New Grad RN-->No Jobs, Then what?

[lperkrn]

I have been reading through these threads and haven't seen an answer to this question. I know that it is tough to get a new grad RN position and some say they are still looking after a year post graduation. So what happens to those who get no experience and in effect are now "old grads with no experience" when the job market begins to open up again? What do those in the know recommend for those who may not be able to get a job within a year or two of graduation? Do you get more certifications, i.e. ACLS, PALS, etc while waiting for the market to open? Do you volunteer in a hospital? If volunteering, do hospitals allow clinical practice as a licensed RN volunteer? (Of course, there may be union issues with that). Essentially, will a licensed RN with no experience become obsolete since many will graduate and be "newer" when the job market opens again?

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Hi CC I can appreciate what you are proposing. However, I still do not think working for a stipend solves the issue. Where I live, the government pays half the wage, and the employer pays half the wage for up to 6 months for the new grad nurse. In other words, employers are subsidized for a period. And even still, many new grads are not being hired. I am not sure what the answer would be.

However, I do not think it is fair to expect the cut comes from the new grad. Let the politicians pay it. Many of us have expensive loans, and would not be able to survive on a stipend. In addition, myself, like thousands of others have other degrees, life experience, and work experiences. I am 37, with 21 years of work experience. While I am new to nursing, and learning, I still would not work for a stipend. I bring enough to the table, and I can sell my transferrable skills.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

For the jobs that require I year experience I would apply anyway. You never know. Also, I am noticing that in this economic climate, BSNs seem to be getting hired a little easier. Hopefully, this year, the market will open up somewhat.

[bree*]

I really don't notice anything except for a downward trend for nurses. Sad

[Azure1213]

I really don't notice anything except for a downward trend for nurses. Sad

Just wondering what do you mean by a downward trend? Dose this counteract with the demand for nurses. And after reading the last fewposts, i assumed it was to find ajob in nursing.

[QBoroRN, ASN, RN]

It's a cycle, what goes up must come down. It's only a matter of time before it goes back up. And I believe it's already picking up. More and more new grads I know who have been having a tough time are receiving interviews now and getting hired.

[cabalic]

wait for how long w/ a tight belt, bills to pay...

practice the recent knowledge w/ some money on the plate for a few weeks then starts glowing, salary gets better.

wow,you have support from the gov't!!!

thanks,...CC

[mmm333, LVN]

Just wondering what do you mean by a downward trend? Dose this counteract with the demand for nurses. And after reading the last fewposts, i assumed it was to find ajob in nursing.

Yes there seems to be a big difference two types of "demand" which can be distinguished using accepted economic terminology as "real demand" (real since there is plenty of sickness in the world which corresponds to a real need for nurses to care for those people) versus "actual demand" (there is not ample funding for the opening of positions to meet this demand with Nursing Jobs).

In an ideal world, actual supply would meet or surpass real demand. We have not lived in an ideal world since around 1999 when the NASDAQ crashed, though nursing did pretty well until people ran out of money and lost jobs in all sectors continually through 2011. It's at the point now where everyone has realized that there is little steam behind the "recovery"; that this country is not "standing back up again" but crawling up onto its knees slowly...

In a vacuum, this difference between "real" and "actual" wouldn't be as meaningful as it is in reality, but there are regulations that keep them very separated and prevent any overlap. This keeps "real" demand from being satisfied by willing labor (ie new grads looking for experience) and limits participation in satisfying "actual demand" (you have to be hired and paid into an open position before participating in care). For example, in the US I could lose my license for taking to the streets and highway underpasses to offer Mother Theresa- style care to the homeless (where I might be tempted to "play doctor" to some extent as far as diagnosing disease, etc). The laws and union rules prevent me from working unpaid or setting up my own shop.

These terms don't get porificed well enough in the discussion of a so-called "nursing shortage" which only applies to "real" demand not "actual".

There is a "real" shortage of leather massage chairs (we all NEED one in our living room, right?), but very few of us are willing to fund the cause of "MASSAGE CHAIRS FOR ALL" with our own money (thus "actual" demand is low and there is no actual shortage).

