In fact nearly all of these facilities are now (Dec. 2009) asking for 1-2 year experience minumum (often ads say “no new grads”). WHY? BECAUSE THEY CAN. There is a surplus of non-specialty med surge nurses who are remaining in the work force instead of retiring, or who have re-entered the workforce to feed a family facing layoffs to male spouses in industries such as construction etc. Hiring experienced RNs is cheaper and less risky than employing new grads who require an expensive preceptorship, many of who may not tough out the initial first years of nursing.

I have to admit I’m glad HR experts and journalists are now FINALLY acknowledging a situation that recruiters could have alerted you to a year ago: job orders specifically for new grads are virtually non-existent. For the last 6-12 months the experts simply made the same suggestions about wearing down your shoe leather, casting a wide net, being willing to move etc. etc. By the time a full acknowledgement of the depth of the situation and the need for a policy push, subsidies, or regulations to force hiring of new nurses occurs (I dont even know if in fact this is the best course, or realistic) the crisis may in fact be over. Solved, as it is caused, by THE ECONOMY. Given that this same economy has traditionally kept nurses salaries in line, due to shortages and high demand, it can work. However on the downside, it seems to be a shock to everyone that the laws of supply and demand might ever negatively impact (new grad) candidates for nursing jobs; nurses aren’t magically in demand, nor assured jobs through government policy.