New grads having trouble finding jobs

HappyPediRN · Nov 16, 2008

Hi Lee. You can count me in as one of those new grads. I graduated in May, licensed in July, and still haven't found a f/t position. I'm working per diem right now. I have been on a few interviews, and one place even went to administration for funding to create a position for me, which they did but it will not start until the end of January and I'm not sure if I can financially hold out that long. I have two or three interviews coming up in the next couple of weeks, and they are all for my dream job! I know better than to get my hopes up but it sure would be nice. I'm in MA.

Jules A, MSN · Nov 16, 2008

Hi,

I do think it depends on the area where you live but here, Balto/DC, the jobs and opportunities for new grads are excellent, imo. One thing to keep in mind is that hospitals often have new grad orientation programs that operate twice a year around the time many schools are graduating students so if your graduation isn't in that time frame you might need to wait a bit.

suzanne4, RN · Nov 16, 2008

The foreign nurses that came here actually came over with green cards or permanent residency. At least the majority of them did. For those that are on temporary visas, they can get cancelled at anytime by either the US government or the employer.

But this is not the issue, the issue is that new grads need a specific orientation or additional orientation time and this is what is becoming harder to find in many areas. If one has several years of experience, then it is not an issue finding a job in most areas. But as a new grad, it is. Remember that the best orientation programs for new grads are never larger than 12 to 15 new nurses at a time. Look at the number that are graduating in certain areas, and that number is not going to give many a chance to get in.

The issue is being a new grad; not foreign nurses that are here. They already have experience. And there has been a retrogression in place for over two years now, meaning that there has not been much in the way of visas for them.

The West Coast and the East Coast have the most issues with new grads finding positions, and these places are not hiring foreign nurses for the most part either. Much has already been written on this topic. One may have to move to get the needed experience.

There is never any job that is 100% recession proof. Even nursing. It is always going to be affected as well, just not as bad as some others. Nurses do get laid off as well.

Shadow31 · Nov 16, 2008

I graduated in May (with honors), licensed in Massachusetts in September, have been applying to every open position since the beginning of September, and I am still unemployed. I graduated with my BSN in Nevada and have heard from my former classmates that they have had a difficult time finding employment as well.

As many have said on the boards here, they find it difficult to have to explain to people why they can't find a job even though there is a so called "nursing shortage". I believe that in some areas (rural) that there is a nursing shortage, while in others the market can be saturated (Boston). I do understand that in Las Vegas (where I moved from) that many hospitals have closed a floor or two and will not be staffing them do to financial restraints. Situations like these do not help those that are new grads either.

Some nursing schools tell you nothing about having a difficult time finding employment once you graduate; I was told the opposite.

I do know that in many areas they are short experienced nurses and are not interested in new grads. I hope that once we get that first year of experience our hardships of finding employment will change.

Xbox Live Addict · Nov 16, 2008

I'm in Oklahoma. We still have ads all over the place with huge sign-on bonuses and "new grads welcome". Of course, we had one of the worst nursing shortages to begin with.

But no, nursing is NOT recession-proof. More people are putting off the pricey, lucrative elective procedures they would have gotten when they had jobs with insurance or when they at least felt less insecure about their finances and the future of their own jobs. I imagine a bigger chunk of the care provided by hospitals is emergency care for those whose ability to pay is limited - and with job losses due to recession, there's going to be a LOT more of that. With hospitals, just like anywhere else, lower profit means lower hiring and more layoffs.

NursKris82 · Nov 16, 2008

I live in MI and the area I'm at both of our hospitals is barely hiring. However, if you go 30-45 mins away there is much more opportunity. I want to go into a cardiac step down and that's not avilable right now in my area for a new grad. So, I plan to stay in LTC for a year and continue to read and take classess and seminars to make me more knowledgable and desirable and also cultivate other passions I have and goals I want to meet. This was not my first choice, but, for me, I think it's a better one. Nursing school can consume your whole life. I'm a great nurse, but I'm so much more and this time will give me an opportunity to be and work on those other things. At the nursing home I can continue to work on my time management and assessment and learning how to deal calmly with emergencies and looking at labs and meds and all that good stuff. In a year I'll already be a new, but semi- experienced RN with a resume full of classess and seminars that make me a knowledgable and valuable part of the team. :nuke:

lee1 · Nov 19, 2008

Well I certainly can look around the hospital where I work and see MANY foreign faces, whether they are here on permanent visas or temporary I don't know. I do welcome these nurses BUT if they are here on only temporary visas and my own American trained nurses who need jobs are being displaced because of it, then obviously they are not needed at this time.

Hospital nursing, longterm care nursing is where the shortage will probably be most acute eventually unless working conditions change more and more to keep nurses in their jobs. Low salaries for professors has also been a great problem to attract nurses back into teaching.

mr.ahp · Nov 19, 2008

I don't think that the economy is the problem although I also don't think that nursing is a "recession proof job". There are other reasons that nursing could be slowing in some areas. Most of our elderly population(WW2 vets and so on) are diminishing which accounts for most hospital stays AND nursing home census, which are also slowing. While the boomer's are actually fairly young and most are still working and with less health issues than the past generation.

This is the most simple graph I was able to find, It is a little out dated but you only need add 8 years to it:)

if you notice the majority of boomers were born between 1960-64 which would only put them at 44-48

http://www.metlife.com/WPSAssets/19506845461045242298V1FBoomer%20Profile%202003.pdf

lee1 · Nov 20, 2008

In the state where I live the economy is part of the problem as there have been at least 5 hospital closings in the past year and that means many experienced nurses have been displaced. The amount of charity care, medicaid, illegal immigrants that are constantly pouring through the doors is astounding, everyone's taxes are going up/up/up etc. to pay not only for medical care but education also for the children of illegal immigrants.

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Nov 20, 2008

Come live in Phoenix Arizona there are lots of jobs. I came over here 3 years ago as a 'foreign' trained nurse with 17 years of experience. I train American new grads every day I work I also train American student nurses a job I love but I do it because a lot of the US trained nurses dont want to do it, so it passes to me. I get thanked by these New nurses and students on a regular basis because I am so thourough.

Now I have several new job offers all promotions, and my place of work is asking me to reconsider leaving. So this foreign trained nurse is an asset. Plus I pay my dues.

Roy Fokker, BSN, RN · Nov 20, 2008

I hope that once we get that first year of experience our hardships of finding employment will change.

As a new grad not too long ago, it took me a good 6 months to find a job.

About 2 years into that job, I decided to switch (didn't really like what I was doing, plus it was TOXIC work environment).... and it took me about 4 months to land my current job.

I've come to the conclusion that the 'hiring process' is tedious and long - no matter how/what the situation turns out to be. I admit to being frustrated and feeling dejected while I was job hunting.

Don't give up hope... is all I can say.

And if you are really finding it difficult to get your 'dream job', learn to make concessions and work a job that is your 2nd or 3rd preference. Ultimately, you'd be gaining "experience" and that will stand you in good stead when you decide to switch.

cheers,

PS: 'Foreign nurses' - be they from the Philippines or Canada or the UK - aren't a shoo in. Department of Labor laws require the institution hiring non-American nurses to demonstrate that their needs aren't being met by the local market. Institutions are required to advertise openings - both within the institution itself and also in the general job market for at least 30 days ... before a foreigner can be hired. Also, 'foreign nurses' are paid the same rate as American nurses - it's illegal otherwise.