorance, or wishful thinking that underlies the fairy tales told to nursing students about their future job prospects? Whatever the motivation, the disillusionment of our new grads is palpable. The jobs they expected after all of their hard work just haven't materialized, and some grads are getting pretty desperate........

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Has the Nursing Shortage Disappeared?

It's that time of year again. Graduating nursing students are preparing to take the NCLEX and are looking for their first jobs. This year, many are finding those first jobs in short supply.

Reports are rampant of new graduates being unable to find open positions in their specialty of choice, and even more shockingly, many are finding it tough to find any openings at all.

These new RNs entered school with the promise that nursing is a recession-proof career. They were told the nursing shortage would guarantee them employment whenever and wherever they wanted.

So what happened? Has the nursing shortage--that we've heard about incessantly for years--suddenly gone away?

The short term answer is clearly yes, although in the long term, unfortunately, the shortage will still be there.

The recession has brought a temporary reprieve to the shortage. Nurses who were close to retirement have seen their 401(k) portfolios plummet and their potential retirement income decline. They are postponing retirement a few more years until the economy--and their portfolios--pick up.

Many nurses have seen their spouses and partners lose their jobs and have increased their hours to make ends meet for their families. Some who left the profession to care for children or for other reasons have rejoined the workforce for similar reasons.

In addition, many hospitals are not hiring. The recession brought hiring freezes to healthcare facilities across the country, and many are still in effect. Help wanted ads for healthcare professionals dropped by 18,400 listings in July, even as the overall economy saw a modest increase of 139,200 in online job listings........

Has the Nursing Shortage Disappeared?

[pixiestudent2]

Thanks esme, I didn't know that was online a few friends were talking about it and I'd like to watch!