Can't get a job as new RN

I've been seeing the same thing over in the Tampa and Brooksville area. I was a LPN for 2+ years before getting my RN and I was only contacted by 1 hospital. They offered me the position but I turned it down because it wasn't what I wanted. I have since landed a job.
My point to posting is that many of the places willing to hire are LTC/rehab places and agencies. SOME agencies will provide training so at least you can start to get some experience then apply again at a later time. As a LPN, I worked in LTC and rehab and know they are still in need of good nurses. Experience is experience at this point and the longer you wait for something to come around, the harder it will be to get a "new grad"position with all the new May grads.. If I were in your shoes, I would do anything in the nursing field and keep my schedule open for interviews.

Hi everyone
This thread started in Jan of 09. Those new grads who have or have not posted but have been job hunting with no luck, could you be so kind and give us some updated on the new grad hiring scarce?

I will be entering NS soon and am concerned. Perhaps, its better to take those Scholarships that force a new grad to work for a Hospital 2years. This way at least one has a job. Or maybe even that doesn't work out, for I read some say post that at Baptist Scholars one must apply for a job even after they finish the program.

Thanx in advance

Hello,

An update: It's been 7 months since I got my RN license and 8 months since graduating and still nothing as far as a hospital job goes. I tried making the rounds at all the hospitals again when I hit my "6 months as an RN" mark, but I got the same thing as when I first tried: No response at all or "not enough experience". However, I just accepted a position with a Hospice here (I have been working in this field for 2 years now), and will be making very good money, working mon-fri 8-5, and with great benefits. I am learning that while my dream is still to be an L&D nurse, I am happy where I am at and I need to stop complaining because a job is a job, and right now that's better than what a lot of people have. Nurses are still in demand in areas like LTC and rehab, and they pay better than a hospital.

I still hope this counts as experience though.

What has everyone else been seeing?

Just wanted to post that I graduated in May of 2009 I have been looking for and applying for new grad positions in the hospital since feb of 2009 to get a jump start before I graduated..to no avail...so I started applying at rehab facilities and they have been calling I have accepted a position at a facility and they want to train me for a supervisor position..I will be working 11p-7a..and they are paying more than the hospitals..im saying that to say this..nothing wrong with starting in a LTC or Rehab Facility you can always get back into the hospital and depending on your long term goals..mine is to get into case management so this will be a plus for me..good luck to all the new grads.

I have never been so disheartened in all of my life. I have a BSN in nursing, graduated at the top of my class and still no jobs. I can't help but wonder what this so called "nursing shortage" is doing to patient care as well as over-working the nurses caring for them. I have a license in Alabama and Florida and still nothing - THEY ALL WANT EXPERIENCE. I am wanting to take a course in AWHONN FHT but now I am beginning to believe that even that won't make a difference. I can't decide if writing Obama would help, wonder how long it will take before the situation improves or get my masters and even then I wonder if that would help. Everyone out there in the general public think that with the nursing shortage there are oodles of jobs - wrong. I even had someone ask me what's wrong with me to not find a job - that hurt. I try explaining to no avail. Where are the jobs, does anyone know? Any suggestions? I even applied for a job that was willing to train with Davita renal dialysis and get this - I still didn't have enough experience. PLEASE HELP ANYONE.

New grads looking for jobs...it's pretty horrible out there for everyone. Nursing was once called a recession proof job, but not now. Reports from friends who have jobs is that hospitals keep hiring travelers instead of paying to train new nurses (because it is cheaper than training and benefits). They also report that there are threatened layoffs and the newest go first. I have friends who have gotten jobs only to find out now they are just on call (and no one has called in 2 weeks).

And another thing: There are hiring freezes everywhere. The last interview I had told me I would have a job when the hiring freeze was over and to call them back in 6 months! Which after over a year of looking doesn't seem very long.

My biggest fear is that I have had my RN for over a year and that it looks really bad on a resume/application. I have been told by more than one nurse manager that when they do start hiring that they will only look at people fresh out of nursing school because I have lost all of my skills already. It just seems that things keep getting worse. I am having to go back to school just to pretend that I will be a new grad in order to apply to new grad programs (who don't accept anyone who has graduated more than 6 months before). Why didn't nursing school tell us all these rules that we have to abide to concerning new grad programs? I am very disappointed that my nursing school didn't guide us in anyway - all they ever said was jobs would be handed to us on graduation.

And lastly: I am so sick of explaining to people that there is no nursing shortage and that all of the job postings are for experienced nurses only!

Here's a thought for those who are getting the "no experience" vibe, just off the top of my head. Almost every community has some sort of homeless shelter, soup kitchen, or food pantry. Go to the directors, explain that you are a licensed nurse, having a tough time finding a permanent position, and then offer yourself as a volunteer. You won't be getting paid, but if you have a stethoscope and a BP cuff, you can do free BP checks and in some clinics geared toward homeless/under-employed, you may be able to do more nursing skills. I know that everyone wants a paying job, but when it comes down to experience, that's one way to get it where you would be truly helpful and looks great on a resume.

Good luck to all of you.

Has any New RN Grads seeking a job tried out the Mayo Nursing Graduate Orientation Program as mentioned in the quoted Feb post?

I also found out that Mayo Twitters new Jobs. Anybody check them out?

In addition, they can be reached at (800)336-2838 and I believe Jennifer Leinberg is the contact person for the New Grad program. On her voice mail it states something about November being the next time for new grad program.

Anybody, who has done this program or know how it works, would be of great benefit if you could share with us the pros and cons.

Why does no one want to apply to Home Health care or assisted Living? there are plenty of jobs here in Florida in those fields

I have..... LTC need exp RN's because they usually manage LPN's, Homehealth require one year of recent hospital experience.