Now do you get nursing experience or make yourself more marketable?

[Judy in Texas]

My daughter graduated from nursing school last year and passed her state boards. She is now an RN. There are more nurses in central Ohio than available jobs and most are requiring at least one year experience. Relocation is not an option. She doesn't want to take a position in an extended care facility because she doesn't feel she has nearly enough experience to be in charge of a floor. Without a job, going back to school to get her BSN would be difficult. How does she make herself more marketable? Thanks in advance for your advice.

 

[pigletgirl]

I think you just need to get your foot in the door. Who cares, if she doesn't want to work at a extended care facility? In this day and age, you just cannot be picky, especially as a new graduate.

But with the economy the way it is, people are going back to work, filling those positions that were once open almost to anyone with any amount of experience.

GL to her! Hope she finds something soon!

ETA: does the hospital(s) where she did her clinicals have any openings? what kind of nursing is she interested in?

 

[Judy in Texas]

The hospitals where she did her clinicals are an hour away on back roads. She would prefer, especially in the winter, to stick to the main roads. Yes, she may have to reconsider that, too.

 

[Darcy03231]

In this economy your DD can't afford to be picky. While she may not want to do a certain type of work or commute she may have to if she wants to get a job.

I've been lucky for the last 23 years and had a job within a mile of my home. Circumstances changed and I had to take a job about 20 minutes away and will have to pay a toll (coming and going) now. While it wasn't ideal, its a job.

 

[padams]

I think she needs to get a job at the extended care facility or relocate. It's always easier to get a job when you have a job.

 

[Jeninindy]

Tough market to be a new graduate RN, so she is going to have to make some sacrifices to get a job.

There are many people I work with now that drive an hour or more to work because of the difficulties of finding a job in their areas.

There is isn't a lot that she can do to make herself "marketable" as a new grad other than expand her horizons as to where she will work or not work.

I graduated to similiar job conditions back in 1993. I did work at an ECF for a short while until I was able to get a part time job in a community hospital. Within a year, there were plenty of full time jobs to pick from.

These times are tougher. I wish her luck in finding a job.

 

[Maryr1]

Are there any visitnig nurse or public health jobs available where you are? Sometimes they hire new grads-also tell her to get on per diem lists at the hospitals. Did she look at any urgent care places in your area? Even doctor offices because at least you get benefits......Nursing homes, long term care facilities are not the most fun places to work-unless that is your interest, but a job is a job. She would never be ALL alone plus there is a supervisior on call or in house most places. It really isn't the worst place to start your carreer. What about college clinics or school nurse? If she has to leave the area I would try to go to a hospital that is a teaching hospital. You learn TONS there that she would use throughout her whole carreer. Good Luck!

 

[laurie31]

Oh wow - this is hard. Honestly the whole job market is a giant Hoover right now (or a quantum singularity, for you Star Trek fans ). There is work out there, but no jobs, if that makes sense. In other words, as soon as the economy turns around, RNs will have plenty of job opportunities. As soon as the PTB start hiring to fill all the current vacancies.

I disagree that she's being picky by not wanting to be the only RN on a floor full of elderly patients. She would have no one to turn to for a "second opinion" or for "back-up." She is correct - that would not be a good job for her as a new grad. Even though someone has graduated and passed boards, they can't really teach what someone looks like when they're about to get REALLY sick; you have to experience it. (Yes, you will know once it happens, but you need experience to intervene BEFORE it happens, which is your best chance of saving a nursing home patient, or any patient for that matter.)

Would she consider public health nursing? Working inside the health department, she would have more experienced nurses to turn to. They don't pay as well as hospitals (here anyway) but you will get some good experience there.

Could she volunteer with the school nurse, and then maybe be available to go on field trips or things like that? Or fill in for her on sick/vacation days? She wouldn't make any significant money, but she could get experience. (there is a child in DD's school who must have an RN with her at all times. Nurses don't go on all the field trips, just the ones she goes on.)

Do any nearby hospitals have a nursing internship program?

Have her call the nurse recruiters at several hospitals and ask them for recommendations. They will know things specific to your area; even if their hopsital isn't hiring right now, they may have some more specific ideas of what she could do. Someone eager to work is always attractive to an employer.

Good luck to her. This is just a hard time to graduate, regardless of your field.

 

[airhead]

My niece graduated last year,sent her resume EVERYWHERE and no nursing job because of a hiring freeze. So,she got herself a job working in a nursing home and getting experience working with the elderly. She doesn't love it,but says she has gained experience and confidence. I love that kid!

