"stale" new grad

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I drove 3 hours to a job fair the other day.

I approached a recruiter, and told her I graduated 1 year ago and was unable to find a job, and asked if there were any positions open at her hospital. She explained how not only do i NOT qualify for new grad positions anymore, she referred to me as being a "stale" old grad, and theres already 2 new nursing class are ahead of me, and I'm not considered "fresh" anymore. may 09 grads will automatically be weeded out of the new grad process.

I'm trying to stay strong but my heart broke after she referred to me as stale. I'm only 24... Words hurt... please be kind to us..

:(

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

Ouch. Have you tried any agencies for temp work so you can get some experience? Corrections, federal or state, usually have positions open, but you may have to relocate.

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hi! im rose.. your hace a lot of specialties so why not try to other institutions or agencies?:up:

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Do you have bachelors? Or associates degree? If you have associates maybe you will want to go back for bachelors to become a new grad again (as terrible as that sounds) Also start taking extra certifications (ACLS ect) I know someone who got in as agency cause she couldn't get anything...prn is better than nothing.

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i tried agencies,.. they didn't work out for me.

I got my ACLS & I have my bachelors. *sigh*

relocation time..

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You have my most sincere condolences. When I graduated, a million years ago, GNs were preferred as we were cheap and compliant. Of course, they didn't have this crazy long orientation period that goes on for months like they do now. Why do they do that? What's the point of going to school if you have to precept with someone for weeks and weeks and weeks?

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.
You have my most sincere condolences. When I graduated, a million years ago, GNs were preferred as we were cheap and compliant. Of course, they didn't have this crazy long orientation period that goes on for months like they do now. Why do they do that? What's the point of going to school if you have to precept with someone for weeks and weeks and weeks?

Because the new grads of today are WAY BEHIND the new grads of yesteryear. I have to agree that many of them need it. The backlash to this is that hospitals are rethinking their partnerships with the new grads because most want to leave to go to NP school almost immediately and the hospitals are unable to recoup all of their costs.

That's minimum $60,000 per grad down the drain.

My own thinking as to why new grads are not as hirable as the experienced nurses, and that 5 year (3 years, too) contracts are coming into play.

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I would try to get a job anywhere..even a LTC. Then keep looking until something opens up. Even if you relocate they might still see you as "stale"

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Long Term Care.

That is terrible. I graduated in '09, and had a difficult time getting a job, too. I ended up in a LTC facility... as the RN Supervisor. Talk about trial by fire! I'm still keeping an eye out on the local job market, but now even the hospitals want experience, and this time of year is when you have a ton of new grads hitting the job market, too. have you tried www.indeed.com? It compiles online job databases, newspapers, etc. I found my job by seeking out all of the LTC facilities in a 30 mile radius and filling out applications and leaving resumes and cover letters until I was about blind. Be diligent, and definitely don't give up!

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Specializes in Pediatric Intensive Care, Urgent Care.
Because the new grads of today are WAY BEHIND the new grads of yesteryear. I have to agree that many of them need it. The backlash to this is that hospitals are rethinking their partnerships with the new grads because most want to leave to go to NP school almost immediately and the hospitals are unable to recoup all of their costs.

That's minimum $60,000 per grad down the drain.

My own thinking as to why new grads are not as hirable as the experienced nurses, and that 5 year (3 years, too) contracts are coming into play.

No offense, but i always laugh when i read something like this...why do you think those residencies are in place today???? It's because they realized that the new grads of yesteryear were NOT as prepared as they needed to be and that hospitals couldn't continue to put new grads into that position. It's not that you were better prepared...it's that nobody cared that you weren't...

Mex

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Specializes in SICU.
No offense, but i always laugh when i read something like this...why do you think those residencies are in place today???? It's because they realized that the new grads of yesteryear were NOT as prepared as they needed to be and that hospitals couldn't continue to put new grads into that position. It's not that you were better prepared...it's that nobody cared that you weren't...

Mex

No, it's that nurses are not graduating from diploma programs any more. The clinical hours of a diploma program allowed a nurse when getting a license to be able to function immediately. Those clinical hours were cut in order to do the general BS courses. Now nurses that have completed the RN degree are not functioning nurses but still nurses in training.

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Specializes in LTC/Skilled Care/Rehab.

I know how you feel! I also graduated in May 09. I have had several nurse managers ask me why I haven't worked as a nurse. Because I can't find a job!!!! I have tried hospitals, clinics, LTC, temp agencies, etc. Hopefully there is something out there for us. I was thinking of taking a refresher course to make me not look so stale anymore. ((((HUGS)))) If you ever need anyone to talk to feel free to message me. You are not alone....

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