Why Can't New Nurses Find Jobs?

Not seeing this problem in Lincoln, Nebraska...yet

I wish I had gotten a job as a CNA before nursing school. I witnessed the same event as rockinRN. I just didn't know it would hurt me that much. I just graduated in May. No inkling of a job yet. I am so glad there are others in my same boat. Hopefully all will smooth out. I feel like I need to get my foot in the hospital door with a CNA job and move up. How weird would that be? RN to CNA just have one up on the competition. Any suggestions?

It seems, at least in the area I live, if you work as a pt. care tech or nurse tech you get hired on as an RN soon after graduating. I was one of the few in my class to work as a pt. care tech before and throughout nursing school, and had a job waiting for me before I even took state boards. Same for the other few that also worked as techs in other area hospitals. Most everyone else in my class is still searching for a job. To be a more desirable candidate, my advice is to get your CNA or nurse tech license and get your foot in the door!

As a recent grad, I landed a job @ an agency that train new grads. The agency works with peds. I knew I couldn't limit my knowledge as a new grad LPN. As a result, I work per diem with an assisted living facility. My advice would be to look for agencies that train new grads. In addition, find per diem work in a different specialty. That way, you're increasing you're chances of obtaining a more stabilized job. Good luck!

Seasoned nurses and graduates alike...Yes, times are not only tough but downright cruel and hard. One piece of advice is to make yourself the most "attractive" and the most marketable that you can be. Be willing to work any shift, holidays etc. As a manager what I have seen is that graduate nurses are not willing to work flexible schedules(or at least that is what comes across on their apps) and seasoned nurses usually want specialty areas with "big Bucks". Don't put a dollar amount down for expected salary. If it is required on the application say "negotiable"

I am a student scheduled to graduate in May 2012. I live in the Atlanta area, where the market is in need of seasoned nurses. I feel that I will get a job because I tried for 1 year to get hired on at the hospital as a patient tech. I finally got the opportunity to get an interview with the manager and now have a job on an acute care floor, it is considered medical surgical and we get a variety of patients. Everyone on our floor who work as techs get hired on immedietly after graduation. Many nursing students turn there noses up at tech jobs, not just nursing externs but actually being hired on a floor a learning patient care. I feel that I now have an advantage up on my fellow students who are not working or feel like they don't have the time to get a part time job. I agree that new grads and really seasoned nurses have a disadvantage now because of the squeeze on hospital budgets. I suggests that new grads try to get hired on as techs at the hospital and when a vacancy opens for nursing you have the one up. Good luck to all:)

Sorry new grads! Unfortunatly it's not just you. I've been a nurse 35 yrs, all of it in critical care, 10 years in Interventional Radiology / Cardiac Cath Lab. I have applied to one particular hospital that has been advertising for IR nurses off & on since January. I have applied for all of them,, only to be rejected within 24 hours by HR who states they are looking for someone with experience more "in line with what they need". They're only requirement for the job is 2 yrs of critical care experience. The application never makes it to the manager for review. I have been traveling for almost a year now in these 2 specialties since I can not find a job where I live. (Department I was working was closed and I was terminated without an offer of placement within the hospital) As hospitals continue to lose money due to low payment & non-payment as well as a fundamental disconect between hospital administration and physicians who continue to mismanage healthcare dollars, I am convinced they do not want nurses who are older and experienced as they must bring them in at a much higher rate of pay. They also do not want new grads as they must invest so much in their orientation and further education as they begin their "culture shock" years as they begin work. Hospitals want the most experience they can get for the lowest wage as well as keeping the staff as lean as possible, which will ultimatly backfire for them in patient care, patient satisfaction and nursing satisfaction / fatigue. Traditionally this is how hospitals learn, "the hard way", but at this point who can really blame them., they have to survive. How many buisnessess do you know that can loose millions of dollars every year and still stay open?