New Grad Nurses struggling to find jobs - CNN Reporter wants to hear from you

[Brian]

allnurses.com appreciates how difficult the job market can be for new grad nurses.

We are working with Annalyn Kurtz, a CNN Money Reporter get info for an article that will highlight this nationwide issue. We have created a form where you can share your story with the reporter.

We WILL SHARE this info with the CNN Reporter and she MAY contact you with your prefererd contact method. All the info you share is OPTIONAL and will not be posted on the public board.

*Even if you did get a job, please fill in the form to share your story of your job hunt process.*

Thanks in advance! - Brian Short - Founder of allnurses.com

Click here to go to the form to fill out

If you wish to comment on this publicly, please post your comments below.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

For the longest time, nurses had no issue with finding work, although this ebbs and flows in cycles. So people naturally expect that Nursing Jobs are abundant. However, the trend will be home care and palliative care mainly. Jobs in hospitals are disappearing, so nursing has become like every other profession for new grads.

[Daryl_G]

I live in an area with at least three different nursing schools graduating BSN classes of 35+ students twice a year. In addiditon, most of the hospitals in the area are only hiring for BSN graduates which limits the pool of jobs for non BSN grads. I see and hear schools advertising their nursing programs every day and wonder if all of these students coming out are finding jobs? I would tell anyone planning to go into nursing to get a BSN because it is getting harder to find jobs with no experience.

[RN 033]

@DizzyLizzyNurse I think that is the most difficult part me too. The media says that there is a shortage, so there must be something wrong with me not finding a job, like I'm not trying or holding out for the perfect position - insult to injury. Received my ADN in 2010 - two years applying, two interviews, too many rejections for no experience. Just finished my BSN and hope this makes me a more desirable new grad. (Northern California)

[kittyn, MSN, NP]

I'm not sure if this is of any help or not.

Create a Plan to Help New Graduate Nurses Gain the Experience Needed to get a Nursing Job.

We ask President Obama to help new graduate nurses gain the experience needed to get a nursing job.

[lisamschmidtrn]

I am in upstate NY, about 2.5 hours north of NYC. I would be willing to commute and take a train into the city, but all the facilities want BSN it seems.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

I am in upstate NY, about 2.5 hours north of NYC. I would be willing to commute and take a train into the city, but all the facilities want BSN it seems.

please go to this link!!!! Brian (the founder) is collaborating with CNN! Tell them your story!

New Grad Nurses struggling to find job - CNN Reporter wants to hear from you

Are you a new grad struggling to find a job? A CNN reporter wants to hear about your challenges.

Click here to relate your experience.

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

I should pass this on to my godmother. Her youngest got her BSN in 2010, and looked for a job for a year with no success. She ended up joining a yearlong medical mission trip to Haiti (and surviving 2 bouts of malaria) to get nursing experience. When she got back, she still couldn't find a job. She's now going for her MSN.

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

I can sympathize with the jobless new grads. I graduated in May 2008, and got my license in July. Massachusetts doesn't have "graduate nurse" status; you're a nurse the day you pass the boards. I'd been looking out-of-state since March. I found a job in LTC 8 months after graduation, but it was cancelled, and I was sent home 45 minutes into my first shift. I found another job 2 months later, in assisted living, and I had to move 250 miles for it.

[Andrews_RN]

Do I have stories! I graduated December 2011 and moved from Arizona to Seattle, WA. I thought that i would have a better chance by physically being in Washington. I had a hard time getting my foot in the door. Even though I had a lot of interviews, I always got the same response of we'd rather go with someone local who has done clinicals here. It was so disheartening! I worked my butt off to get through nursing school and felt like even though I graduated with honors it was doing nothing for me. I had to take a job in peds inpatient psych over an hour away from my house. It was part time and paid barely over minimum wage, but I was so desperate for any experience I couldn't turn it down. I got to a point by July that I couldn't afford rent or food and I couldn't get back home due to cost either. It had been so long that I had felt good at something that I was frankly just depressed. Finally, and it seems like kind of out of nowhere, that I got caught a break. I went to what I told myself would be 'one last interview' before I had to start reconsidering nursing altogether. It was at a big medical center downtown. I felt like I had nothing to lose at that point and was just honest about my love for the northwest and my passion for nursing. I guess it was what they were looking for because I have been there since August.

I don't know what I would have done without my current hospital giving me this chance. The whole process was very rough and at times I was angry at how ill prepared I was for the reality of the job market by my nursing school. All the professors had ever talked about was the nursing shortage and how we could go anywhere with our degrees after graduation. I would encourage anyone who wants to get into nursing to understand what a hard road it is right now. It's something you really have to have passion for to be able to tough out all the bumps along the way.

[DoGoodThenGo]

For the longest time, nurses had no issue with finding work, although this ebbs and flows in cycles. So people naturally expect that nursing jobs are abundant. However, the trend will be home care and palliative care mainly. Jobs in hospitals are disappearing, so nursing has become like every other profession for new grads.

Thank you! How long have I been saying that? *LOL*

Every new grad nurse wants to work in hospital and truth be told inpatient beds in many areas of this country are decreasing. Between shorter patient stays and the growth of out-patient, ambulatory, and home care, coupled with an almost laser like focus on staffing ratios using such tools as call outs and so forth facilities are becoming very efficient in how they use their professional nursing service.

Here in NYC one great hospital (Saint Vincent's) was shut down and in it's place will be an urgent care center. While that *might* serve some of the needs of the local community it certianly will not generate anywhere near the number of Nursing Jobs as the former hospital. Westchester Square hospital is going the same way with Montefiore planning something similar.

[Tabdelhafiz]

After I passed my NCLEX, I immediately started applying for jobs. I got an interview and job offer for every job I applied for, except for hospital positions. I did not have any experience and was told that was the reason. All other jobs responded quickly.

[kogafietsen]

Tabdelhafiz-- just curious what part of the country are you in (I didn't see a city for your profile).

Thanks.