[lperkrn, MSN, RN]

I am the original poster of this thread and have been following all the great ideas that people have put forward over the past 18 months. I haven't seen much shifting in terms of "old grads" getting into acute care positions. In fact, many around the bay area, where I am located, have strict criteria that may say the applicant must have graduated no earlier than December 2009 and in some very competitive programs, the grad date is even as little as 6 months prior to the application date. With that said, the acute care position for "old grads" has become the elusive dream (if that is what you wanted in the first place). It was what I wanted, but I have always been very open to a wide variety of nursing opportunities, both in and out of acute care.

Here is my own experience. I returned part-time to my previous non-health profession so that I could pay the bills and maintain quality of life for my family. I felt lucky that I had something in my back pocket that I loved to do, but also was somewhat disappointed that I wasn't getting my year or more of acute care. I continued applying to openings wherever I could find them, in both acute and non-acute settings and at the same time, diligently looked for volunteer positions since I figured if I can't get paid, at least I want somewhere to practice. In early 2010, I found two places to volunteer: one in a juvenile correctional facility and one in public health. After two months, I was hired per diem for the juvenile facility. I have had consistent scheduling in some months and erratic in others, thus I am not able to rely on it for my primary source of income. I also enhanced my skill set by becoming a Red Cross Volunteer, volunteering with Project Homeless Connect, picking up some per diem agency work in Occupational Health, and getting ACLS certified. Soon I will do a 3 day course on STD/HIV training (the fee was waived since I don't have regular RN employment) and then PALS. All the while I have been applying to jobs when I see them. I also continue to volunteer in public health. I think it is difficult searching and applying to jobs because it is very time consuming, especially when trying to work and keep up and/or gain nursing skills through per diem or volunteer work. Sometimes I found myself wishing that I just had that ONE paid full-time job and then my life would be simplified. However, the trade off has been a lot of freedom and that is something that does not have a price tag. I still hope to find acute care employment some day, but in the meantime I am enjoying what I do and have found myself among patient populations that I never thought I would serve, but they have been the most stellar reward.

The downside to all of this is that I am not experienced in acute care. Acute care recruiters have said, "you know, your experience doesn't count for acute care." I know this, but my experience does count for something. Maybe I won't end up in that L&D position that motivated me to be a second career RN, but I have found so many other paths to travel on, and be rewarded by, that acute care isn't the only place to be.

postscript: I realize that my non RN part-time employment is what makes it possible for me to be positioned as a per diem and volunteer RN and that most RN new grads are seeking ft employment, but I wanted to share how I have made it work so far.

[nyebe]

.............

[NurseVal2525]

So here is my situation: My first degree was a BA in psychology, after working at a group home for a few years I decided to go to nursing school because I wanted to do something in the medical field as opposed to mental health field. I am an '09 grad. I passed the Nclex in July and got a job in September right in the nick of time before I became a homeless RN. However the job that I got was community psych outreach nursing. They liked me because of my background in mental health even though going to nursing school for me was supposed to be a change from psychiatric to medical. Now it's been about a year and a half doing this, I even got a promotion, but I'm feeling myself burning out quickly at this job and can't find another one. It's frustrating and senseless that hospitals are hiring for med/surg positions that require experience but won't offer any experience. I mean what happens when all of the med/surg experienced nurses retire and there is noone to replace them with because our cohort of nurses were not allowed any med/surg experience??? At this point I would be willing to pay tuition for a preceptorship. Any know of any hospitals/schools in Massachusetts that would be willing to do this?

[maxonshm]

Thank you for writing your post! I'm in the same predicament as you and have had the same questions. I graduated in Dec 2010, got licensed (Oregon) in Jan 2011 and have been searching and applying to jobs ever since. So far I've only had one interview and that did not pan out. I registered for fall classes to get my BSN, I have my ACLS and PALS certifications, and even got licensed in Washington and Alaska. I would like to volunteer at a hospital, but haven't even been able to do that. I have an interview coming up to help out with a flu clinic; while not a full time gig, at least I will finally get some real RN experience and a little extra cash:).

The longer it takes to find a job, are my chances of getting hired decreasing? Is a "fresh new grad" more desirable than an "old new grad"? I don't know what more I can do. If any nurse out there has any suggestions I'm open to them.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Keep applying and try to network as much as possible. Follow up with your applications. It isn't uncommon for new grads to take a year to land their first job. Good luck.