NeverTooLate8

I TRULY hope that the new grad situation gets better. My heart aches for new grads right now. It took me 2 YEARS to get into acute care, but it finally happened for me. I always hated the "Don't worry....it will get better......Don't worry....it will happen eventually" talks/messages but it did actually happen and I am so grateful and elated (yet scared to death too). I wish I could make things better for everyone. Please don't give up (and I know how hard it is to read that statement). Good luck to ALL!!!!!

I received a couple emails yesterday with info re: the background check and pre-employment requirements. You might want to call them if you don't receive anything this week(at least that's what the NM told me).

hi all, i am pleading with any nurse managers or nurse recruiters to offer some advice. i know everyone is sick of new grad rants etc, but this isn't really one of them. i graduated may 2009 and after 7 months & nearly 200 apps, i was able to find a job in ambulatory care (as an rn). i went to a ce class last month and spoke with one of the icu rn's that was coordinating the class. since i desperately want to be a bedside nurse, but haven't been able to find a hospital job i asked her if she had any advice as to what to do. she said "the sooner the get into the hospital the better because you are soon going to be competing with may 2010 grads". i understand that, but how do i get into the hospital if many hospitals won’t even people without acute care experience? i have been absolutely panicking ever since. i have taken as many ce classes as possible (i'm well above 30 units by now) and will keep applying to as many hospitals jobs as i can find but......... my question for managers/recruiters is: would you hire me with only my ambulatory care background? i greatly fear that i will never get into the hospital now. i do tons of im/sq's, ear lavage, nebs, blood draws, vs, triage calls/assessments, refills, and the obvious paperwork. i have floated to several different departments too (so i have sometimes assisted with taps, i.e. gastro). i would truly appreciate any advice!!

I REALLY, REALLY hope you were kidding when you said this..........

What about those of us that are not so fresh out of school? I am an old-new grad (gradated May 09) and have only been able to find work in an outpatient clinic. I worry I will never get into the hospital because I don't have "acute care" experience. Ugh. Headache. I keep hearing "Oh, don't worry honey, nursing is cyclical. It will pick up!". Yah, WHEN????? I doubt it will be anytime soon! Also, has it EVER been THIS bad???????? (Those nurses who have seen this "cycle", I would love to hear what you think.....

Thank you SO SO SO much for posting this!! I PRAY that this is true and the shortage comes back. I really, really, really want to FINALLY get my bedside nursing job. I really hope this article/survery is true.

http://www.samuelmerritt.edu/t2p

I think I know what hospital you are talking about..wish I could get a job there. I think it's RIDICULOUS that they won't hire you!! So sorry! I assume you know about the Samuel Merritt "transition" program? I would look there, if possible. I wish the best of luck to you!

In this "we-don't-hire-new-grads", hiring freezes abound economy - NO WAY. Right now, I would NOT recommend anyone go into nursing. I thinks it's a great career, but now is not a good itme to start, IMHO.

AMEN. THANK YOU!!!!

There is no nursing shortage. There are THOUSANDS of U.S. new grads and experienced nurses that need jobs!!! THEY should have priority. Sorry - this is a sensitive topic for me and REALLY angers me!:madface:

Interesting question! I wouldn’t say I regret it exactly now, but when I first graduated and had the incredible struggle to find a job, I did regret it. I have wanted to be a nurse since I was very young and I was soooo looking forward to it. I graduated and to my horror and surprise, it took almost 200 applications and 7 months to find a job – and the job I did find is not the kind of nursing I want to do (ambulatory care). Now, I am worried that I am too far out of nursing school to be considered a new grad (but also currently work as a nurse and therefore don’t’ qualify as a new grad anyway) but don’t have the “acute care” experience that hospitals want and therefore I will never get to fulfill my dream of working at the bedside. I am incredibly frustrated, sad, angry, and hurt. I still have my days when I wonder if it was worth it (since it’s going to be quite awhile longer until I can FINALLY and hopefully start of dream of bedside nursing). However, I am deeply grateful for having some kind of job at all – many new grads now can’t even find jobs in other avenues of nursing.

i said "sometimes" because, as others have posted, it does cut out some "dumbing-down" that i don't need and cuts to the chase. however, i don't typical broadcast it, because i am somewhat insecure about it: i am a new grad (well sort of...may 09 grad only able to find job in ambulatory care), so if i say "i'm an rn", i might look stupid if i am not familiar with what they say, since i have little experience. hope that made sense. my dad, too, kikes to broadcast it to complete strangers it seems. that can be embarrassing and unnecessary. it might be because he is proud, which makes me happy, but honestly people really don't care.

True story? Ugh....The thought of someone doing that seriously makes me cringe. :smackingf

I echo Nicki’s advice. The Bay Area is DISGUSTINGLY oversaturated with nurses. Even though I was a new grad (May 09), it took me 7 months to find a job. I do see quite a few postings that have “EXPERIENCED NURSES ONLY” (emphasis in job posting, not mine) – I see this so much it makes me sad, sick, bitter, and angry all at the same time. So, even though there are more jobs for exp nurses, I still think it’s wise to already have a job lined up before moving. I was born and raised here – C.O.L. is almost laughable. Depending on the area, 2 bedroom apartments can run upwards of $1500 - 2K (again, depending on region). A modest single family can easily go for half a million. As far as I know, most places are union. But, I haven’t worked for a ton of places. For an experienced RN, pay rate is quite high (hence why so many people want to move here and the area is over-saturated). You might start at around mid $50’s/hr. Majority of the hospitals (in fact, I can’t think of one that hasn’t) are on/have had recent hiring freezes. In this economy, I doubt any hospital will add relocation assistance. Good Luck!