Thought I would have a job by now. Getting depressed

[SWRNUSA]

I have been scrolling here and there on this website and I am sure this has been discussed, but I will ask for myself. I am a May graduate with my ADN and I am currently enrolled in the BSN program. I really thought by now I would have a job. I have applied to over 40 positions and I have even applied in the DFW area and still have not landed even one interview. I am really scared. I got into nursing school when I was 29, and here I am 31 now with a young child to care for and I can't get a job. If I go in person, they tell me to apply online. I leave my resume and nothing. I was top of my class and have experience and a trained phlebotomist and our instructors told us of this "nursing shortage" which I am realizing is either not here, or just bologna. I am starting to feel depressed as my student loans will be due to start in October and I just want to work. Any advice? I have applied to every single hospital within a 150 mile radius, 20+ nursing homes and home health agencies. I am starting to feel like you will not become a nurse unless you personally know someone who can hook you up, which is ridiculous!

[bnmekiki]

The nursing shortage is on hold due to the crash in the economy. The older nurses who need and should retire are not because they're the higher wage earner or the only wage earner in their household. The other part of it is many nurses who were part time became full time for the same reason. The ANA which I am a member of states that once the older nurses retire there will be loads of jobs for nurses across the board.

[SWRNUSA]

Boy I hope so! Come on old folks and retire already!

[CannondaleRN]

Forget that, we are not retiring any time soon.

[dbahamonde]

This is soo Frustrating!!!

I graduated in August and got my license in April and have been looking non stop for months and haven't gotten an interview yet. Ive sent hundreds of resumes and nothing. Already have my ADN working on my BSN and want my MSN but I wonder, is it worth it??

[CP1983, ADN, BSN, RN]

Well, i graduated a yr ago and havent found anything. All the other places like Nursing homes, clinics, dia lysis centers, all want a year of experience, know that the new grads need experience and are willing to work anywhere but they are not hiring as well. I had not one but two externships, buth unpaid Nd one volunteer experience, it didn't help. Even though, i am getting my BSN, im pretty much gave up because i have my family to help to care of and a mortgage to pay. I needed to work and just couldnt afford to keep waiting for mt first nursing job to come around. I realized that if its meant to be, then it.will happen but as for now, i am getting my BSN and taking my time with it since their is no rush; i will be done with school in 2015.

[ScrappytheCoco]

I just wanted to say good luck and offer a little hope. I am in a large metro area that is saturated with new grads, and I'm also an ADN. I've been looking for a few months (only one month since licensure) and I was finally offered a position yesterday...there is hope! I was picked up by a small health system about 50 miles outside of the city. Good luck with your search...it will happen!

[Sunflowerinsc, ADN, RN]

Hospitals are not fulling positions like they used to because they are not making money.They are scared because of all the cuts by Medicare and other income sources. Ask nurses that are working how short staffed they are,how many patients assigned a shift, how much overtime they have.

[SRNA4U, BSN, DNP, RN, CRNA]

I think there is a nursing shortage at the bedside level. The job market is very good here in the DC area but the issue is that most hospitals are looking for experienced nurses only. A lot of programs that were in place for new RN's have been removed by many hospitals because of money. I currently work in the ICU and OR specialty areas and that market always have openings here in the DC/MD/VA area. The hard part comes for new grads is how do they get the experience when no one is hiring new grads.

[lorirn58]

Telling someone to "calm" down is not nice :)

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

Hospitals are not fulling positions like they used to because they are not making money.They are scared because of all the cuts by Medicare and other income sources. Ask nurses that are working how short staffed they arehow many patients assigned a shift, how much overtime they have.[/quote']

^This. Once the dust settles, most likely there will be jobs out there. In the mean time, keep trying!

[wish_me_luck, BSN, RN]

I will say get your BSN and relocate. I have had 4 interviews and 1 coming up (as long as it doesn't get cancelled). I have a BSN and most of the interviews were in areas away from where I live.

[wish_me_luck, BSN, RN]

What the heck is going to happen when all these new grads without jobs look into other careers/jobs and do not come back to nursing and the older nurses retire? You will start from scratch and the wages will be very low due to reimbursement and such...