Nurses Utilize Training and Education Outside of Health Care Sector

With nursing shortages being reported nationwide and new nurse graduates having difficulty finding clinical positions, nurses are now turning to other industry to utilize their training and education in the workplace. Lyn Dowling, reporting for Florida Today, detailed how nurses are being entrepreneurs as consultants, trainers, risk auditors, etc. outside of the health care sector.

To read more about nurses working outside of health care, click here.

New Partnerships Spurs Innovation in Nursing Education

The Cincinnati State Technical and Community College's innovative nursing education program, which integrates new nurses into the workforce, was recently highlighted by Dr. Jill Biden during her "Community College to Career" bus tour. The hierarchical program trains students for entry-level positions, then coordinates and collaborates with employers to continue educational efforts in order to expand the skill-set of these students. By partnering with employers, the program provides entry level workers with the flexibility, support and coaching they needed to continue their education.

To read more about this program, click here.

The Health-Care Sector is Booming. So Why Are Nurses Having Trouble Finding Jobs?

Over the weekend, Sarah Kliff, writing for the Washington Post's WonkBlog, discussed the difficulty that many new nurse graduates are having in finding full-time employment. Despite the nursing field continuing to grow, Ms. Kliff highlighted how nurse graduates are often unwilling to relocate and thus hinder their own job search.

Are there any new nurse graduates that are blog readers who have had similar experiences?

To read more about the struggle for nurse graduates to find full-time work, click here.

As Boomers Age, Need for Nurses Increases

Earlier today, the Chicago Sun Times featured an article written by Maria Sonnenberg that outlined how the aging baby boomer population will require more nurses in the health care workforce then ever before. Ms. Sonnenberg focused on how nurses with valuable years of experience can act in mentorship roles for new graduates and facilitate young nurses growth in this ever expanding field.

Click here to read the full article.

No Jobs for 43% of Newly Licensed Nurses Responding to California Statewide Survey

A recent survey conducted by the California Institute for Nursing & Health Care (CINHC) has found that forty-three percent of nurses who obtained their RN license within 18 months. With conflicting reports stating that there is a nursing shortage in the United States, this latest poll is rather troubling for new nursing graduates attempting to break into the field. The CINHC survey found that 92% of nurses polled cited that their lack of experience was the primary reason they were unable to obtain a job. This is a rather complex issue with new nursing graduates unable to obtain a job due to lack of experience, and unable to gain experience due to the lack of entry level positions.

Click here to read the full press release.

New Nursing Graduates Cost More to Hire, May Struggle to Find Jobs

Yesterday, Fantasi Pridgon, reporting for The Rebel Bell (a student run newspaper at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas), cited the latest Nevada Health Care Quality Report that indicated that new nursing graduates are having difficult finding positions in acute care facilities. This is a result of the time and effort acute care facilities must invest in new nursing graduates as they take time to acclimate to a new working environment. In a time where hospitals are having numerous budgetary issues, this report does not bode well for new nursing graduates who are seeking employment in this specific sector of health care.

What are your thoughts or experiences with new nursing graduates at your workplace?

Click here to read the full article.

Innovative Program Run By Nurses Assist Troubled Teens Graduate High School

Yesterday, Kim Vallez, of local FOX affialiate KASA, detailed a program being conducted at the University of New Mexico Hospital to address low graduation rates among teenagers in high schools in the surrounding area. The program, "Nursing Diversity Pipeline", teaches teenagers from low graduation rate areas the basics of health care including CPR and first aid, as well as educating them about all the different professions that help a hospital run. So far, the program has been rather successful with around 80% of participating teenagers completing the program and graduating high school.

Click here to read the article.