New graduate transition into practice during turbulent economic times.

t he last thing most new graduates expected to worry about when they entered their nursing programs was finding employment when they graduated. although it is true that a serious nursing shortage is still anticipated within a decade (Buerhaus, auerbach, & staiger, 2009), new graduates today across the country are experiencing difficulty securing their first job. the economic downturn over the past 2 years has quickly changed what was once a wide open job market for new graduates. experienced nurses in the workforce are delaying retirement and working more hours (Buerhaus et al., 2009). Hospitals are under enormous financial pressure due to the increasing number of uninsured and underinsured patients (american Hospital association, 2009). in many geographic areas, hospitals have significantly reduced hiring. With the availability of experienced nurses, nurse leaders are more cautious about employing new graduates when they do have vacancies. Historically, the highest turnover in nursing staff occurs in the new graduate group (robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 2009). this turnover often comes after a considerable investment in the orientation of a new graduate to the clinical setting. the employment situation in California serves as a good example of the reversal in hiring trends. Nurse-patient staffing ratios were initially passed in 1999 and fully implemented in 2005. initially, hospitals struggled to maintain nurse staffing to meet the ratios. the employment picture has shifted, and the California institute for Nursing and Healthcare (2009) now estimates that 40% of new graduates will be unable to find employment in the state. Not surprisingly, many new graduates are becoming discouraged about their career choice. Nurse educators play a crucial role in helping these newest members of the profession maintain their optimism and stay engaged in the profession. the advice and support that nursing faculty provide students and graduates can make a significant difference in a successful employment search. student development of job-seeking skills should begin with their first clinical rotation. Nurse leaders tell us that every clinical rotation should be viewed as a job audition. While in their rotations, students are observed for their appearance, knowledge, clinical skills, communication, and engagement in their work. employers are seeking to recruit and retain high performers (Hanson & Hanson, 2007; Hausknecht, rodda, & Howard, 2009). it may be necessary for faculty to clearly define for students what it means to be a high performer in today's environment and incorporate activities into classes that promote these …