Will it matter if I wait?

[ACuteRN41]

Hello All. I won't bore you with too many details save that I am 10 months post-grad, 9 months post-NCLEX, have RN, and have applied to over 100 hospitals in multiple states and multiple types of areas (urban, rural, and very rural). I am employed in another industry and have been for 8 years now (this is how I afforded nursing school). I would really really like to get started on my RN career and get acute hospital experience. Pay is not my main concern right now, but experience is. I thought of going the skilled/geriatric route, but three different hospital recruiters have told me the same thing: we generally don't hire RN's from skilled nursing...we hire RN's with 1-2+ yrs of acute/specialty experience, and when available new grads through our orientation programs. Now, anyone like me who has recently graduated knows that one stands about a 5-10% chance of being accepted into a hospital new grad program. (10 spots/200-300 applicants seems to be common these days), and it's probably worse for single openings for newbies. So, with hospital funding down, economy down, older RN's postponing retirement or working more hours to recoup investment losses and not to mention the travel registry phenomenon, we recent grads are really in a bad way if we want to get hospital work.

Here's my question: if I keep working my job of 8 years (computer information systems) and wait oh say another 2-3 years without a nursing job of some kind, and assuming the "shortage" will return (it has to, right?) will I be in a bad spot to land an acute care job in 2014 having graduated in 2011 without any RN experience? Would this put me in a no-man's-land? Is it better to work skilled nursing in the interim? or do hospitals truly frown upon LTC nurses? Because I know of long term care nurses that can fare no better than me for getting hospital work. So I am thinking I will close the hatches and ride out the storm until the better days come and just wait out working as an RN until I can land in acute care. Am I incorrect or short-sighted in this consideration?

Thanks in advance for your insight!

[wannabe_r]

I dont know the answer to your question but im kinda in a simlar position. but i graduated in MAy 2009 with ADN-rn and passed the nclex in July 2009... I didnt land my first job until April 2010 in LTC as RN. Now I am about to graduate again from an RN to BSN program in MAY 2012 and recently did a preceptorship in a hospital. Meanwhile I have also applied to hospitals and had a couple interviews but it always goes to someone else. I want to relocate after I graduate with my BSN, hoping I have a better chance at landing a hospital job. I know some classmates worked in Skilled nursing for about a year or so and managed to land a hospital job.... I not a new grad but not an experienced RN so not really sure if I am employable or will be in the future when the shortages come back..I suppose you could always take a refresher course or even go back to school to get a higher degree? I guess it also depends on the hospital you are applying to because some hospital will hire a SNF RN over a New Grad and some will only hire if you graduated within the past year. needless to say i feel like im running out of time ....

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Sorry to be a downer, but you may want to check with your state BON - if you have never had a nursing job & aren't actually practicing nursing of any variety they may not let you renew with an active license. They may bump you to 'inactive' status.

[tokyoROSE, BSN, RN]

i do not think it would be a good idea to ride it out and have no relevant nursing experience for 2-3 years. i do not believe that every hospital will turn down ltc nurses. you need to take what you can get right now. think about it, ltc nurse or "old" new grad with no experience? anything is better than no experience, imo. i just posted some strategies that i used to score my dream job, i am going to link it and hope that it can help you out.

https://allnurses.com/nursing-job-search/how-i-got-689384.html#post6285244