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

Nurses Job Hunt

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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 :no:

MrChicago, are you a hiring manager? If so, can you give new grads some ideas to help them get hired?

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
I can't argue with this, but I still would do it again. We ARE desperate! We (BSNs) Go to school for four years during which we are told not to work because school is too demanding (it was), and then we graduate and learn some nurses are still waiting a year later for first job. I don't think what I did was wrong--I think that the system is wrong! If they are graduating new grads knowing that we aren't going to find work then they are doing the disservice, not us desperate new grads! School loans need to start getting aid 6 months after graduation---if it takes an average of 11 months (in my area that is the average) to get a job then desperation is to be expected.

As an adult, or any person for that matter, you live and you learn; however, people have to seek out information in order to make informed decisions.

As far as student loans are considers; there is a process called deferment; there is an unemployment deferment option with student loans when you work less than 30 hours a week; that is available to ALL people receiving student loans; when you fill out that information process through FAFSA, they explain that during the "quiz" about the repayment process.

Desperation is NOT expected; a INFORMED DECISION and objectivity is needed when dealing with the challenges of life. :blink:

Schools should be honest during the recruiting process. And hospitals and other facilities should be more new grad friendly in my opinion. Until they are, there are going to be way more desperate people willing to do whatever it takes to get that illusive first job and while the schools are turning out so many of us no one is going to have any incentive to pay better. My area is also one of the lowest paying in the nation--didn't know that until I saw it on these boards either, and I am in a large metro area. Nurses are hired at between 21 and 27 an hour. I thought I would be making 10 more than that as a nurse. That is due to the abundance of nurses, not the desperation of new grads!

The BONs should pull accreditation from any school not being honest with career information in my opinion. If people knew they weren't going to be able to work-less would enroll, less would graduate, and nurses would be in short supply again, driving up wages!

Money makes the world go round, not peace, love, and honesty; unfortunately, as has been going on for centuries, and when there are lobbying powers with vested interests, it behooves one to be able to weather the changes that the powerful have made; that has no signs of that stopping no time soon.

In the meantime, that means that one needs to find out all the information one needs to make a living, keep their bills down, look for loopholes and taking advantage of EVERYTHING that is possible in order to survive, and leave school understanding the risk to their investment; and have a plan in place.

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LadyFree,

I agree with live and learn and perhaps when I am a member of that crusty old bat society I will understand the ramifications of everything the way you do. In the meantime we need to agree to disagree. I graduated high school with a 4.5 gpa and was excepted into my first choice school at the age of 17, so I trusted what I was told.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
LadyFree,

I agree with live and learn and perhaps when I am a member of that crusty old bat society I will understand the ramifications of everything the way you do. In the meantime we need to agree to disagree. I graduated high school with a 4.5 gpa and was excepted into my first choice school at the age of 17, so I trusted what I was told.

I learned from an early age that my parents would NEVER afford to assist me in my college decisions; I had a 3.95 average and had TONs of scholarships-to be exact:10 full rides, including at my local CC, 3 75% rides and 3 50% rides, however, I grew up in a household where both parents did not go to college, let alone knew the current college process at the time; I had to make those decisions myself; it took me into my second year of school-and many classes later at my local CC -because I had no means to travel or even afford dormitory university settings-I looked at that realistically-to start making decisions on my own, I bucked the chance without the help of advisors and returning to their nursing program after first semester failure and making some hard wrought decisions.

I had access to my own computer and Internet, and started making better decisions about what steps I needed to take to go to school, not withstanding making some decisions and moves that had set me back; however, I took those missteps as lessons learned and made BETTER decisions along the way, and one of them was never let my pride slip to the point of desperation, and NEVER be so humble enough to be a doormat; especially in this business-it's a tough business as much as life itself is tough is- it's best to be observant and objective to make the BEST decisions, no matter how long it takes; notwithstanding to also take what the BEST aspects of this business.

I don't regret my decisions either, I have taken all my setback in stride-from being a nursing school failure to going to dusting myself off to be successful as a LPN, to a BSN and not succeeding at my fist job and basically not finding my footing until post BSN program 2 years-removed time, I made the decision NOT to be bitter, burned out regretful or unhappy; I made my OWN decisions; it has been a heck of a ride, and made me a better person holistically. :yes:

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There are nursing positions out there for new grads. It took me 2 years to find a full-time nursing position. Think far outside the box and talk to people. Hospitals, LTCs, clinics and doctor's offices are not all that is out there for nurses. I found a position in an Adult Day Health Center - Medical Model. I never heard of any such thing in my life. Had no idea that a new grad could be considered for case management. They were asking for "3-5 years experience in med/surg, or ambulatory care, case management experience preferred." I had no experience, no money and no confidence left. I tried out anyway. I got it. The director later told me that she met with me first to see if I would "fit". Believe me, you will meet that person willing to give you a chance and train you. Keep your chin up. Some ideas, try lesser known hospitals, school nursing, working with the differently abled, drug rehab centers or diagnostic/imaging centers. Per-diem nurses and travel nurses are also good resources because they work or have worked in many different environments and may be able to give u a lead that you never knew existed. Good luck.

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Specializes in Medical-Surgial, Cardiac, Pediatrics.

There are a lot of complex factors involved with Nursing Jobs, not simply the fact that older nurses won't retire.

