New Grads Doomed for years to come?

eslvn · Aug 4, 2011

I think some people are getting a little dramatic. You will probably not start out in your dream field of nursing. You may have to go into long-term care or something else for a while, but no new grads are not doomed, just may take some work getting a job. I know in some areas jobs are very scary, but I have also heard a lot off new RN's saying they cant pay their bills because they cant get a job at the hospital and refuse to work in LTC. Beggers cant be choosers...

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Aug 4, 2011

Some markets seem to be saturated, but there are areas that want nurses- if you're willing to relocate. :)

whichone'spink, BSN, RN · Aug 4, 2011

New grads are doomed no matter what their field. We're in a depression at this point, although no one wants to acknowledge it.

DarkBluePhoenix · Aug 4, 2011

I'm in so cal too.

Things don't look too promising as of now...

CharleeJo.RN · Aug 4, 2011

No, they're not. The location you're in is a huge factor - if there aren't any opportunities, relocate where there are. I recently did just that. When I got out of school, it took a few months to find a job, and it was in LTC. I had a horrible employer and an even worse time there, and I was fired after 3 months. I was devastated. Who else would hire me, considering I was fired from my first job? But someone else did. It was in LTC too, but you know what, I got a lot of experience and even more important - my confidence was restored in myself, and I actually felt capable of being a nurse. Then we moved after I graduated with my RN-ASN, and I just got offered my *dream* job today - evenings, weekends, holidays off, working in the OR/PACU with an incredible and good-humored team. But it took a few months.

And you know what got me the interview? My resume'. It stood out from anything they'd ever seen, and as the good doctor said, "I just knew you were going to be great. You are so confident. I have never met a graduate like you before. You would be great here." They were anxious to interview me based on my resume. Not because I had only 2 previous jobs and the 1st job I was only at for 3 mos. No, because of my - well, I must say, awesome - resume and my confidence. DO NOT underestimate the power of a resume. It had my picture, comments from instructors, all kinds of creative but professional things to it. It got my foot in the door!

So, if I can do it, you can too. Just have to find the right opportunity and never lose faith in yourself.

CharleeJo.RN · Aug 4, 2011

New grads are doomed no matter what their field. We're in a depression at this point although no one wants to acknowledge it.[/quote']
Not true. I'm a new grad too and even though I live in the area where new grads are pumped out as fast as unleaded gas at Citgo, I've been working. You just have to stay away from the areas that are saturated and go where it's not. Do what you can to stick out from the others. If you're not getting any bites, you may be doing something wrong. Look at the big picture. Put yourself in their shoes - the interviewers - and what would make YOU want to hire yourself? why you over anyone else? think that over, come up with your answers, and see what happens.

ChuckeRN, BSN, RN · Aug 4, 2011

Off with his head!

Cathy Semar said 109.5 positions are being cut at St. Joseph, including 58 who are leaving voluntarily and 37 who are being laid off. In addition, St. Joseph is eliminating 14.5 positions through attrition. (The half a position is a part-timer.)

glenlorie · Aug 4, 2011

Do you mind showing a small example of your resume? I have made them before, but they are always the plain Jane ones I learned to make back in high school. Sounds like you have some great ideas on how to tweak and make a resume shine!

CharleeJo.RN · Aug 4, 2011

Do you mind showing a small example of your resume? I have made them before, but they are always the plain Jane ones I learned to make back in high school. Sounds like you have some great ideas on how to tweak and make a resume shine!

You know, I was thinking about doing that. I have to work on it, to take my personal info out, but I could do it. Let me see if I can get some time and work something up for you guys :) anything to help! I've always received such great help from people here throughout school, and I'll always be grateful for that. When I do I will post a new thread. I will try to get it done soon!

ChuckeRN, BSN, RN · Aug 4, 2011

If your neighbor is unemployed, it's a recession.

If you're unemployed, THEN it's a depression. So far, it's a recession for me.

In all seriousness, I was willing to relocate from AZ to North Dakota for a job and I'm married with 3 children. If you're willing, there is a job out there for you.

New grads are doomed no matter what their field. We're in a depression at this point although no one wants to acknowledge it.[/quote']

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Aug 4, 2011

Demographics of the country, retiring baby boomers, people living longer, more elderly and of course the growing obesity and diabetic problems of young children teens means there will be nursing jobs. It is inevitable!

Also I think one way or another the govt is going to have to provide national health care. We are reaching a tipping point where so many people don't have insurance and more companies are increasing the cost of insurance and also just cancelling insurance for their employees and families that the govt will have to step in.

I doubt the mandate to buy insurance in 2014 is going to fix things. The insurance companies don't want anyone not in perfect health and I mean perfect, no blemish of any kind. So if they are forced to take people the insurance rates will skyrocket and people won't be able to afford it. As it stands now, many people can't afford insurance premiums. So I don't see this as a solution.

Insurance was meant to pool people together and decrease risk and spread it across the pool, but that is exactly the opposite of how free market individual insurance works in America. They only want a small pool of healthy people and either refuse the unhealthy or drive them out by raising rates or canceling policies or worse retroactive cancellation of insurance to maximize profits. The govt or business is expected to pick up the tab for all the rest of the sick otherwise they will lose their profits. That's why medicare and medicaid are so expensive and why employers are increasing rates or cancelling altogether.

I also think it is a driving force behind age discrimination, employers know aging workers are more likely to have health problems and higher insurance costs. I honestly believe we need national healthcare for all because the present piecemeal approach in America is leaving so many without healthcare.

The economy, and the cutbacks in medicare/medicaid, rising uninsured and underinsured is what's causing the current lack of nursing jobs in some areas. Hospitals and healthcare facilities need paying customers or they are going to layoff or close. The govt will eventually have to step in to bailout the hospital and healthcare industry when more ER's and hospitals start closing due to lack of paying customers.

Rather than bail out the legal gamblers of our country, the stock market players, banks and hedge funds; the govt should have put the money into national healthcare. Stock markets go up and down in cycles, if you don't pull your money out and it is in a diversified mutual fund, it will eventually go up.