"Old" new-grads

[Nurse Maria]

We are fast approaching the one-year mark, since graduation. Will 2009 graduates, with no experience, be considered first for hiring, before 2010's graduates? This job market has made it impossible for many of us to get the 'one-year med/surg experience' needed to make room for the following year's graduates. This is very frustrating!

[Jules A, MSN]

I would guess you will all be considered in the same pool. FWIW that 'one-year med/surg experience' isn't what I would hold out for in the current market and instead would take whatever area I could get a job in. Good luck.

[elprup, BSN, RN]

Nurse Maria - welcome to the club. I am in same boat but it'll be 2 years for me! From what I have found, hospitals choose a combo of whoever looks the best on paper with experience, then whoever they like the best during interview. So, those of us (like me with 3.5 months of medsurg), and those with zero experience, do not get looked over at all. Although, I did get a call back for a hospice position, and they knew I did not have a year exp, But manager liked me so much, and said I have great potential! That perked me up a bit, but in the end the job went to RN with experience. Of course it did.

Hang in there. Keep studying, do continuing education. I've moved twice since I graduated and refuse to move my now happy teenagers again. Good luck.

[chaxanmom]

You will be in the same pool. Our orientation group has May grads as well as December grads. They do spent more time reviewing fundamental stuff though because a lot of the group has been out of school so long. Just find a job that has a good nurse residency program. That's really going to be essential for those of you who have been out of school awhile.

[Preeps]

I don't think you will be considered before 2010 grads. I would assume it would be based on what the interviewer perceives you have to offer, how motivated you are, how you interview, and various other pieces of the puzzle. To assume you would "go first" because you feel entitled would be a mistake. But because you are well aware of how hard jobs are to come by maybe you will be more motivated and take the interview more seriously and try harder. Good luck.

[pinkiepie_RN]

I graduated in May 2009 and applied for a job at a local hospital and was told because I had less than a year of experience I would no longer be considered for a job until I had a year of experience and May 2010 new grads were to be considered first.

A review of your application/resume indicates that you do not appear to have worked in an inpatient acute care setting as a Registered Nurse for the past 12 months, and it has been more than 6 months since you graduated from your nursing program. Because of the length of time between spring, 2009 graduation dates and the next projected orientation dates, we are no longer interviewing spring, 2009 graduates.

We have found that nursing staff who have been working in acute care over the most recent twelve months are better prepared for the challenges of the high acuity and rapid pace that are found here at ****. I encourage you to obtain at least twelve months of Full Time experience in a lower acuity general hospital. I hope that you will consider re applying here to **** hospital after you obtain this experience. I would like to wish you much success as you pursue your career.