New Grads vs Me. I hate this economy.

Nurses Career Support

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So I graduated in May 2009 when the economy took that wonderful fall and all the glorious stories you heard during nursing school, such as "$10,000 sign on bonus", "hospitals need nurses!", "you'll have job security as a nurse" disappeared.

Blah! Whatever. $10,000 sign on bonus? It's like a fairytale now. Yeah, I have a job, but I'm not happy. I want to be in the hospital on the floor giving patient care. I want to hang IVs. I want to work 12 hours nights. I want to spend more time with my 10 month old son, instead of coming home M-F at 6 at night only to feed him, bath him, 1 hour of play time, and then off to bed. It kills me everyday I leave him, because I DON'T DO ANYTHING as a clinical supervisor. I can feel the life being sucked out of me here and 6 months have passed and I have achieved nothing and learned nothing in my career. So I've been apply since August only to hear that I have no hospital experience and my 2 years triaging patients and supervising in a family practice is worth crap. Ok, but the New Grad you're hiring is more experienced then me, how? I can draw blood on the hardest of them all. I assess wound healing, remove staples and sutures, triage on the phone and in person. I have experience in ALL age groups-peds, geriatrics. Toradal, Epi, Phenergan, Rocephin-I give them too. I have to manage my time and prioritize just like the RNs in the hospital. I have to balance blood draws, immunizations, allergy/testosterone injections, ekgs, spiro, ALL while making sure there is a patient in the room for the doctor to see. So why is it I'm being overlooked? I just need some advice. Any HR people out there? I've applied to 12 different hospitals sent 100s of applications and got 1 interview in August, only to be denied and every application I have sent after has been de-nied. So I'm at a loss. I don't want to risk losing my license and my sanity in a SNF or Rehab. I haven't followed up w/ calls to HR. I want them to know I'm really interested, but don't want to come across as harassing. Majority are city hospitals in DC or the surrounding area, so that whole "bring your resume to the unit and ask to speak to the manager" is not going to work. I don't know...

Specializes in Pediatrics.

I am curious as to what others have to say too.

I know in my area, the hirring freezes are starting to thaw, but what is happening now, is the hospitals in my area have new grad internships, that if you have more than a years experience you are ineliblie to apply for. At the same time the same hospitals want you to have a years experience in acute care, and will not consider the SNF/Rehab as experince.

I know the SNF I have been in, I have taken care of vented patients, currently I have 4 patients with IV ABX with PICC lines, one with a wound vac, 2 paitents with CA, 4 or 5 ortho paitents and a bunch of LTC CHF/Cardio patients.

But my experience dosn't count, it counts to elimante me from being considered for new grad programs and a way into a hospital.

I am worried about those of us who graduated during the economic down turn who were not able to get that magical 1 year med surg experience will have a much harder time getting into a hospital to get that experince, and while we all took what ever jobs we could find to get some kind of nursing experience waiting for the economy to improve will now be looked over for new grads.

I am worried about those of us who graduated during the economic down turn who were not able to get that magical 1 year med surg experience will have a much harder time getting into a hospital to get that experince, and while we all took what ever jobs we could find to get some kind of nursing experience waiting for the economy to improve will now be looked over for new grads.

Hallelujah!! :yeah:I thought I was the only one in my boat. Welcome aboard the "Stranded at Sea b/c we have no Hospital Experience" Cruise Ship, LoveMyBugs! Would you like a "Where's my career going?" Margarita? Or maybe a "Hospitals Like to Reject Us" Pina Colada. Our cruise destination is Unknown. We're "inexperienced". Lol. :lol2::D:lol2:

Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

I'm sorry you are having a rough time in this economy. I was one of the "lucky" ones of 2009. Grass isn't always greener though. If you work 12 hour nights, as most new grads do, I guarantee there will be periods where you don't see your child for 2 or 3 days sometimes. It's really devastating to me when I have two or three crazy shifts in a row, and I come home and just pass out from exhaustion. I wake up, and he's napping, or my husband and him aren't home, I get ready for work, and do it all over again. I would honestly do almost anything for that hour a day where you get to spend time with your son, and the two weekend days you get. My days off are spent trying to wake up before 4 pm so I can spend a little time with my boy, and even then I'm tired so I just sorta lay on the couch with him hoping that's enough. And it's hard to arrange all your days off in a row, to where it's enough time off to actually wake up early enough to do something fun.

It's really hard to work nights with a child, sometimes I cry because I feel like a bad mom because he sees me so little. Perhaps until you get the job you want, think of it as a blessing that you got this time with your child.

Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

You need to make some personal contacts with employees at the hospital. Find some way to get face time with a nurse manager so you can slip the above info in and get some personal consideration.

I know this is hard to do, but be creative.

Specializes in LTC, Pediatrics, Renal Med/Surg.

I agree with NickiLaughs...it sounds like you spend about as much time as you most likely would with your son if you were to work nights in the hospital. Unless you've done nights before you won't know how well you will adapt to it and be able to get up and spend time with your baby. I realize that you want to get out for more experience though and I can understand that. Networking seems to be the best way to get a job period.

Also I would start calling HR and inquire. It can't hurt seeing that you're not getting callbacks anyway.

I hope you find the job you want!

I graduated in May 2011 & have passed boards. I have never worked in healthcare. I too listened to the fairytales - well to call it a fairytale in the past is wrong b/c those things did exist until the economy tanked. We are the misfortunate ones - the sand ran out in the hour glass before we finished school. If nursing schools are using this ploy with students now then it is a fairytale and they need to be shut down - my two cents lol. I get turned down on all my applications b/c of "No Experience". I am beginning to think trying to get "Experience" is a mythical creature. Family, friends, & acquiescences think the reason I haven't found a job is b/c I am not trying hard enough. Everyone is still drinking the kool aide about how easy it is to get a job as an RN. I can't even get a job at a LTC facility b/c they want 1 year of experience. I have applied for the New Grad slots - it is very very very competitive...so don't get too bummed about that. I am finding & hearing what it takes to get hired is all about who you know or who your family or friends know.

Specializes in Neonatal ICU.

I have 20 years experience but no hospital experience within the past 2 years. I get rejection letters that say they don't hire new grads into this position! It's ridiculous. I wonder if my applications really get read past "date of last employment". So, I hear your frustration!

I have 20 years experience but no hospital experience within the past 2 years. I get rejection letters that say they don't hire new grads into this position! It's ridiculous. I wonder if my applications really get read past "date of last employment". So, I hear your frustration!

:eek:

Here are some suggestions.

-try making a graphic, eye catching resume. There is a whole new style of resume out there, what have you got to lose?

- email nurse managers in areas you are interested in give them a short synopsis of your experience and ask what you can do to make yourself more marketable if you were a candidate. This may seem annoying to some, but someone else may feel you're a go getter. I have a friend that emailed a nurse manager expressing interest in her unit. The NM emailed her back and said, let me know if you'd like a tour, I'd love to show you around. My friend went on a tour, one thing led to another, and now she's happily employed there.

- email the HR Dept of hospitals you've applied at

- network

- are you near the nursing school you attended? Call them up and ask if they can help you by looking over your resume and giving you any insight into the nursing situation in your area.

-watch for job fairs

I'm fortunate, I graduated in 2006 when jobs were plentiful. My area has been hit hard by the economic downturn, but there are still Nursing Jobs available. I hope something in this message is helpful.

Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Does your resume list the skills that you listed in your OP, or does it simply list your job? Perhaps revising your resume to emphasize the skills you have would help.

you should be grateful that you have a job

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