 

[momrek06]

OP, are you saying your DD does NOT have her BSN? If that is the case, it may be very difficult for her to get a job. Hospitals, nursing homes are looking for the RN w/BSN! AND some even want the MS.

My Mom and Sis are both nurses. My Sis is a Clinical Nurse Specialist and does case management at a large Boston hospital. We were talking the other day about jobs in the medical world and she said there are plenty of jobs out there but you do need the degree. She has a BS and MS in nursing.

OP, I think your DD needs to look at getting her BSN.

 

[Disney Doll]

As a PP suggested, tell her to look into hospitals that might have a nurse internship program. She can get her foot in the door, show them what she's got!

Even though it would not be her ideal, if nursing home is what she can get, it will still be at least some kind of experience Chances are she would not be being put "in charge" for at least a while. At my hospital, new nurses don't do charge for about a year, and they have to do a charge nurse seminar before they do it, then they are in charge with another experienced nurse as a mentor for the first few times they are in charge.

If she has her RN but not her BSN, tell her to look into programs where she could get an MSN...I think they call them RN to MSN programs. At this point, BSN is almost like entry level, so she'd be better off to just go right to the MSN. Most jobs that are not direct clinical care have a "BSN required MSN preferred" as one of the conditions of interviewiing/hiring. And believe me, she may not think it now, but as she gets older, direct clinical care is goign to get more difficult physically, and she'll be wanting to go more into other avenues of Nursing.... I started at 21, am now almost 48, still doing staff nursing but have my hands in other areas in hopes that a nice job will come along soon.

 

[taximomfor4]

OP< I understand her reluctance to do long-term care facility. The only job I found last year (new grad RN) was in one. I could only get them to give me 5 DAYS orientation, and then I would be in charge OF THE ENTIRE PLACE overnight each night I worked. I also would be the only one to do IVs (which I hadn't gotten to do a single time in clinicals) since none of the LPNs there are IV certified. I also would be in charge of all codes (I had never even SEEN a code, let alone led one).

I begged and pleaded for additional time to orient, or even shadow with OR without pay, but it was a no-go so I quit. My license requires me to know my limitations and I felt that I would be guessing on far too much there.

Yes, it was a job but not worth the risk. It IS risky to try new medical skills on someone, with nobody to ask for help, nobody to guide you the first time, etc.

I am continuing my education starting this summer or fall. Since I am doing nothing anyway, I will keep watching the job postings but at the same time start toward an additional degree.

 

[taximomfor4]

Even though it would not be her ideal, if nursing home is what she can get, it will still be at least some kind of experience Chances are she would not be being put "in charge" for at least a while. At my hospital, new nurses don't do charge for about a year, and they have to do a charge nurse seminar before they do it, then they are in charge with another experienced nurse as a mentor for the first few times they are in charge.

See my post below yours. The nursing homes around me are giving you a few DAYS, and then telling you it's "Trial By Fire."

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Networking might be her best bet here. Sometimes there are things like maternity leaves to cover, or a sudden vacancy that needs to be filled quickly, and she might be able to get in if she "knows someone". It may not even be someone she went to school with. Think about sending out a general "Keep me in mind" email to everyone in her/your Address Book.

As for the nursing home thing, that is pretty scary. She shouldn't risk jeopardizing her license (or patient care). [I've known hospitals willing to put new grads in charge, too, and new grads who've been flattered to take the positions. With that said, how many codes do they actually have there?] I'd probably just look around for a "better" nursing home or rehab, one where she could gain experience without being put in charge. Keep looking.

Some people have mentioned public health and school jobs, etc. These positions often require a BSN at minimum, especially for a new grad (and even a BSN new grad would have difficulty obtaining one), due to the independent nature of the work.

 

[Maleficient]

Judy in TX - I started my nursing career as a new grad in public health as a case manager in a home care agency affiliated with the largest hospital system in the area - once I had my year of experience, it was easier to get into the hospital. I did have my BSN, but they used AS prepared RNs as visit nurses -and there were lots of them. Tons of experience nowadays in homecare, with high-tech IV lines, vents, etc in the community. This may be more interesting to her vs. LTC facility.

And regarding relocation, any chance she would consider it for the short term? There are lots of RN jobs all over the country ( i know because I am reentering nursing after 9 years of sales) - I'm also a NP, but there are many more RN jobs than NP jobs. Many of the sites I have been on state they will consider New Grads....just a thought! Good luck to your DD!

