RNs tell your hospitals to hire new grads

[DedHedRN]

There are so many unemployed new grads out there that pretty soon we are going to be willing to work for minimum wage if things don't change soon. I bet hospitals would be willing to hire lots and lots of us at that price. That might even translate to loss of jobs and decreased wages for those experienced nurses already employed.

You might want to encourage your hospital to give new grads a chance instead of requiring experience for every job posting they have. Maybe be a little more enthusiastic about helping to train them.

Anyways, its worth thinking about.

[backatit2]

Cna's are not responsible for meds, IV's, lab values and critical thinking.

okay, so since CNA's are "only" taking care of people's children, mothers, and spouses instead of their big macs and fries - they shouldn't get paid as much as mcdonald's employees?

stupid.

oh - and while i'm just a CNA as i working on my nursing degree (a 2nd degree for me) - i've met nurses who couldn't critically think their way out of a paper bag.

[RN7776]

Again that's speculation which may... or may not... prove correct. You've mixed your tenses in your thesis sentence: "are getting" and "will need" is suppositional, not factual.[/quote']

No, your wrong. I provided hard data on birth rates for the last 100 years. Its not speculation - there will be a massive increase in people needing care in the next 20 years. Unless they invent a way to reverse the aging process.

[dance4life]

Agreed, no one is obligated to "ask" their facilities to hire new graduates. Currently, my hospitals has NO open positions, we are overstaffed and nurses average getting called off once every couple weeks.

This is a rough economy for everyone, regardless of your profession. There is no recession proof job. And while the overabundance of nurses could drive wages down, it's not strictly because of unemployed new grads, there is plenty of experienced nurses not finding work as well.

THIS...

What I did was just move on from applying at hospitals. With my ICU experience I was just dumbfounded. My good friend works in the ICU she couldn't even get me in. The hospitals in my area just won't budge and they use tactics to wean applicants out. I couldn't move so I just tried something different.

Just like some of the posters suggested try somewhere different or move if possible. I had to do that as a new nurse as well, even when jobs were plentiful when I graduated.

[rn undisclosed name]

I would not be working as a nurse for minimum wage. If it ever came to that I would leave the field. To me it's not worth it to go through what I go through in a shift for minimum wage. Yes, I enjoy what I do most days and feel challenged when I am there. Working for minimum wage - screw that!

[BookwormRN]

Actually, I have given names of new grads to my manager when we have had a position to fill. And yes, we've hired new grads. (My nursing school friend and I were hired as new grads.) However, we were new grads who started as CNAs in this facility, worked as Nurse Techs and then as Grad nurses. And, our facility happened to have two openings at the time of our graduation.

We've hired new grads since that time, however, we are a critical access hospital (25 beds) and are, for the most part, fully staffed.

Just had to add my 2 cents.

[Vanillanut, DNP, RN, APRN]

I graduated in May 2010 with a BSN.

The only jobs around my area pay 19$/hour (that's private duty residential nursing). Considering I left a profession that paid considerably more then that to get into nursing, I wasn't prepared to accept that. My alternatives? I found an awesome job- my ideal dream position, working in my desired specialty- but it was 2 hours away. It also paid $30/h plus benefits. So guess what I am doing these days? A lot of driving. At least until I rack up more experience- 2-3 years or so- and can find something more desirable closer to home.

I totally agree with the people who said you're not really desperate if you're not willing to move, etc. And *I get that people have spouses/families* I am married also. But you gotta do what you gotta do. I've also gone back to school to get my specialty certificate and other various courses relating to my specialty.

One thing I'm tired of is reading new grads on here thinking things will be handed to them- whether it's because they got a degree, or whatever. Everyone works hard. Everyone has a degree, thats not special anymore. If you're not willing to put yourself in a position where you have experience AND credentials that others don't have, you're basically left to lie in the bed you made for yourself. Oh, and one last thing- those two won't get you anywhere unless you're personable, respectful and willing to learn.

"Woe is me" gets you nowhere in life, and "ticking" off older nurses is probably the LAST thing you want to be doing. I have learned more from some wise older nurses in my short 10 months then I have in all my undergrad. And if you think one nurse (or even a group of nurses) jumping up and down for a hospital to hire NG RN's.....lol well that thought just made my day. :-)

I feel for those who truly are "stuck" and have gone above and beyond and STILL unemployed. I'm not that cold. But I think the amount of people who have genuinely gone above and beyond is somewhat less then it seems.

