RN New Grad- can't find a job!

U.S.A. California

Published

Hi all,

Newbie here. I graduated last month and have been applying like crazy and can't seem to land a job. :oAny suggestions? I'm beginning to think my IP is worthless. I plan on taking my boards sometime next month. Any tips on studying for the NCLEX?:specs:

Thanks all!

Keep trying, It took me a few months to find a job as well. I is very competative right now so it is likely you did nothing wrong, sometimes its who you know and being at the right place at the right time so hang in there and keep applying until you land your job.

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I agree it is very difficult to move and relocate to another city. It seems that there are a number that complain about not finding a job that are fixated on one location. These are from people who are moving from other locations, such as the east coast. They need to think outside their area of interest because there are jobs out there. The Bay area is becoming the Mecca of nursing, I don't know why, and everyone wants to live there(extremely expensive). This gives the employers the upper hand on who they hire. The Bay area is not experiencing a nursing shortage and probbaly won't for a long time.

Reason why people are obsessed with wanting to work in the bay area is due to the extremely high pay. Where in the world can you get a 2 year degree and start an entry level job getting paid $42-44/hr with night differentials of additional 8/hr topping out at $50 plus an hr. $$$ is a big reason why many people get into nursing who are from the bay area. I have a 4 yr degree and can not command this type of salary right off the bat compared to my 2 yr nursing degree which paid for itself after 2 pay checks. Compare Socal wages to bay area is ridiculous and something i dont understand. Nurses in Socal are getting paid peanuts compared to nurses up here. For example, Hoag hospital in Newport Beach (Socal) starts at $25/hr and cost of living there is obscene. Unfortunately for new grads, we are screwed. Hospitals have the upper hand and your resume/education/experience/interview and people skills better be top notch or you will not have a chance. Hate to be negative but its best to expand your job search if you want a job anytime soon.

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It's so hard for those in Bay area I know. I was reading something in an RN magazine recently that broke down the pay vs. cost of living/eating/everything in certain areas and it reported that SF bay area was one of the least profitable when all things considered.

Great news. It gets better everyday here in the bay area for us new grads with tons of dept and no hope! :)

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Advice for studying for NCLEX...Take the Kaplan course and do lots of review questions!

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Specializes in RN.

i think most of Hospitals preffered now those who have license and have some experience.hring freeze is everywhere in california.so hard to find a job not like before..

just in case you got interview,show ur interest and dont look for competetive rate coz whats important is to get in ACUTE CARE setting..or try SNF.:):nurse: they pay good but kind of stressful!?

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Specializes in Sub-acute geriatric, gero-psych, hospice.

Today's 12-07-2009. Lately I don't see much "New grad RNs cannot find job!" postings. (I'm in Northern California.) Does that mean, people started finding new-grad jobs? Or new-grad RNs having break finding jobs because it's holiday time -- No facilities want to hire new-grads and train them?

If any new-grad RNs started working lately, could you post some messages? I want to hear that. :specs:

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Specializes in Sub-acute geriatric, gero-psych, hospice.
Today's 12-07-2009.

Oops, today's 12-[17]-2009 -- excuse me.

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No, not at all. I don't see it getting better personally. I did however take a job many states away, but in the bar area it is still very bad and just getting worse as the December class has just graduated.

I spoke to several nurse recruiters today in the area who said they are advising people to not even go to nursing school for several more years, especially if you are considering ADN programs...I was shocked.

BUT, one did say that it can't possibly get any worse, so it can only go up from here! Good news, right?

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Specializes in Sub-acute geriatric, gero-psych, hospice.

Hi JenPen2332, thanks for your reply!

Your recruiters said not to even go to nsg school!?!? -- situation's still THAT BAD huh? :crying2:

You took a new-grad job outside of california. I can see that that's not what you wanted to do, but in a way, "Congratulations!:yeah:" -- At least you can get into the new-grad program, Good for you!! Right now, in many reason, I don't have that kind of freedom so I'm stuck in Northern CA peninsula region.

BUT, one did say that it can't possibly get any worse, so it can only go up from here! Good news, right?

I really hope so. :stone

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Been searching for New Grad Programs around the Bay Area. Help guys!!! :cry:

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