Starting to think TN dislikes new grads

U.S.A. Tennessee

Published

who didn't go to school here! I live about 45 mins from Nashville, and have applied everywhere within an hour of me and have had zero luck. I went to school in NV, dunno if that's my problem? I have been told my resume is excellent, but as soon as they see new grad they scurry! I don't get it!

RN, started at GCU for my BSN in Aug. I have applied on post, but again, they want experience, same with VA.

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I guess my main frustration is no one tells me anything, like what I can do to be more marketable or anything. I get zero feedback from jobs I have applied to. I finally got through to the local hospital HR and she said the only positions for new grads there is in med surge, but they never have any open positions. I check daily though, hoping. I have been told by a few people my resume is awesome, but again, they see "graduated in May 2013" and they run the other way! I have tried getting through to the nurse recruiters at the places in Nashville, have left messages, but never any calls back. They probably hate me by now :p

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Nashville has one of the lowest pay rates in the state! Almost $5/hr less than memphis….When you say that these positions require experience are they telling you that or is it just listen on the job listing?

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The few people I have managed to talked to have said it.

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

Is your spouse military?

Unfair but true. Many businesses avoid hiring spouses of active military, because of worries about turnover issues. Most facilities invest a great deal in getting a new grad up to speed, and worry about losing that investment if your spouse gets transferred to a new base.

While few will tell you that outright, as they do not want to appear biased, often they will think that.

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No, he works as a DOD civilian, so we are here for however long he wants to be. And I do understand that, even though it's crappy.

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Specializes in Emergency, Case Management, Informatics.
No, he works as a DOD civilian, so we are here for however long he wants to be. And I do understand that, even though it's crappy.

First of all, let me just put it out there that there is no nursing shortage. There are those that will balk at this statement, because they have been trained to parrot the same garbage that they've heard for the past ten years. The fact is -- the nursing job market sucks in most of the country. If anyone disagrees, they are free to do their own research in an attempt to contradict the hard facts that the American Society of Registered Nurses and the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses have presented. In fact, there is going to be an estimated OVERAGE of 85,000 nurses in the next few years.

Now, with the changes made by the ACA (assuming that more Americans actually get insurance, which isn't really happening thus far) along with the possibility that the economy may get better in the coming years (resulting in higher retirement rates for older nurses), we MIGHT return to an era where there is a nursing shortage. But, that shortage sure as heck ain't here here and now.

There is especially no nursing shortage in Tennessee, at least in the metro areas. You may have more luck if you can find hospitals that are more rural, where there isn't an overabundance of new grads.

Segueing into my next point -- take ANYTHING you can get your hands on (within reason). Sure, everyone wants to get their dream specialty for their first job, but -- as mentioned above -- the job market for RN's isn't like what it was 10 or even 5 years ago. You may hate the idea of being a nursing home nurse. You may hate the idea of being a Med/Surg nurse. Not knocking these two areas, but these are the two least-favored specialties. Take what you can get. Spend a year in that less-desireable specialty at a hospital that may be an hour commute from home. Get the experience under your belt, prove yourself, and then come out guns blazing when you apply for the jobs in your preferred areas.

Along the way, get some certifications that are relevant to your specialty of interest. TNCC, ACLS, and PALS if you're looking at Emergency, for example.

Good luck to you. You'll get to where you want to be eventually. It's just not going to be as easy as your nursing school duped you -- and many of us -- into believing, unfortunately.

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Thank you! I giggle to myself when people mention a nursing shortage! We know the truth, sadly, they don't. And yes, at this point I am willing to work wherever will hire me, just to get that experience!

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Have you thought about Dialysis? From what I have read, Fresenius employ a lot of new grads.

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Specializes in Emergency, Case Management, Informatics.
Have you thought about Dialysis? From what I have read, Fresenius employ a lot of new grads.

To make a clarification to my previous statement of taking "anything", I would strongly caution against working dialysis as a new nurse. Many dialysis patients are very medically fragile and have a tendency to crash during or shortly after dialysis. A new nurse is not clinically competent to be in this kind of situation, and the majority of dialysis clinics I've seen in my years in EMS only have one RN staffed.

Now, if you can get in a clinic where there is at least one other experienced RN, I'd say go for it. The money is great, and you'll learn quickly how to tell when a patient is going bad on you.

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I applied to one Dialysis center, but they wanted experience, which is understandable! But thanks! I'll look into it!

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Specializes in Psychiatric Nurse/Addiction Nurse.

I am sorry to hear that you're having a difficult time finding employment. Your original post was back in November. Have you had any luck yet? I suggest that you google Nursing homes/LTC and contact all in your surrounding area. Don't just fill out an application and leave ask if you can speak to the DON and be prepared to interview on the spot.

Try Nashville General Hospital/Meharry or Bordeaux Nursing home. They are always in need of nurses.

Try agency nursing. Favorite Healthcare Staffing, Inc. - A Nationwide Healthcare Staffing Agency is awesome!

There is still a huge need for nurses in Tennessee! Although, salaries are not what they use to be and places generally don't offer sign on bonuses anymore.

I'm telling you from experience. I'm not an RN but I currently have three jobs. One full time and two PRN. I could work 7 days a week if I wanted.

Good luck! Don't get discouraged!

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