Why graduate nurses can't find jobs- a must read!!!

Published

Reading this article definitely shed some light on some of the questions that have been racing through my mind, and helped ease some of my frustrations. This article was written by an RN, a healthcare management consultant. Click the link and read the article and please share your thoughts :))

http://www.solutionsoutsidethebox.net/documents/2009/Nursing_School_Graduates.pdf

Specializes in LTC/Skilled Care/Rehab.

I'm not picky about shift or unit and still haven't found a job. People keep telling me to be flexible...that I may have to work nights, weekends and holidays. I have known all of that way before I graduated. There may be a few picky new grads but most of us are willing any shift possible just to get a job. I have even applied to "weekender" positions even though that would be very difficult for me. I would never get to see my kids or husband.

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i'm not picky at all about shifts & my long-term career goal is acute care nursing, and there are still very few jobs out there for nurses like me! one of our hospital systems basically told us: "don't bother applying, we are no longer hiring new grads." called some LTCs and they also said, "we are looking for experienced RNs only for management purposes, no new grads."

doing the best i can...the economy is slowly getting better, i will find a job!:up:

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was up against many experienced nurses, but b/c I was willing to work weekends, holidays, nights, I got the job. I don't understand how new nurses can be so picky, it really does not make any sense to me.

Family ..... yeah .... kinda important sometimes ....

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Specializes in Ortho/Neuro/MedSurg.
NG here. Can you tell me why then that even though I fill out every application checking off that I am willing to work ANY SHIFT, WEEKENDS, HOLIDAYS, you name it, and still don't have a job?

I don't mean to be rude, I just want to let you know that there are new grads out there that are NOT picky and still jobless. The only thing I ask is to not do anything to put my license or my patients in jeopardy (having had 35+ patients and being a pill pusher for 8 hours is not my idea of experience or even decent nursing care at the last place I tried working).

I once was as narrow minded as you are in regards to working in LTCFs/SNFs. I even posted a thread expressing my concern about working in a LTCF. But, let me tell you, it has been such a great learning experience. I am more then just a "pill pusher," much more. I work on a sub-acute rehab floor. We can get anything from CABGs, many post-ops, S/P pneumonias, CVAs, MIs, many fxs, you name it. If you didn't know it, you would think that my floor was a mini med-surg unit. I hang IVs, insert foleys, access g-tubes, suction vent patients, dsg changes, and much more. Not only am I utilizing many of the skills that I learned in school, I am learning time management, honing my assessment skills, and getting up close an personal w/ my pt's and their families. Not to mention, learning how to interact w/ MDs and other healthcare providers. Also, working in LTC allows me to familiarize myself with charting and paperwork. I rather be working in a LTCF, then not doing anything for 5+ months waiting for my "dream job." And, no I don't have 35+ patients, I actually have 6-10. The avg med-surg floor has about 6-8 pts so, it's not that bad. Oh yea, I work 12 hr shifts not 8. Now, I'm not telling you to go into LTC, I am just letting you know that I do much more then just "push pills." Not all LTCFs are the same. Good luck on your job search!!!!:D

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Specializes in Ortho/Neuro/MedSurg.
Family ..... yeah .... kinda important sometimes ....

Sometimes you have to sacrifice to get what you want. And, yes unfortunately family time is included.:sniff:

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I once was as narrow minded as you are in regards to working in LTCFs/SNFs. I even posted a thread expressing my concern about working in a LTCF. But, let me tell you, it has been such a great learning experience. I am more then just a "pill pusher," much more. I work on a sub-acute rehab floor. We can get anything from CABGs, many post-ops, S/P pneumonias, CVAs, MIs, many fxs, you name it. If you didn't know it, you would think that my floor was a mini med-surg unit. I hang IVs, insert foleys, access g-tubes, suction vent patients, dsg changes, and much more. Not only am I utilizing many of the skills that I learned in school, I am learning time management, honing my assessment skills, and getting up close an personal w/ my pt's and their families. Not to mention, learning how to interact w/ MDs and other healthcare providers. Also, working in LTC allows me to familiarize myself with charting and paperwork. I rather be working in a LTCF, then not doing anything for 5+ months waiting for my "dream job." And, no I don't have 35+ patients, I actually have 6-10. The avg med-surg floor has about 6-8 pts so, it's not that bad. Oh yea, I work 12 hr shifts not 8. Now, I'm not telling you to go into LTC, I am just letting you know that I do much more then just "push pills." Not all LTCFs are the same. Good luck on your job search!!!!:D

