Sorry we must start you as a new grad.

To begin, here is a little background about myself. I have three years of experience in a skilled nursing facility. My unit consists of outpatient ER (we continue IV antibiotics), 2 day post op with rehab services, and hospice. Everyday I do admissions, discharges, collaboration with the doctors, woundcare, med pass, Ivs, the whole shebang!! With limited resources.. I am constantly using assessment and critical thinking skills to better help the doctor make decisions on patient care.

While I was there I actually met the don of an esteemed hospital and she wanted me to work for her. She was confused as to why I applied many times and never got any bites so she immediately got me an interview. At this interview I was told I need to be started as a new graduate so I need to wait for new grad positions to open up. It has been months...

What irks me is that I have been an RN with a BSN working for 3 years in a SNF gathering experience and I am still considered a new grad and need to wait for those coveted and very limited spots to open up. Has anyone gone through the same?
That sounds odd to me. What position did you apply for? Unless you were going for something completely outside your wheelhouse, it seems strange to call you a new grad (and even then, it's still offputting).

I applied for Medical surgical and telemetry. Yes, it is very off-putting. I am competing for the same positions as a new nurses. :-/

Uhh no. New grad position=new grad pay. NO THANKS!

Sounds as if someone (not the lady who wants to hire you) has a case of "better than thou". And HR sees this as an excuse to pay you new grad pay. If it were me, I could accept being told I had to start at the bottom of the pay scale, but not coupled with the "you're a new grad" insult. You may not have their desired experience, but you do have experience, and they should not be putting you down for it.

I worked in an ALF and psych hospital post-graduation because I could not get a job in a medical hospital after applying to different units in different hospitals. I finally had a friend put in a good word for me and got hired as part of a transition program for nurses who had been nurses for a while but with no hospital experience. My wages are based upon the years I've been a nurse and the fact the I have a BSN. Is there anything similar in your area? It sounds ridiculous that you would be treated as a new grad when you have all those hands on skills.

I know a nurse on my that had LTC experience too and they put her in the new grad internship program. It's not exactly fair to label you as a new grad, but if you are seeking an acute care position that may be an option for you to get your foot in the door.

I'm reading this but can't help thinking: wouldn't those new grad program positions in turn deny you as you have more than 0-6 months nursing experience??

Why don't you call or send a letter to the individual who got you the interview and politely explain that this is BS.

If it weren't for the fact that you are being told you have to wait for a "new grad" slot to open I would say it is a pay negotiation tactic. Like schnookimz said before new grad pay = new grad pay, and in that situation you could just counter their offer and have some healthy negotiations. But the situation you're describing is someone disregarding your work history and completely ignoring the fact that 3 years have passed since you were awarded your BSN. You are NOT a new grad in any sense of the word and this maybe something you bring human resources in on, someone other than this interviewer because it doesn't sound right. It's like BeachyRN2Be you wouldn't qualify for a nurse residency program position (which is what it sounds like that interviewer is saying needs to open) because you are a nurse with experience. I've seen maybe one nurse who had a year under their that our healthcare system sent through the nurse residency program, but everyone else was a brand new graduate with no experience or at most 3-6 months.

I guess I'm the only one who see the better orientation potential.

Quote from Libby1987I guess I'm the only one who see the better orientation potential.

This happened to me seven years ago when I moved from inpatient psych to medical oncology. I'd been a psych RN for 15 years, my first two years in home health. There were so few job openings in my area I was too grateful to be considered for a position I'd never ever done at all to even dream of negotiating for a wage that reflected my experience. I do not recommend being that desperate! It was self-defeating At my first year eval, I spoke to the DON (a very approachable lady) and told her I'd discussed with my manager about having my wages (new RN wages) adjusted to reflect my experience. We have an active nurse's union her in WA state. Both my manager and the DON stated willingness to help me. I did not request ALL of my previous years to be counted year for year, I asked for half that. HR said 'no'. I pointed out to them that the DON had the authority to make a personalized decision regarding wages in spite of the contract. HR said 'no'. I dropped the subject for another year, and went at it again, every year, finally asking a union rep to represent me to HR. The union rep was, well, useless and stopped returning my emails and calls (I heard other similar complaints). I went back to the DON. She spoke to HR, and then wrote me a note apologizing that she really couldn't help me after all. I felt she was being honest with me. It wasn't gonna happen.Because I signed on the dotted line, this signature was used to shoot down my every attempt, even when the DON was sympathetic to me. So before you commit (by signing), make sure you are already satisfied with your starting wages.You will have a greater base wage in acute care, and the differentials for night shift are substantial. You'll make a lot more money already, and it may not really impact your pay as much as it impacts your respect for your previous experience. Which is nothing to disrespect! My example is of . . . really not advocating for myself. And perhaps there was no way I could. I don't regret taking the job at all, I needed to get into acute care for the sake of my career, so I look back on it as unfortunate wage wise but over all a wise move for an old psych nurse who wanted to explore other kinds of nursing.