Should new grads apply to 'any' RN openings they can, even those requring experience?

[marciella]

I have applied to mostly jobs stating that they are accepting new grads, or considering new grads, or even those that say experience 'preferred', but not the ones that say experience required.

My significant other thinks that I should apply to as many openings as I can, even if they say experience required, or even if they say 'new grads need not apply', and that with any career it's possible to be given a chance if they like your resume, references, and cover letter enough, despite the lack of experience. But I tried to explain that with nursing, the hospital or facility needs to have a preceptor available for a new grad orientation, and if they don't, no matter how good they may like the applicant, they cannot give him/her the job w/o the experience required.

He said that I'm not trying enough and that I should give any opening a try, because people have succeeded even with no experience in many careers. I also explained that I wouldn't be a safe nurse trying to do a job that I wasn't qualified for, and there are some things I wouldn't be comfortable trying alone since I may not have tried them in nursing school yet.

Do you think some people are actually given consideration w/o any experience, even though the position lists experienced required?

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

You sig. other is correct that many people ask for and get jobs that say "experienced required". What he might not know is that the culture the new grad works in might not be a friendly one or even a hostile one.

For example, say there is a shortage in the ER and management decides to hire new grads. The staff there is going to be busy and resentful that they have to train someone from scratch and the poor new grad will here things like "they should never hire new grads here", "I'm too busy to baby sit", etc. Many of these areas require a critical thinking set the new grad may not have.

I would say that unless there is a program set up to nuture and orient the new grad properly don't apply to positions that require experience, unless you know someone or you get turned down for all those other positions.

This is just my opinion.

Good luck.

[BonnieSc]

I would say if you are applying so widely without having much luck, it's unlikely you'd be hired as a new grad for positions that specify experience is required--sounds like your area isn't desperate for nurses.

It is hard to explain to those outside the nursing field that getting that first job in nursing is NOT equivalent to getting a first job in business or other fields like that. I have tried to explain it as being similar to residency for doctors--even though they have the MD, they can't go out and practice until they've done a residency. When we come out of nursing school, we aren't ready to practice independently.

It sounds to me like you know what you're doing.

[marciella]

Tweety and Wendy,

Thanks for the responses. I had a big argument with him over this, since he kept saying that I am not trying hard enough to grab any opportunity available, and that highly successful people knock on all doors, etc. etc.

But he doesn't understand nursing is not like other careers, when people are just starting out. Some careers people may learn on the job or read a manual and maybe do ok, but with nursing it's different.

[jjjoy, LPN]

Instead of trying to convince him that his view about this is incorrect, is there any way you can step up your job seeking approach to satisfy both of you that you are doing all you can? For example, try to make appointments for 'informational interviews' with nurse managers in different facilities and units. That can sometimes lead to a job offer and might score you some good advice or new insight at the least. Follow up with HR or a unit manager of a unit you're interested in by calling back now and again and letting them know that you are still very interested in working there and were curious if any openings have come available. If the job market is really tight, ask about working as a nursing assistant til an RN position opens up. I had many classmates do this because there had been lots of downsizing and there were many experienced nurses competing for jobs at that time.

Just some thoughts!