[jeffsher]

One thing I'm tired of is reading new grads on here thinking things will be handed to them- whether it's because they got a degree, or whatever. Everyone works hard. Everyone has a degree, thats not special anymore. If you're not willing to put yourself in a position where you have experience AND credentials that others don't have, you're basically left to lie in the bed you made for yourself. Oh, and one last thing- those two won't get you anywhere unless you're personable, respectful and willing to learn.

Exactly! I find that this "entitlement attitude" is pervasive, and not limited to the nursing field.

I just took a position as a RN Case Manager. No weekends or holidays, decent pay, great benefits, and autonomy. On the flip side, I am salaried, so no OT for the 9+ hour days I will be working. But for me, it's the dream job I've been wanting, and is an up and coming field, which hopefully = job security. (in the upcoming years, there will be even more of an effort towards keeping people out of the hospital)

I started out working night shift, worked many holidays and weekends-I paid my dues. But I'm where I am at today because I PLANNED my career,focused on where things were headed in the system I work in, and made adjustments when needed. And yes, there were times when things didn't go according to plan, but with adjustments, everything is working out well.

Woe is me will get you nowhere fast.

[PedstoNICU]

It sounds like most of you are from the States. I graduated with my BSN 10yrs ago and work in Peds in Canada. It has taken me a while and have gone back to school to specialize in the NICU to be more employable. I just thought I'd share a great program for ideas: http://www.viha.ca/professional_practice/practice/new_grad/ I wish they had this when I graduated to help my confidence as a nurse. I almost quit nursing soon after graduating but so glad I stuck with it. As an aside, my sister lives in the States and I was so impressed by your nurses when my nephew was born. They had excellent nurses! Best wishes!

[Dltcawa]

I have been unemployed -due to budget cuts-for over a year after working 5 years in a clinic. Clinics arent hiring RNs, hospitals and home health arent hiring RNs unless they have hospital experience so where do I go? I have expereince in a acute settings from the clinic, am willing to learn what I need to adapt, am easy to get along with and quick leaner yet still no job. I heard long term care was the only option for new grads but for some reason I havent found any jobs there either. Meanwhile, I have a BSN and loans to pay but no job. Also aways seeeing about how there is such a shortage and unemployment dept thinks I am not looking or something> So frustrating.

[redhead_NURSE98!, ADN, BSN]

I think there are maybe six people in my class of 47 that don't have a job...we graduated Dec. 14. And we aren't the only school in town. Look, just because nursing was a field that for awhile was "fill out application, get call, take job" doesn't mean it's required to stay that way. It was one of the few that was like that. VERY few. And it will come back around quickly. It's very cyclical. Once people realize this health care reform isn't "socialized medicine," the hospitals will stop peeing their pants and start hiring whoever they can get again. Also, if anyone here is filling out "hundreds" of applications and not getting a job you're not doing it right. Again, just because you used to be able to do that, and just because the hospitals make it easy to do so, doesn't mean that's the minimum you have to do to get a job.

BTW my preceptors were wonderful. And the "old" nurses are rather nice too. I don't know how to test the waters on this one, but not everyone is surrounded by nursling-eating old biddies.

[RN7776]

Sorry for the OT post but that is just too hilarious-- "something's got to give" because why? Old nurses are all roaming around within the castle walls while new grads are wheeling their trebuchets into position after years of seige warfare? I have some bad news for you. We're in there running laps, playing chess, chugging our carrot juice, and faithfully taking our Boniva. But seriously the way some new grads talk about us gives me the unmistakable feeling of being watched by a vulture. I plan to carry an AED with me at all times, so if I code on the job I'll hope a bystander will zap me, it's pretty obvious my youthful colleagues will step over me.

No disrespect at all meant here...just a joke. However I digress....theres precious few verticals in the business world where people can work into their 60s and 70s like nursing. Its one of the things that attracts people to the career...that being said there has to be some point where someone has to retire for physical reasons (arthritis, back, chronic disease pick your poison). Those who have put it off and are still physically able god bless them..theres no reason to fault someone for working!

[linearthinker, DNP, RN]

No, your wrong. I provided hard data on birth rates for the last 100 years. Its not speculation - there will be a massive increase in people needing care in the next 20 years. Unless they invent a way to reverse the aging process.

FWIW, It is speculation to assume they will need nursing care. They will likely need primary care, pharmacologic care, but nursing specific needs is not a sure thing.