 

[barkley]

i know she does'nt want to relocate, but here's an option that would only require a temporary relocation (and would include room/board)-

this is about the time of year when residential summer camps seek staff. the one my kids have gone to the past few years always has a nurse f/t on site and if i recall she mentioned to us in the past that it's hard for camps to find rn's b/c traditionaly those that have them are in regular jobs that don't allow for 2-3 months of taking off to work at a camp.

your dd might look into what camps are hiring (and look to their affiliations, the one my kids go to is church affiliated with one of the biggest health care systems so i suspect that getting a foot in the door with the camp is a major foot in the door with the 'system' that hires for all aspects including health care).

another temporary gig can be working on a cruise ship-when i was injured on one a few years back i chatted with the nurse and found she was relativly new to nursing, was doing the job to get some experience-and made very good wages (staff is not employed by cruise line, contracted through a medical service). this is the time of year some lines are hiring.

she might also look at private schools in your area-i know the private boarding school near us has had a heck of a time trying to find an r/n. they provide housing and lots of benefits in exchange for lower than the industry norm for salary, but again-it provides experience.

a third option would be registering with a nursing service. this can pay MUCH MORE than a traditional f/t nursing job (family member did it when he returned to school for his masters-quickly realized he was making more part time than he had ever made f/t and still received benefits). if she's considering returing to school for her degree this can work to her benefit as well, depending on the types of assignments she accepts she could have allot of free time on her hands to study (we have a family member who is currently paying $30 an hour just to have an rn in her apartment and available to her during the night. the rn is'nt permitted to do anything but respond to the family member's needs, so that basicly means helping her out of bed and to and from the bathroom maybe 2x over 12 hours, then helping her dress in/out of clothing/nightclothes-that would leave lots of downtime to study).

 

[dakcp2001]

HI there, I am graduating from Nursing school in May and have been actively looking for a job for the last month or two. As a new grad in this job market she has two options, settle for something that isn't her first choice OR relocate at least temporarily. The ADN/ BSN argument is not valid because it REALLY depends on what state you are in. Some states it makes no difference at all and in others it is a big deal. I am not familiar with Ohio, but in my state the BSNs are just as far up the creek as ADN nurses.

I am relocating when I graduate to get into a New Grad program, but if I stick around here I may be able to land a job at the hosptial I work at as a Patient Care Tech. Does your daughter have any clinical work experience? How old is she, does she have any solid work experience that is non clinical? She really needs to do something to make her resume stand out, since there are about 300 applicants per 30 spots in a new grad program. An externship or internship is her best bet. It seems like she may have waited a bit too long to start thinking about this, so she may have to choose a job that is not her first choice, just to get some experience.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

The ADN/ BSN argument is not valid because it REALLY depends on what state you are in. Some states it makes no difference at all and in others it is a big deal.

You are the same poster who recently stated that the nursing shortage was a myth.

Saying there can be "regional differences" (which is true) is not the same as making black and white statements such as the ones I bolded above.

A current job ad from MA:

Part-Time School Nurse
MA

... has an Immediate opening for part time R.N. for school health office. 2-3 days week, flexible.

Reporting to the Director of Health Services, this nurse would work both alongside the director and independently, to tend to the daily needs of students. Candidates must administer medications and assess, treat and triage illnesses and injuries.

Qualifications :
Bachelor’s degree in Nursing
Current MA licensure
CPR certification
1-3 years nursing experience

 

[wvjules]

My daughter graduated from nursing school last year and passed her state boards. She is now an RN. There are more nurses in central Ohio than available jobs and most are requiring at least one year experience. Relocation is not an option. She doesn't want to take a position in an extended care facility because she doesn't feel she has nearly enough experience to be in charge of a floor. Without a job, going back to school to get her BSN would be difficult. How does she make herself more marketable? Thanks in advance for your advice.

Why not?

 

[dakcp2001]

Pea N Me, it IS! You highlighter the part that said ONE TO THREE YEARS experience. A new grad does not have that!!!


That job add is case in point. Not a new grad opportunity. Some place prefer BSN, some do not. ANd at many hosptials they do not get paid any different. The hosptial I work at (on a hiring freeze for new grads) pays ADN & BSN the same. And when they are hiring (which is few and far between) they hire whoever has the better resume. My floor is a good mix of both. They state on their website they pay for the RN, regardless of if you are a BSN, ADN, or Diploma Nurse.

Right now, due to the job market and hiring freezes, the BSN is not making much of a difference for new grads that cannot get jobs. I have yet to see an add that says "hiring freeze, unlkess you have a BSN or MSN" post one of those, please, and I might see your point,

I am actively looking for a job, so I am in the job market now, it is not what it used to be. This thread is just another example of how hard it is out there for new grads.

http://www.philly.com/philly/business/83184657.html

http://www.star-telegram.com/business/story/1935020.html