Panicking about the job market

Nurses New Nurse

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Specializes in Professional Development Specialist.

I graduated and rushed to do my NCLEX, and passed on 12/23. I was hoping for some better responses and I do know it's only been a few days but I've been looking for works for months now with no luck. I still get the same "no thanks" response, even from openings that say they would consider new grads. All the job openings say BSN preferred even if they will consider new grads, but I have my ADN. I need a job, ANY job. I've applied to every hospital system within 1 hour drive, and every posted nursing home opening. What do I do now? Walk in? Cold call? I'm open to ANY suggestion.

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Specializes in LTAC.

I am to a new grad Rn w/ a ADN, I graduated in May 2009. I have not found a job yet. I am beyond panicked. I have resorted to applying to jobs up to 3 hrs. away from home, which is a tough decision since I have 3 kids at home. I live in no. Calf. Everywhere I look and apply to is turning me away since I do not have 1 yr. of experience. I have applied to acute care hosp., rehab hosp. dialysis centers, blood banks, long term care ect. I keep getting the same answer- come see us when you have 1 yr. under your belt. How can I get experience if no one is willing to give me a chance? I went and took and received my ACLS and in August I enrolled in a accelerated ADN to BSN program at a local university. I go to class one night a week for 3 hrs. I will be finished w/ my BSN next Dec. The job market is tough for new grads all over the US right now, I reccomed getting as many certifications under your belt as you can- ACLS, PALS, NRP ect. they are fairly easy to obtain and not too expensive, and you also might consider a BSN upgrade program like I did. I know how you are feeling, and I am so disappointed I cannot find employment as a RN. I wish you luck and if you need to vent or talk, I am here!

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I am to a new grad Rn w/ a ADN, I graduated in May 2009. I have not found a job yet. I am beyond panicked. I have resorted to applying to jobs up to 3 hrs. away from home, which is a tough decision since I have 3 kids at home. I live in no. Calf. Everywhere I look and apply to is turning me away since I do not have 1 yr. of experience. I have applied to acute care hosp., rehab hosp. dialysis centers, blood banks, long term care ect. I keep getting the same answer- come see us when you have 1 yr. under your belt. How can I get experience if no one is willing to give me a chance? I went and took and received my ACLS and in August I enrolled in a accelerated ADN to BSN program at a local university. I go to class one night a week for 3 hrs. I will be finished w/ my BSN next Dec. The job market is tough for new grads all over the US right now, I reccomed getting as many certifications under your belt as you can- ACLS, PALS, NRP ect. they are fairly easy to obtain and not too expensive, and you also might consider a BSN upgrade program like I did. I know how you are feeling, and I am so disappointed I cannot find employment as a RN. I wish you luck and if you need to vent or talk, I am here!

Hopefully things will look up for you soon:icon_hug:. I have a few classmates that I still keep in touch with who have since graduated May 09 and lots of them still do not have jobs. We are in the Northern Ca (the bay area). Its hard, first you have to fight to get into the program then when you get out you have to fight to get a job. I am sure when you started your pre-reqs jobs were plentiful but this darn recession is breaking alot of people down. I see it when I volunteer at the local shelter:crying2:.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Geriatrics, LTC.

Stop applying to jobs that say BSN preferred. There are so many RN jobs out there, take one of them!

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Stop applying to jobs that say BSN preferred. There are so many RN jobs out there, take one of them!

Wow somebody is not in sync with what the job market is really like right now for nurses, whether they be ADN or BSN.

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Specializes in Professional Development Specialist.
Wow somebody is not in sync with what the job market is really like right now for nurses, whether they be ADN or BSN.

No kidding! Would I even be posting if there were so many ADN jobs? I apply because "preferred" doesn't say "only" and I can't afford to waste even a slim chance. If I only applied to positions that say no experience and ADN, then I wouldn't be applying at all! What an odd thing to post. :confused:

My husband and I have begun to discuss moving out of state. I can't decide which is more upsetting, leaving our home and the home of our kids or staying unemployed after all we went through to get to here. :crying2:

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Specializes in VA-BC, CRNI.

Apply at LTC/SNF facilities.

What I personally did was look up all the nursing homes through Medicare and then went down and applied. Once I started this tactic I quikly found a job.

Many LTC/SNFs do not have websites so you have to apply in person.

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Specializes in Professional Development Specialist.
Apply at LTC/SNF facilities.

What I personally did was look up all the nursing homes through Medicare and then went down and applied. Once I started this tactic I quikly found a job.

Many LTC/SNFs do not have websites so you have to apply in person.

Good advice, thank you! I planned to do this anyway as soon as my mom is in town next week to watch the kids.

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I would recommend also looking at other types of facilities in the area that may need nurses...like inpatient drug/alcohol treatment facilities, places that serve those with disabilities (or rehab centers), schools, etc.

In the area where I live, the inpatient drug facility only advertises on their website. Look in the phone book to see what is around you and google the facility to see if there are postings on their website. Sometimes our local center that serves those with learning or physical disabilities advertises on Craigslist, but they mainly just post their jobs on their own website. The schools around here also seem to mainly post on their own website (although if they don't get a good response, I have seen them in the paper from time to time). There is also an ortho center with their own outpatient surgical center near my home and they tend to only advertise openings on their website. Just try to think of what is around you and search for websites to see if you find something that you may be missing in your other resources.

GOOD LUCK!!!!

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this is a good reason to try to get your foot in the door at any hospital as a tech before graduation....

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Specializes in Professional Development Specialist.
this is a good reason to try to get your foot in the door at any hospital as a tech before graduation....

It's easy to see in retrospect, but there isn't much I can do to change that now. I applied for all the nurse extern programs in town but they pretty much shut them down around the time they stopped hiring new grads last year. I know plenty of techs who had a hard time finding jobs too, as well as an EMT who is still working as an EMT because he can't fnd an RN job. There are no guarantees.

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It's easy to see in retrospect, but there isn't much I can do to change that now. I applied for all the nurse extern programs in town but they pretty much shut them down around the time they stopped hiring new grads last year. I know plenty of techs who had a hard time finding jobs too, as well as an EMT who is still working as an EMT because he can't fnd an RN job. There are no guarantees.

yes it seems like healthcare jobs right now are hard to come by. I even know a few CNA's who are looking for work in my area and cant find anything. You find yourself in a hard place if you dont have experience.

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