Most states don't require specific ratios for patients and nurses, so facilities increase ratios to try and save money. They also hire more non-licensed personnel, because they cost less, along with increased ratios for RNs, both of which cost nurses their jobs.

There is also the question of retirement for older nurses, though I would say that's not always a reason why jobs are harder to find for new grads in certain areas. Yes, experienced nurses needing to work longer is a factor for new grads, because they simply don't have the experience that established nurses do, and require an investment to orient and train. That investment also costs facilities money, and many don't want to put in the money to properly train new grads, so they don't.

Contrary to popular notions, not all areas are friendly to established nurses. Areas which mandate pay increase for nurses with experience tend to hire new grads, because they cost less than the established nurses.

What it ends up coming down to in the end is that quality nursing care done right is expensive, and many hospitals and other facilities don't want to pay more out of their bottom dollar, despite the overwhelming proof that investing more in nursing and nurses has better outcomes for professional environment, patient outcomes, and business outcomes. They are also not mandated to focus on primary instead of specialty care, which focuses more on quality nursing care, which also costs nurses jobs.

If we want to blame someone and change the job scenario, we should blame the American healthcare system, and the approach to health care as a business rather than public investnent. The Affordable Care Act is going in the right direction with that, but American health care has a LONG way to go.

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we went to school because we believed all the hype that jobs would be relatively easy to find

This is part of what limits the sympathy... Nobody who's entered nursing school in the last 6 years has any excuse not to have realized the reality of what they were facing with regard to limited employment opportunities.

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There are a lot of complex factors involved with nursing jobs, not simply the fact that older nurses won't retire.

Most states don't require specific ratios for patients and nurses, so facilities increase ratios to try and save money. They also hire more non-licensed personnel, because they cost less, along with increased ratios for RNs, both of which cost nurses their jobs.

There is also the question of retirement for older nurses, though I would say that's not always a reason why jobs are harder to find for new grads in certain areas. Yes, experienced nurses needing to work longer is a factor for new grads, because they simply don't have the experience that established nurses do, and require an investment to orient and train. That investment also costs facilities money, and many don't want to put in the money to properly train new grads, so they don't.

Contrary to popular notions, not all areas are friendly to established nurses. Areas which mandate pay increase for nurses with experience tend to hire new grads, because they cost less than the established nurses.

What it ends up coming down to in the end is that quality nursing care done right is expensive, and many hospitals and other facilities don't want to pay more out of their bottom dollar, despite the overwhelming proof that investing more in nursing and nurses has better outcomes for professional environment, patient outcomes, and business outcomes. They are also not mandated to focus on primary instead of specialty care, which focuses more on quality nursing care, which also costs nurses jobs.

If we want to blame someone and change the job scenario, we should blame the American healthcare system, and the approach to health care as a business rather than public investnent. The Affordable Care Act is going in the right direction with that, but American health care has a LONG way to go.

Exactly!! nurse patient ratios especially should be mandated! patient safety is at risk.

As for older nurses retiring, I agree, they should not be forced into retirement, they paid their dues-they should be allowed to work for as long as they are able to do so if that's what they want. That doesn't mean new grads should not be given a chance though...some of us really are going to become great nurses once we get some experience.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.
Move to an area where they hire adns.

And where would that be?

Start working in the nursing home. After you grab experience, go to a hospital

Can you name any hospitals that hire nurses with only nursing home experience? In my area, nursing home jobs lead to either nursing home jobs or home health jobs. And the wrong nursing home job can be extremely hazardous to a new grad's license.

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And where would that be?

Can you name any hospitals that hire nurses with only nursing home experience? In my area, nursing home jobs lead to either nursing home jobs or home health jobs. And the wrong nursing home job can be extremely hazardous to a new grad's license.

I have heard the same thing about nursing home jobs...so I applied only as a last resort.

Kind of amazing that we get all this advise to move. Some of us just cannot move across the country! But as far as where they hire ADNs, I think that the more rural areas do that. Where I am, they hire only BSNs in hospitals and I think most bigger cities are that way, but I know that ADNs are hired in a pretty rural area about 5 hours south of me.

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Specializes in Hematology/Oncology.
And where would that be?

Can you name any hospitals that hire nurses with only nursing home experience? In my area, nursing home jobs lead to either nursing home jobs or home health jobs. And the wrong nursing home job can be extremely hazardous to a new grad's license.

my hospital in ND hires adns and any nurses really. they train them here for hospital.

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Specializes in LTC.
This is a bit harsh! We worked our butts off to get through school, we worked just as hard to pass the dreaded NCLEX, we went to school because we believed all the hype that jobs would be relatively easy to find and then we can't even get an interview. No one ever promised the world was fair, but we expected at least some consideration. Most of us are willing to work cheap-or even free to prove ourselves. I think we graduated with a right to at least not have every application we turned in go into the 'not under consideration' file as soon as we hit submit. I got lucky and I am NOT better than anyone else, but I DO work hard to earn the right to keep my coveted job. Eithers will as well!

I wasn't trying to be harsh, and I'm sorry if you took it that way. I even went as far to say that this is not always the case, if you'd read my entire post, instead of skimming it for the highlights to get emotional over. Of course I know that there are exceptions. I realize that there are great grads out there that are looked over, and that they are willing to work anywhere for experience. That's where the area comes into play. One may need to move to a different area. I'm not lumping all new grads together, I'm just going on what I hear every day.

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