Staffing shortage is one of the issues nurses are facing today. However, despite the lack of nurses in the different areas of nursing specialty, newly graduated nurses are having a hard time getting employed in an institution. According to the article from advanceweb.com, part of the problem is because of economic recession, senior nurses return to work as regular staff, taking extra available shifts. Another reason is institutions prefer to hire nurses who are already experienced. Since new graduates must be precepted before they can work independently, it would be like an investment in the part of the institutions to train the new graduates.
Since new grads are having difficulty getting nursing jobs, they may resort to go back to school and get their next degree – from ADNs to BSN, BSNs to MSN- to increase their chances of being employed or hope that things would better by the time they finish their education. The downside is, while they enhance their knowledge in theory, they still lack the actual nursing experience that is always helpful and most benefit from performing bedside care. New graduates going on advanced education to become nurse educators or nurse administrators in the future is not a practical move because again, while theory is important, experience makes that theory relevant. It would be very difficult to go directly into nursing education or administration without some sort of clinical experience first.
It may take some time for a newly graduated nurse to be able to develop competency in institution policies as well as in nursing practice but this is the only way they can gain their experience. If all institutions would refuse to hire and train new graduates, then they will never be able to acquire the skills that institutions require for them to be qualified. It may be an investment at first but being able to develop a competent nurse who will be a part of the health care team is enough return of their investment.
Exactly what I have been saying since graduating May 2008 with my BSN. Can’t find a job. Then when I did, and relocated, that job did not last because I could not learn everything I needed in orientation period. (Isn’t nursing a career that you build upon and always learn?). So now I am not a new grad anymore and cannot apply to any new grad programs (the very few that are out there) because of my work experience. But I cannot get a Staff RN position to save my life because I don’t have the coveted 6mos – 1yr of experience! I wanted to go back for my MSN, but one needs 1 year of experience to apply to MSN programs! I do understand that I need experience before getting more education but I have to do something here. So, I keep applying, getting declined, and look more and more dumb as the months go by and I do not have a nursing job. So disheartening.
hi mel, I suggest you to go on volunteer to a hospital that you want to be employed in the future. It will help you establish contact. Have always faith!!!Good luck!