This is what's available to new grads?!?

B52-H · Mar 10, 2011

4 years of education have fully prepared me for the rigors of this job. It's a tough job that not everyone can handle. Luckily I am a Licensed Care Partner (LCP)

Yeeeeaahhhhh! (CSI: Miami was on while I was reading this)

Seriously though, I'll take it...

Minimum wage, no benefits, wear a clown suit while riding a tiny tricycle. Walk on my hands the entire shift....

Don't care, I'll take it

Sign me up.

allnurses Guide · Mar 10, 2011

Short answer? Yes. Because the alternative is no job, especially with an Associates at this point in time. It should be understood though, that if things work out you will be hired first should an opening in the RN staff occur.

I don't really view these programs as settling for minimum wage. As I said before, the competition is so incredibly stiff now, some hospitals are creating these interim positions. Always make sure you get your questions answered, though.

Not all places are ethical. Not all places are out to take advantage of you. We have to do a lot more homework now-- it's the reality of today's job market.

B52-H · Mar 10, 2011

I don't really view these programs as settling for minimum wage. As I said before, the competition is so incredibly stiff now, some hospitals are creating these interim positions. Always make sure you get your questions answered, though.

Didn't mean settling, it's out of desperation. Any experience inside of a hospital would be welcome at this point even if they didn't offer the opportunity to move into an future RN position. I am rapidly approaching the point where I am no longer a new grad but an old one.

jojonavy · Mar 10, 2011

Yeah it's a little sad, but I agree that it may be a good way to get your foot in the door. The President of Hoag recommended that new grads fill the open CNA positions also.

I also feel your pain. Its a little degrading after all the hard work we went through in nursing school, just to be pan handling for a job when we're done.

B52-H · Mar 10, 2011

Yeah it's a little sad, but I agree that it may be a good way to get your foot in the door. The President of Hoag recommended that new grads fill the open CNA positions also.

They said the same thing during the event last year. Really surprising to be rejected by Hoag's HR when applying for CNA positions based on their president's advice lol :)

Remember that you are still held to the standards of the highest license you hold no matter what role you were hired as. Not many, if any, hospitals are willing to accept this liability.

allnurses Guide · Mar 10, 2011

Didn't mean settling, it's out of desperation. Any experience inside of a hospital would be welcome at this point even if they didn't offer the opportunity to move into an future RN position. I am rapidly approaching the point where I am no longer a new grad but an old one.

That's the issue that has bothered me most throughout all of it. I've actually read posts from "old" new grads that aren't considered eligible because of the recent experience/too much elapsed time since graduation. Either the schools should hold frequent inservices and skills classes and actively assist the backlog of '09, '10 grads they haven't done their job in my opinion. I won't say it would have been more ethical for them to give a more realistic picture of life after graduation, because everyone seems to have been blindsided by it. It would be great if the hospitals themselves would find a way to transition the "old" new grads into the New Grad programs. It would be shameful if we lost an entire years worth of new nurses because the old models don't work anymore.

It's awful to contemplate the idea that an new RN would have no choice but to take a job outside of nursing to pay off the nursing loans. Every structure currently in place is based on the idea that the only reason a new grad wouldn't be working right away was because of her own choices. That isn't true anymore.

dienne · Mar 10, 2011

At first I thought they were positions for new grad RN, then I read more carefully and realized they are looking for new grad RN to basically work as CNA :crying2:

I applied anyway, I figured it's better than what I am doing now which is being an unemployed new grad RN. I've been sending hundreds of applications all over California and even other states but so far have not hard back from anyone. I'm getting really discouraged and started to think that it was a big mistake going to nursing school. I love nursing and would love to be able to start working as an RN but I have bills to pay and might have to give up nursing and just find another job.

The job market for new grads is horrible, I don't know who's to blame but I think nursing school are not doing their job in getting us ready to hit the floor and work. Hospitals don't care that we have a degree in nursing (either ADN or BSN) they want experience!!!! The only way to get experience is to start working but hospital don't hire us.....honestly I don't see a way out of this cycle.

Maybe nursing education should go back the way it was years ago, it should be hospital based and should prepare us better for the actual work. Just a thought......

Good luck everyone, I would consider myself lucky if I can get one of these CNA positions.......

Daniela

indreams84 · Mar 11, 2011

This is exactly why I stayed in Wisconsin for my one year experience at a Level 1 Trauma/ teaching hospital before moving out west!

**NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN** · Mar 11, 2011

Unfortunately. Some people still seem to think it's new grads being picky. It really is a shame.

CAguyinMO · Mar 19, 2011

Hey there, everyone. My heart goes out to all new grads in California (my beloved home state). I read the boards here and it's shocking to see how tough the job market is for new RNs on the West Coast. However, don't think for one single minute that the job market you have in California is found everywhere else. It isn't....not for a minute!

I found myself having to relocate from LA to St. Louis 4 years ago. I thought it was a great time to change careers, so I entered an accelerated BSN program at the U. of Missouri and graduated last August. There are a TON of jobs for new grads here in the St. Louis metro area, and every single one of the 48 grads in my class last August found jobs within 2-3 months. We have 2 big medical schools here, two huge teaching hospitals, several level I trauma centers, a half dozen big regional hospitals, and on and on. I ended up in the ER at a 500-bed hospital and level I trauma center, and I love it. I realize St. Louis ain't LA - no one knows that better than I do - but I love this profession, and I love the many job opportunities and career potential in this city. What's more, I plan on moving back to California in a year or so, and I know this experience here will help me greatly in my job hunt there.

I know that many people, with spouses and kids, can't easily relocate. Understood. But for those who are single and can, I think you're making a *huge* mistake career-wise by staying in a state that is so hostile - literally hostile - to new-grad RNs. You're losing valuable time by not working as an RN. I know not everyone agrees, and reasonable folks can disagree. But that's just my two cents.

Good luck to all of you. I'm rooting for you here in the Midwest.

dienne · Mar 19, 2011

Hey there, everyone. My heart goes out to all new grads in California (my beloved home state). I read the boards here and it's shocking to see how tough the job market is for new RNs on the West Coast. However, don't think for one single minute that the job market you have in California is found everywhere else. It isn't....not for a minute!
I found myself having to relocate from LA to St. Louis 4 years ago. I thought it was a great time to change careers, so I entered an accelerated BSN program at the U. of Missouri and graduated last August. There are a TON of jobs for new grads here in the St. Louis metro area, and every single one of the 48 grads in my class last August found jobs within 2-3 months. We have 2 big medical schools here, two huge teaching hospitals, several level I trauma centers, a half dozen big regional hospitals, and on and on. I ended up in the ER at a 500-bed hospital and level I trauma center, and I love it. I realize St. Louis ain't LA - no one knows that better than I do - but I love this profession, and I love the many job opportunities and career potential in this city. What's more, I plan on moving back to California in a year or so, and I know this experience here will help me greatly in my job hunt there.
I know that many people, with spouses and kids, can't easily relocate. Understood. But for those who are single and can, I think you're making a *huge* mistake career-wise by staying in a state that is so hostile - literally hostile - to new-grad RNs. You're losing valuable time by not working as an RN. I know not everyone agrees, and reasonable folks can disagree. But that's just my two cents.
Good luck to all of you. I'm rooting for you here in the Midwest.

Thank you for your words!!!! Today I really needed them, it's been a tough day. I got so many rejections e-mails from job I applied to that I lost count. I actually ended up crying and feeling such a failure/////:crying2:

I do feel California is very hostile towards new grads, we are not welcome anywhere and there are very few openings for us. Once there is an opening the competition is fierce. If there are 1 or 2 positions available and hundreds of applicants, odds are I am not going to get a job ever!!!!

I considered relocating, I was looking into New Mexico but I am still very undecided. I am single and I don't have a husband or kids, but I love Los Angeles and I have all my friends and family here. I don't know if I want to move and start all over again. On the other hand I love nursing and would love to be a nurse, I know I could be a good one if given a chance.

I had so many plans, but now I can't really make any decisions, I feel horrible and depressed and don't know what to do. I don't think things will change for the better at least not in the near future. I also thought about continuing my education and get a BSN but honestly I don't want to spend more money and then not being able to find a job. Right now I know lots of BSN graduates who are having a hard time finding jobs.

I understand we are new grads and we are expensive for hospitals to train, but we need to start somewhere if not there will never be new nurses.......I don't have a solution to the problem but turning away a whole generation of new nurses doesn't seem very smart to me.

I also applied to LTC, SNF, Hospice, Clinics, Doctor's office and everywhere it's the same old thing: you need at least 1 year experience. Well I don't have that, I wasn't born with 1 year nursing experience......what should I do???!!!

Sorry for this vent.......I am just so frustrated!

Good luck everyone.

Daniela