"New Grad" or "Experienced"

[abigrace]

I've heard a lot of hospitals are only hiring (or it's easier to get a job for) experienced nurses, as opposed to new grads. Are you only considered a new grad for your very first nursing job? How much experience do you have to have to move from the "new grad" category to the "experienced" category? For example...after nursing school I'm planning to move to a city that is apparently not hiring many new grads. So, I'm thinking I may try to stay where I am long enough to get some experience in a hospital that I know is hiring new grads. So, the question is, how long is long enough to be considered "experienced" by hospitals that aren't hiring new grads?

[caliotter3]

I would say one year minimum. Someone once told me that she was coached to say she had two years experience when she was looking for work.

[SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN]

some hospitals say one year and others say two. play it safe and get two years of nursing work experience. also, many contracts for various incentives are at least two years for new grads to stay in one place after hiring. besides, i do not know of many nurses who worked for only one year who do not act like a typical new grad. in fact, many experienced nurses get frustrated with them for moving or traveling from another place after only one year of work experience. save yourself the humiliation, frustration, possible write ups, poor evaluations, and firings by not calling yourself "experienced" after one year!

by the way, after you get your license come join us on the "first year after nursing licensure" forum.https://allnurses.com/first-year-after/

- new grad rn who is milking the "i'm a new grad" line for at least two years ...

[bjz823]

Good point