trace_element

only 2 weeks???? girl don't sweat it, you don't need to use it. The 'background checks' are basically to see if you have a criminal history. Employment checks they will call your previous employers but legally they can only verify the dates you worked there and if you are rehirable or not.

I'm in the same boat, having worked psych and ltc (3years) and then trying for acute care jobs. It seems hospitals don't even consider those jobs for experience. It stinks to then have to hear about the supposed 'nursing shortage.' There was a thread going yesterday about this.....that hospitals really are only looking for EXPERIENCED nurses.

It does seem that there are just as many, or more, 'pre-nurses' than there are nurses here at 'allnurses.'

And then there is the issue of even getting a new grad job - there is another thread going on about this. It is all about supply and demand.

I have been looking for jobs in the Denver area. I have been a nurse 3 years but have worked LTC and psych b/c that was what I could find at the time in my community where there is an oversaturated market of people with my same level of experience. I am looking in the Denver area b/c it would be a waste of time to try to get a job where I currently live...without experience that is. Well just look f at the denver hospital job boards.....they are very adament that you need 1 year of recent acute care experience. I suspect the reason for this is that there are also alot of new grads in the Denver area, so they can afford to be picky and they just don't have trouble getting new grads. Thre are alot of nsg schools in Denver. I even emailed the nursing recruiters and they told me to apply to the new grad programs. Upon further research it is very competitive to get into these programs. And ICU is and even more competitive job to get b/c everyone wants to work there. And ER and L&D. Sorry if that is rambling but to answer your question - it is just hard (and getting harder) to get your 'foot in the door' as a nursing grad - especially in some areas. After you get a couple years acute care experience that is when you are marketable. So it is becoming an issue that graduating more new RN's than the hospitals can hire is counterproductive.

UKstudent hits the nail on the head!!!

Thanks Nurse Salt. I agree that Wendy79 brings up a very valid point. I right now am very discouraged about my nursing career (long story) basically related to this issue, however. I suspect we will begin hearing more about this dilemma soon as grad RN's start hitting the job market and run into trouble getting into acute care positions....which is going to be happening soon.

Yes wyo CC's admit on a competitive basis. When I was there the rumor was (probably true) that if you were 'somebody' in the community, that would get you in more than anything else and it wasn't really fair how they decided who got in. Don't know if that has changed or not.

Sorry Editor2RN:uhoh21: I was implying to the other poster who seems to be most interested in the paycheck.

I was always under the impression that special ed teaching jobs were easier to get than regular teaching jobs d/t the fact that fewer people want them. I think it is a very noble profession. Have you ever considered speech therapy?? I hear that is a very good field and you could still put your special ed skills to use. That is what I wish i would have went into. You probably could just go for the masters and I think some universities offer it online. It is a very broad field - you could work in a school, hospital, rehab center,ect. That way you wouldn't have to totally start all over such as with nursing.

Even if the nursing job market is good, that isn't what it is all about. Nursing can be a very high stress job, you are often subjected to unsafe working conditions, horrible and unfair managers, increased chaos in your life d/t working random shifts....and other factors which is 'why' there is a 'nursing shortage.' Alot of 'nurses' don't even work as such b/c they hate the job. I know several. I would be careful about only going into it for the $$$

Careerbuilder.com confirms this. Also, they aren't pushing out tons of grads compared to other jobs. Over 100000 applicants are denied each year That is applicants to nursing schools....not actual nurses. I bet when the word gets out that these nursing grads that are already being put thru the programs can't get jobs -as I believe this will become more and more the case -so many people will stop applying.

To prove my point (to Onyx)....Editor2RN you say that you are a highly qualified teacher. Your complaint is that there are no teaching jobs in your area - why don't you move somewhere where there is?? I know there are lots of teaching jobs in Wyo! Probably b/c you don't want to leave your family, ect and aren't interested in relocating? It is the same issue in nursing - there are so many non traditional students who aren't interested in moving to where the jobs are....where ever that may be for new grads. That is why they are IN nursing school is for the motivation to get a decent paying job LOCALLY. They also want to protect their economic interests and that of their children, families, ect. It seems that in is the case of 'the right hand doesn't know what the left is doing.' The gov't has jumped all over this issue and provided money,ect for colleges to increase nursing programs - but then facilities don't want to (or can't)hire all the students going thru the programs. And also - the bls.com and those other job outlook guides don't tell the whole story Onyx....I would listen to people who are in the field.

I totally agree with you Wendy.....I have posted about this as well - it is very competitive to get hired as a 'new grad' where I live (northern CO). There are several nursing schools and they have increased admissions in the past 4 years or so. However, people are still flocking to get in. I tried to warn a pre nursing student a couple weeks ago and she looked at me like I was on crack. I believe that part of the problem is that nursing schools are attracting alot of 'non traditional' students who are already established in their communities with spouses,kids, houses, ect. and are probably not very interested in relocating to where there is a 'shortage.'

As I am reading your post i am thinking to myself "Giving birth was was of the most monumental and important experiences of my life. It is scary that the nurses who take care of me in this time would be bullied and treated the way you are describing - just for taking good care of the pt." Some nurses (and people in general) are just bullies by nature and and it sounds like that is what you are dealing with.....and some nurses just love to complain to mgmt over anything they can so maybe that is what is going on with getting called in the office (it happened to me recently).....sometimes you are better off just to ignore it but I guess it will depend on how your meeting goes. Preceptors should understand that it takes a while to get up to par and should assist you in that, but unfortunately some are more understanding of that than others. Keep you chin up and hang in there - but do what is best for yourself in the end. p.s. I also empathize with you about losing your train of thought when people are watching over you relentlessly......maybe in your meeting you should bring this up and just respectfully ask for another preceptor?? Say that you really don't connect with your current one.....which is understandable.