Obviously you have a completely different experience than I did. I know that not all the nursing homes are the same. I have a friend who got a great sounding job at an LTC with only 18 patients and she actually does patient care. Hell, I would love to work there, but I can't because I live in a completely different state as her. But as you just stated, YOU DID NOT have 35+ patients, having to pass meds to every single one of them with only an 8 hour time frame, no time to document and working 2hrs past your shift was pretty much a requirement (if you're not taking short cuts...if you are then your one of the few that get out on time!), so you can't say that I am "narrow minded" when, simply, you did not go through what I went through (while working did you ever feel you were giving terrible pt care? every shift, did you feel like your license was on the line? Well, I did, every. single. time.). It's also very presumptuous of you to call me that especially since I have applied to OVER 30 LTC facilities within a 10 mi radius from my house after that experience, but NONE of them are hiring RNs. My previous comments about working in a LTC facility were NOT generalizations-- I only shared MY experience. And as you can see, I'm still not ruling LTCs out as a possible place to work.

It's great you found a nice place to work; good for you. Just my advice to you, don't make ASSumptions about people.

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This article is definitely what landed me three job interviews and two job offers; this was after getting about ten phone calls from nurse recruiters. I graduated in May and became licensed in October. With everyone screaming about a nursing shortage i thought nurse recruiters were gonna be literarilly begging me to work in their facility.

however, after reading this article i felt i had to be as open minded as possible and go the extra mile to apply for jobs (which i know we have all been doing). I went on goggle and found a list of all the hospitals in New York State (which is where i live). i did not even bother to look at how far they were from my city because i did not want to be discouraged. i started applying to each hospital. it was over a hundred hospitals on the website, but every time i came back home for the day i made it a priority to sit in front of my computer and keep applying. At first i wanted to give up because i was frustrated that nurse recruiters were not calling me

However, i started getting calls from nurse recruiters. some of them discovered that i was not experienced enough for the position so they did not set an interview (but i was esctatic that i even got calls). Finally i had two "phone interviews" and one "in person interview"; all in major hospitals. I got two job offers- one in the step down unit, and one in surgical rehab; and i'm waiting for the third. Mind you, all i did was apply for these jobs on the hospital's respective websites. i had no "conncetions" or nobody to recommend me to the manager.

The hospital i decided to work at is two hours from where i live which means i'm gonna have to relocate. However, i landed my dream job at a hospital that is well known in New York, so if i have to make some sacrifices to achieve my goal then it is definitely worth it. I'm definitely grateful to God. I start in a few weeks and i'm so excited!!!

So my point is even when everything seems bleak, just persevere and keep applying until you succeed. The journery is hard, frustrating and sometimes discouraging, but its worth it

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This is a great article to make copies of & hand out to everyone that tells you, "but I thought there was a nursing shortage?" when you say you are still looking for a job in the hospital.:grn:

I sure wish I had known this a year ago. In Feb 09, I was offered a position at the hospital I precepted at, on a unit I believe I would have really enjoyed. Stupid me...having just graduated in Dec 08 & having been told for 2 YEARS that we would have "NO PROBLEM" finding a job, I thought I could hold out for a day shift. Not the brightest decision I've ever made & something I will regret for the rest of my career. :banghead: I've been spending my time since then looking for a full-time job in the hospital, applying all over the place. I've been working for just about anyone that will hire a new grad: flu clinics, ADHC, Private Duty. I've worked for (no joke) 5 different companies so far & am waiting for the start of 1 more flu clinic with another company at LAX airport! The pay has ranged from $17/hr - $30/hr. I thank God for the work & experience, but I'm looking forward to getting experience in the hospital setting.

I've definately learned a hard lesson. NEVER think you are holding all the cards or that any industry is recession proof.

Good luck to everyone still looking!

