Stale Grad

My letter to the Survey: "I am writing to respond to the BRN New Grad Survey I just took online. I just wanted to point out that the survey fails to grasp the true “impact” of society’s complete disregard for RN new grads. To my knowledge the majority of my class (2010 CSUEB BSN) and the class before me have been unable to land RN jobs. The majority of those who went through the additional unpaid internship offered through the school fared no better. I hope you have heard of the term “Stale Grad” because this is what I and my fellow classmates and 1000’s of new grads have become. A stale grad is one who is deemed too far out of school to be considered hirable…as if we ever were in the first place. It is impossible to compete with new grads fresh out of preceptorships. The impact for me is substantial. I have lost everything. My prior career is gone while my new one is a never was. I was told (literally) by counselors and instructors about my future in nursing and how it was unlimited in options. I planned on going for my masters for NP. Well as it turns out I have zero options. I can do NOTHING without acute care experience. Higher degree in nursing?---NO! Admin RN work?---NO! SNF??---NO! Anything nursing related?????---NO! Must have 1-2 years acute care experience to do anything! So you know, I was not picky. I applied to everything I could find--was willing to move—work any shift—any floor—any specialty/setting—would take anything. Even tried to get into the armed forces but was denied. So now, at 35 Y/O, I have to start over again from scratch knee deep in debt. Where does one go from here? I am at a complete loss. I put everything on the line and passed my RN courses with flying colors and great letters of recommendation which I will attach for you to see. It was all for nothing because everybody turned me down. I am now in debt (school loans) and about to default. It should also be noted that the BSN is a completely useless degree outside the realm of nursing—a complete waste. The true impact (which your survey will never demonstrate) is that going to RN school destroyed my life to the effect that I may never recover. I am in financial, occupational and mental ruin. My license expires today; I am not renewing. I am not chasing this ghost anymore. I can not afford to financially or mentally. Seriously, how much dedication, time and money does one need to devote to have job today? I guarantee you my story in not unique. I find it sad, disgraceful and embarrassing that I am considered incompetent and unemployable after spending 3 years in a dedicated RN program. Perhaps that is the problem. The educational system is fundamentally flawed, inefficient and a complete disservice to most who waste their time with it. I have lost all faith in our educational systems and find the curriculum to be laughable at best. The question begs: Why is CSUEB spitting out 150+ new grads each year when everyone knows the bulk of future grads will never become RNs? At what point do we come together with a class action lawsuit against the RN schools for encouraging enrollment with false promises of practically guaranteed high-paying RN jobs?"

There is a difference between nursing and other degrees. A business degree can be used in several different settings while nursing is very specific to nursing only. The degree is pretty much useless outside of RN positions. At best it lies with a liberal arts degree that has no real focus. Sad, really sad. I am at a point where the degree is actually a hindrance. As for going on to a masters in nursing--- why? Very few NP programs will accept you w/out acute care experience (at least a yr) and the few that do will graduate you to unemployment in the same boat. You can get as many degrees and certs as you want and they will all be useless without (say it with me) “1-2 years acute care experience”. That phrase will turn into your mantra within 3 months of looking for a RN position post graduation.

In SF bay area it is next to impossible to get anything. Same goes for the entire state of CA. 700-1000 people compete for a handful of jobs. I have been looking for a year. About 10% of my graduating class got jobs. Of those 10% most had hospital experience (cna's) or had family members/friends to get them in the door. The degree is turning out to be a goose egg--what a waste. I noticed that what new grad programs that are acailable require that you be a new grad (2011), so people like me are screwed. You have a 6-8 month window of opportunity to get a job after graduation. I you don't get one by then you, and your degree, are SOL. I asked a professor about the "Refresher Course" they offer ($1700 in tuition) and questioned if those taking it are fairing better in the job market. Her reponse was "not really". 6 years ago things were different. Now things are screwed up and the majority of those who graduate do so to unemployment which eventually (and most often now) leads to "stale grad" unhirable status.

Ok, it has been a year and nothing. I have tried everything to no avail. I am no longer considered a new grad and am unhirable. This is a fact. So the question is "now what?" The majority of NP programs require (say it with me) 1-2 years acute care experience and the ones that don't will graduate me to unemployment. I do not want to repeat the same mistake and end up a stale grad with a masters and no job. Any ideas? I know a lot of you will say "keep on trying"--"never give up nursing", but I am ready to move on. Unfortunatley one needs to know when to cut your losses and I have decided that it is time. I have a BSN and wonder if anyone has any thoughts or info about Masters programs outside of nursing that can be transitioned to. I would like to stay in healthcare but will entertain other settings. Teaching maybe? Let me know what you think.