I just applied for a job that looked very promising!
Oh, but then the computer sent me an e-mail saying, "no new grads." So, I walked my résumé in by hand to at least get by the screening. I was, however, told that they're looking for experienced nurses -- you know, "it's so expensive to train new grads."
So, I was thinking about contacting them and offering to work for minimum wage for 3-6 months in order to help offset the expense. (This is a non-union place so there's nothing to stop them from paying a training wage.)
I know several new grads who are working as unpaid interns (actually, they're doing it through a nursing school so they're actually paying to be med-surg nurses... good gig for the hospital, huh?) and it seems like this would be a step up from that.
My hospital has recently been hiring several new grads... it seems to me that you may need to look into relocating. But if you're young and unattached (to your current location), would it be such a bad thing?
Best of luck to you,
DeLana
P.S. Agree with pp, don't sell yourself so low (new grad pay in many places isn't great, but still more than twice minimum wage).
I wouldn't. Try home health, nursing homes, hospice, clinics or other areas outside of the hospital. If you're going to work minimum wage you may as well work at the 7-11.
Once when desperate for work, my husband offered to work for far less than what he should have been aiming for, although I don't recall if he offered to work for minimum wage. He told me that the manager who came the closest to offering him a job told him that they could not afford to hire him at the lowball wage because he was worth way more than that. It was assumed that he would become dissatisfied quickly and find a better job. I believe that most employers would take the same stance with you. They know that anyone with a professional education will not be around any longer than it takes to get something more appropriate. Do not denigrate yourself and your profession. You did not suffer through nursing school to work for wages that are lower than those paid at McDonald's, even if you could find an employer willing to take that risk with you.
There is still a nursing shortage. It WILL be worse than we could ever imagine in a few (maybe 2-3) years. Nurses on the floor know that there is limited help (lab, transporters, RT's.....).
I am seeing hospitals lifting the freeze in a few areas (meaning 50 applications for one job instead of say.... 800). I am by Chicago.
I am satisfied with my job, don't get me wrong. I love being a nurse. It doese't feel like work (yet, I'm new and love, LOVE being a nurse). Nurses/CNA's are being called off day after day at my work. There seems to not be enough help (money to pay staff). I'm sure there are nurses that would agree.
There is going to be a BIG shortage in a few years. It will hit hard, very hard.
Those who are ment to be a nurse will hold up and stay with nursing. I guess just like school. (agian, I am very new, so have that NS mentality).
I feel that with ADN programs on every corner, and ABSN programs just as readily available that the market has been glutted with "warm bodies". I worry that there will be so many looking for jobs in a few years that many will not be making the "big bucks" that a lot of these fly-by-night schools are promising. I worry about those who are truly in this profession for the right reasons. Not that making money is a bad thing, but if it's the only reason a person is pursuing nursing, they'll not be here long!
I think you have to remember what you are selling: Yourself. Every time you send out a resume, you are trying to sell yourself, your skills and your training. First rule of business is never undervalue your product. Keep filling out applications, selling your skills training, and accomplishments and I'm sure a job will come your way. Devaluing those things will only make you look less marketable when you start looking for another job or position.
I think you should do it. People who graduate with architect and visual communication degrees always do this. Work for free to eventually get into a paying position.
I would do it, and have thought about it before, I think it is a smart idea to at least mention.
After you get 6 month- year you shed your new grad label, and some money is better then no money.
I would rather do this then relocate. Its like 6 months more of paid school.
I would not do it , you would be setting yourself up for a lower pay scale when you get hired as a full time employee. If you can start looking for hospitals out of your area, or out of your city or state. I just got a job in Los angeles and they will be paying me well. However, I have taken additional training and have 2 years experienced. although , muy first year out of nursin school, with no experience I got a job paying 31.00 dlls plus night diff. good luck!
Newly graduated MD's get paid crap in thier residency, why do nurses object to getting a training wage. The avg Dr pay is what 120k and residents get paid around 30k (which is not enough to cover the tuition payments and rent and decent food), so with those numbers training pay should be 1/4 of avg pay. Avg nurse gets 60k so training pay should be 15k, that would come out to 7.20ish an hour (not sure what minimum wage is but I am sure its around that). You are getting training, and the hospital knows this, so its not a matter of getting underpaid and jumping ship when some greener grass comes along, its work at a fair wage for 6 months, in this case 7/hr, then get contracted for full wages or move on to another hospital as a experienced nurse. The fear that you will be paid less in your next job because you were paid less in your training is crap. Dr's dont get paid crap after residency, as it is a established training period. And on top of that I have never been asked what I earned in my last job, just my desired pay, good thing to as I made alot more last year then I will ever make as a nurse.
Newly graduated MD's get paid crap in thier residency, why do nurses object to getting a training wage. The avg Dr pay is what 120k and residents get paid around 30k (which is not enough to cover the tuition payments and rent and decent food), so with those numbers training pay should be 1/4 of avg pay. Avg nurse gets 60k so training pay should be 15k, that would come out to 7.20ish an hour (not sure what minimum wage is but I am sure its around that). You are getting training, and the hospital knows this, so its not a matter of getting underpaid and jumping ship when some greener grass comes along, its work at a fair wage for 6 months, in this case 7/hr, then get contracted for full wages or move on to another hospital as a experienced nurse. The fear that you will be paid less in your next job because you were paid less in your training is crap. Dr's dont get paid crap after residency, as it is a established training period. And on top of that I have never been asked what I earned in my last job, just my desired pay, good thing to as I made alot more last year then I will ever make as a nurse.
I think a major difference is that hospitals don't mind hosing nurses on a regular basis whereas physicians tend to be hugged and cuddled.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with a training wage for a definite training period when that is the policy of the facility, but a nurse offering to take a training wage when one wasn't on the table, which has a definite potential to undercut other nurses' pay in the future, is not the same as simply accepting a training wage. (This undercutting happens all the time in the medical transcription industry and has driven down wages overall.)
DeLana_RN, BSN, RN
819 Posts
My hospital has recently been hiring several new grads... it seems to me that you may need to look into relocating. But if you're young and unattached (to your current location), would it be such a bad thing?
Best of luck to you,
DeLana
P.S. Agree with pp, don't sell yourself so low (new grad pay in many places isn't great, but still more than twice minimum wage).