Kelly :nurse:

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This article is definitely what landed me three job interviews and two job offers; this was after getting about ten phone calls from nurse recruiters. I graduated in May and became licensed in October. With everyone screaming about a nursing shortage i thought nurse recruiters were gonna be literarilly begging me to work in their facility.

however, after reading this article i felt i had to be as open minded as possible and go the extra mile to apply for jobs (which i know we have all been doing). I went on goggle and found a list of all the hospitals in New York State (which is where i live). i did not even bother to look at how far they were from my city because i did not want to be discouraged. i started applying to each hospital. it was over a hundred hospitals on the website, but every time i came back home for the day i made it a priority to sit in front of my computer and keep applying. At first i wanted to give up because i was frustrated that nurse recruiters were not calling me

However, i started getting calls from nurse recruiters. some of them discovered that i was not experienced enough for the position so they did not set an interview (but i was esctatic that i even got calls). Finally i had two "phone interviews" and one "in person interview"; all in major hospitals. I got two job offers- one in the step down unit, and one in surgical rehab; and i'm waiting for the third. Mind you, all i did was apply for these jobs on the hospital's respective websites. i had no "conncetions" or nobody to recommend me to the manager.

The hospital i decided to work at is two hours from where i live which means i'm gonna have to relocate. However, i landed my dream job at a hospital that is well known in New York, so if i have to make some sacrifices to achieve my goal then it is definitely worth it. I'm definitely grateful to God. I start in a few weeks and i'm so excited!!!

So my point is even when everything seems bleak, just persevere and keep applying until you succeed. The journery is hard, frustrating and sometimes discouraging, but its worth it

Any advice/suggestions/samples on resume & cover letter writing?

Kelly

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Specializes in ER.

Here is my two cents on the topic. I think that many of the recent grads got into nursing because of all the "hype" surrounding the profession. This "hype" is very similar to the mid to late 90s Information Technology boom, which we all know came crumbling down in 2000-2002. I was one of those lucky ones who went from $150k to 0 in a matter of months. While I don't think that will happen with nursing, there will be a plateau at some point. I have been a RN for working on 2 years in an ED in a major hospital. I was a paramedic/Firefighter (and still am) for 6 years prior to becoming a nurse. So, going into an acute care area was just a natural fit for me. I think my advice for all recent grads would be realize the profession you have chosen is very demanding, dirty, bloody, and filled with STRESS. You (new grad) are going to be treated like a new grad until you prove yourself. Don't be the first to ask to go to lunch, volunteer to stay past EOS if things are crazy. You are going to have to prove yourself. If things need to be done, do them don't say that is the techs job!!! Be a team player. You are entering a world where you have to be part of the team. Stay up move don't sit around. These are just some of the mistakes I have witnessed new nurses making. I can assure you, your fellow nurses will not respect you if you make these mistakes. Additionally, if you aspire to move into acute care nursing you will need to prove yourself on the floor and go the extra mile, educate yourself, get ACLS, PALS, TNCC, ENPC, etc.... I don't mean to sound harsh, I just want everyone to be successful and not fall into some of these common pitfalls. Hope this helps.

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Specializes in NICU.

While the advice is noted, I think the main problem is that we can't even get on a unit at all. No call backs or interviews = no job = no opportunity to pitch in and prove our worth.

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I really hate how the experienced RN's view new grads. We are not just expecting the best positions and the best hours. Most people, nurses or not, know how to act when they first begin a job. I wish that I could hear some more encouraging words from men and women whom were in our position at one point in their lives. Congratulations to ALL of the new grads that landed positions. I have friends that have jobs, some of them knew people and others did not.

I'm not sure what I am doing wrong. My resume has been critiqued over and over again, and I hope it is now perfected. I make follow up calls and I am VERY flexible. I have applied to every hospital in New York except for the ones that are over two hours away. Unfortunately I am not one of those new grads that can move or go far away.

I am not here to insult anyone. We just live negativity and hear about it everyday in our daily searches for jobs. NO ONE was born a nurse and everyone was giving a chance at some point. The article was an excellent read but offered no new hope for my career in nursing. I only have a ASN and a non nursing BS. Some nurse recruiters made me feel that my BS meant nothing which is rude to say to anyone that has achieved that degree. I want to further my education, but I currently have student loans from my previous degrees. How can I invest in more schooling when I can't even get a job in this field?? However I will be enrolling in school in Jan 2010...just to better my chances. I shall see what happens. Thanks fror reading...I needed to vent :-)

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