Why are there no nursing jobs available for new grads? What is going on??

[vab229]

I just graduated from an ASN program in May and I am about to take the NCLEX next week. I do currently have a temporary new grad license...

But I just want to know why are there no jobs available? I live in Rhode Island and the employment here is horrible. Almost every single hospital that does have positions available wants at least 1-2 years of med-surg experience. How are we ever supposed to get experience if we can't get a job?? Even the few and far between positions for nurses at clinics and doctor's offices want 3-5 years experience, plus specialty experience. It is downright depressing.

One of the reasons I chose the health care field was because "there would always be jobs available." That is such a lie. Whenever I tell people that I just graduated and will be an RN they always say, at least you will never be without a job! That is so false.

When I spoke with the nurses at the hospitals where I did my clinical rotations, they said they felt so bad for us and how back in the 80's hospitals were begging them to take positions and even offering sign on bonuses.

I just feel like it will be so long before I ever find a job that I won't remember half of the stuff I learned

[martymoose, BSN, RN]

Yes, quality matters. Reimbursement is being tied to HCAPS and outcomes. This will increase more in the future.

And the institution IS responsible if you screw up. You may lose your job & license, but that doesn't absolve them of responsibility regarding their employees.

you could'ave fooled me

[PMFB-RN, RN]

If you're angry - direct your fire at those organizations and individuals who knowingly promote false information about the existence of a nursing shortage.

If you are looking for an organization that irresponsibly puts out false "nursing shortage" propaganda you can look to the IOM (Institute Of Medicine).

[lovenotwar14]

I feel as if you have a problem with the profession, find a new one. Period. No use crying over spilled milk.

[Guest757854]

I feel as if you have a problem with the profession find a new one. Period. No use crying over spilled milk.[/quote']

True!

[MidLifeRN2012]

I feel the frustration of the OP but without the blame on older nurses. I am nearly 2 years post grad with no nursing job -- except as a volunteer in a community clinic

Thankfully I do still have my job in my first career to pay bills as I still have a mortgage and a college aged child to support. Nursing would have been my 1st career had I been able to go to school 20 yrs ago. My problem was that there was no evening /weekend nursing school back then in my area and I needed to keep my day job to support myself and my kid. I had to get a degree I could do in the eve/weekend .

2 yrs ago I was finally able to go back to school to graduate with a BSN On top of that I have over 20 yrs of customer service experience which I would have hoped would look good to a prospective employer which so far has not worked for me. Unfortunately working as a CNA would have paid me 1/2 of what I make now so I couldn't do it while in school. I would do it now on the weekend for extra money and a foot in the door but I hear you can't be a CNA with an RN license.

I will up the ante now toward LTC jobs and move if needed, however paying for endorsement in all 50 states is cost prohibitive especially with new student loans based on a nurses salary that I don't have yet. I am more than willing to start low and learn from the best. Plus I am willing to work any shifts and all holidays because I dont have a husband or young children anymore.

I just want the chance to begin this career before I am too old to do so.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

I will up the ante now toward LTC jobs and move if needed, however paying for endorsement in all 50 states is cost prohibitive especially

Uh, why would you do that?

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

I feel the frustration of the OP but without the blame on older nurses. I am nearly 2 years post grad with no nursing job -- except as a volunteer in a community clinic

Thankfully I do still have my job in my first career to pay bills as I still have a mortgage and a college aged child to support. Nursing would have been my 1st career had I been able to go to school 20 yrs ago. My problem was that there was no evening /weekend nursing school back then in my area and I needed to keep my day job to support myself and my kid. I had to get a degree I could do in the eve/weekend .

2 yrs ago I was finally able to go back to school to graduate with a BSN On top of that I have over 20 yrs of customer service experience which I would have hoped would look good to a prospective employer which so far has not worked for me. Unfortunately working as a CNA would have paid me 1/2 of what I make now so I couldn't do it while in school. I would do it now on the weekend for extra money and a foot in the door but I hear you can't be a CNA with an RN license.

I will up the ante now toward LTC jobs and move if needed, however paying for endorsement in all 50 states is cost prohibitive especially with new student loans based on a nurses salary that I don't have yet. I am more than willing to start low and learn from the best. Plus I am willing to work any shifts and all holidays because I dont have a husband or young children anymore.

I just want the chance to begin this career before I am too old to do so.

I hope something breaks for you soon.

[MidLifeRN2012]

Thanks CrunchRN:)

@PMFB. Haven't done it yet, just starting in Indiana but when I'm looking countrywide for jobs they want you to be licensed in that state first. I don't want to go that route but how do you find jobs in other states if they won't look at you if you aren't licensed ? Do they really expect that you are going to have a license in that state if you only are licensed in one? I thought they would hire you license pending and then you work on endorsing your license in that state but it doesn't seem to be the case as the ads want the license already

Where is there a higher likelihood of new grads getting hired ? Alaska? Montana? I would love to narrow down the search and only endorse those states, but I'm not sure how to find this info.

I'm in Illinois and it is not a compact state

[MarisaHU]

I feel as if you have a problem with the profession, find a new one. Period. No use crying over spilled milk.

So whenever someone has a valid complaint or concern in their profession, they should quit? Ok...

[PMFB-RN, RN]

@PMFB. Haven't done it yet, just starting in Indiana but when I'm looking countrywide for jobs they want you to be licensed in that state first. I don't want to go that route but how do you find jobs in other states if they won't look at you if you aren't licensed ? Do they really expect that you are going to have a license in that state if you only are licensed in one? I thought they would hire you license pending and then you work on endorsing your license in that state but it doesn't seem to be the case as the ads want the license already

You don't need to get a license in any other state unless / until you are offered a job. Nobody expects you to have a license in every state. Just apply. If the application won't let you proceed unless you say you have a license then just say you do. Trust me nobody expects you to get a license until you have a job offer.

Where is there a higher likelihood of new grads getting hired ? Alaska? Montana?

North Dakota.

[williams84]

Just got hired in Williamsport, PA. They actually gave me 4 jobs to choose from. If you're interested, check out Guthrie, Geisinger, Susquehanna, or Pinnacle. Those were the hospitals that offered me interviews when I was living in Wisconsin. Good luck!

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

To be honest, this is what every field seems like. I know people who went to large private schools and well-known public schools that are ranked in the top of the nation who struggled to find a job. Many of them wound up working as a manager in fast food, retail, or coffee shops. Think about that.

I really do think we should rearrange how we educate students starting with high school. I've heard Germany is doing better in terms of unemployment because they require their students to specialize at an earlier age.