The Betrayal

1 Like many of the other new graduate nurses who post and review this board I am a new graduate nurse who is still unemployed after five months. Nursing is a second career, one that I had high hopes that would provide me with both emotional and financial rewards. As of right now it as provided me with neither. I must admit if my expectations are disappointed it's partially my fault. No not that the job market sucks and that hospitals and to a lesser extent other nursing facilities do not want to take on new graduates. My fault was not doing my research and seeing that this has been going on for a few years and likely would be occurring after I graduated. That being said, here is the hypocrisy that I find so offensive, the same hospitals that do not want to spend money on new graduate training, have no problems taking young students money, when they attend their nursing programs. Of course the hospitals will say that the nursing programs are separate entities, no rational person could buy that argument. Nursing schools and hospitals are so tightly connected they are like siamese twins. Many of the administrators have dual roles as nursing deans and professors. Of course this behavior, where the uneducated consumer is taken advantage of goes on all the time in our economy, in fact it's how our economy was formed and thrives. I just think that maybe they should stop selling nursing as a noble profession, where people genuinely care and describe it for what they have made it, a business, with ethnics no different then any other business.
Quote from jayrn14I just think that maybe they should stop selling nursing as a noble profession, where people genuinely care and describe it for what they have made it, a business, with ethnics no different then any other business.
I understand your bitterness, it is true the "business" of nursing has taken away from some of the more meaningful sensitive issues that nursing is associated with. Yes, it is all about money, but it takes a special person to see beyond the money and give what is needed to provide optimal care for others. As a nurse for over three decades I have seen positions come and go, I have seen the marketing of nursing be lowered to the point of where I was wondering who were becoming the nurses that would be taking care of me??? The nursing profession is extremely rewarding and is lucrative. You came out at a bad time, and so have others before you. It will not be this way for much longer, you may not get the ideal position at first. Getting your foot in the door is the hardest part. If you are getting frustrated, which it sounds like you are, do something to keep yourself in the profession. See if there are some volunteer positions, how about a health fair at your church? I understand your goal of wanting to be gainfully employed and expecting nursing to meet your needs. Right now it is not only nursing, my daughter has finished ultrasound school and is also having problems finding work. Hospitals are a little skeptical with all the changes in the ways they were use to being paid, they are holding back. Keep applying, keep trying, it is true it helps if you know someone at the facility; it does not have to be a manager. Keep in touch with your classmates and see where they have been able to find work. You may have to relocate. The need is there, it is just finding the place with the need.
Sorry don't mean to threadjack, but I feel the need to clarify re: relationship between schools & hospitals that host clinical rotations. The only hospitals that have any financial benefit from nursing education programs are those that have hospital-based diploma programs. Although hospitals DO receive Federal financial incentives for participating in MEDICAL (physician) education, there are none for nursing. It is well-documented that the presence of nursing students has a negative effect on productivity in environments that rely on staff preceptors to guide and oversee student performance. Although there is some recruitment benefit, hospitals are not really hiring many new grads - so the 'cost' of teaching students still results in a net financial loss. It is true that Nurse Executives are frequently asked to serve on Boards for nursing schools but these appointments are purely voluntary... with no financial benefit to the individual. I know that is is very difficult for those of us that have been impacted by the shortage of jobs, but PLEASE try not to take it personally. This is not about you and has no reflection on your professional worth or value. I do agree with OP... schools should be more transparent in the information provided to potential students. Prior to making the significant commitment of nursing school, students should have a very clear and accurate picture of the employment situation.
Well most nursing schools are in university hospitals and the ones that are not are joint ventures between community hospitals and community colleges. Hospital do receive financial benefit from nursing schools. However, more to the point here is that they are well aware of the new graduate problem, yet they keep on increasing enrollment. The way the system is set up does not make any sense. If hospitals do not want to train new graduates, then prepare new graduates to start working day one. Let the students get the training they will need to start working as an RN during nursing school. Or if they do not want to do that, then decrease enrollments to what the market can handle. I would have rather not gotten into nursing school, then to work as hard as I did just to get out and be unemployed.
Quote from jayrn14Well most nursing schools are in university hospitals and the ones that are not are joint ventures between community hospitals and community colleges. Hospital do receive financial benefit from nursing schools.
The thing is, nursing is EVERYWHERE. Try to seek positions outside of the hospital, if you haven't; REAL nursing occurs in Sub-Acute, LTC, home health as well. My outside acute care experience has given me the opportunity to compete and be offered acute care positions; nursing practice transcends settings, even the corporization (my word) of healthcare.
Quote from jayrn14Well most nursing schools are in university hospitals and the ones that are not are joint ventures between community hospitals and community colleges. Hospital do receive financial benefit from nursing schools. However, more to the point here is that they are well aware of the new graduate problem, yet they keep on increasing enrollment. The way the system is set up does not make any sense. If hospitals do not want to train new graduates, then prepare new graduates to start working day one. Let the students get the training they will need to start working as an RN during nursing school. Or if they do not want to do that, then decrease enrollments to what the market can handle. I would have rather not gotten into nursing school, then to work as hard as I did just to get out and be unemployed.
Quote from elkparkIt is the responsibility of the potential student to make informed decisions about what kind of education and occupation s/he wants to pursue, including what employment opportunities are likely to be available at graduation, and it is the responsibility of the student (not the school) to find employment after graduation. The school doesn't owe you anything other than the education they promised...
It is no different than college. You can major in almost anything. I does not mean that it will lead to a job. The departments will shrug and say that they are there to educate you, not train you for a job. Once when having a college degree was a rare thing, and so it had market value. Add employers who were willing to invest in training, and a college grad had a good deal once that first job was landed.Not so now. College degrees are far from rare, and there aren't enough jobs that even require a degree. Employers are not so willing to train anymore. Does that make universities limit the amount of grads? Nursing is not immune to this. When there is a surplus of nursing, or the money is tight, training new nurses is an easy thing to cut in the budget.
I agree with the original post. I am a new nurse and having a difficult time finding a job. But I am sure this is no different than any other market. I will be patient and good luck to you.
Does anyone know how it is for doctors? They get assigned residencies--and are they guaranteed positions at the hospital after their residency? Do they have a problem with unemployment?I feel the nursing education system we have these days is ridiculous. My school was a well regarded 4 year nursing program in the area, and yet I felt like my friend's associate degree program's clinicals were way better. I didn't really feel prepared when I graduated. I'd prefer if it was in the old days where you were like a working nurse on the unit while in school and when you graduated you were prepared to hit the floor. Hospitals prefer BSNs, yet they don't want new grads. They kick out LPNs who've been working there for years because they don't have a BSN. new grads who want to work in acute care end up working in LTC/subacute and getting trained by the LPNs who got kicked out of the hospital...hahaha ridiculous. And I by no means am saying this because I think LPNs are inferior and BSNs deserve better b/c of their degree. I've learned tons and continue to learn a lot from them. I think all this corporate bs is what it is....bs....
As far as I know you aren't even guaranteed a residency as a MD. You have to match with a specialty and facility and if you don't, you're out of luck. If someone knows more please fill us in. As for the rest: there is no conspiracy between hospitals and nursing schools. Hospitals do not make money off nursing schools. They are not required to hire new grads. And honestly if you didn't research the field you were going into, that is on you. You don't hear all the liberal arts graduates complain while they're making your coffee do you?