Can't get a job as new RN

mtbikegirl, RN · Apr 2, 2009

Hi Black Butterfly, I feel your pain! I live in the Fort Lauderdale area and it is the same here. Everywhere either says they are not hiring new grads for right now or that their new grad program does not start until July, August, etc. And everyone keeps asking me "How come you can't find a job, isn't there a nursing shortage?" or "Have you tried so-and-so hospital?". Yes, there is supposed to be a shortage, and yes, I have tried so-and-so hospital!! I too have tried every hospital within a 1.5 hour driving range, and there are a LOT within the Ft.Lauderdale/Miami/Palm Beach area. The only people from my class that have gotten hired yet are those that already worked in a hospital as a tech so they had an 'in'. I have been calling hospitals on a daily basis for the past month and a half. I applied to positions on-line, most of them said 1 year experience required, but there were also some that said new grads welcome, but I got no response for several weeks, so I finally started calling the nurse recuiters. That is the only way I got any response at all is by calling, calling, calling. So, don't be scared to call, in my past job hunts I would have never, but it seems to be acceptable, if not necessary to do so right now. Good luck!

penguinPool · Apr 7, 2009

Hi

I'm from Philadelphia and the situation is same up here as well. Hospitals don't want NEW GRADS!! Then how are we new grads supposed to get experience and move forward? :banghead:

guoningning · Apr 17, 2009

Hi, I'm a new immigrant nurse from Singapore with CA RN license. How to step into Amerian nursing field without working experience in U.S? I stay at bay area. Pls give me some info. Thanks.

Journey_On, BSN, RN · May 8, 2009

Just wondering if anyone had applied to FL Hospital and has been waiting for a while for them to make a decision? I applied to one of the GN positions back on March 24th of this year. Now they are "screening" me, but my status has been such for a while now. I wonder if they are waiting for me to get my sit pass first, or do they want me to pass boards first? Should the fact that they have been keeping me this long for consideration be a good sign? I have called and/or emailed the recruiter a few times so he might see my interest but hopefully not to the point where I am annoying.

changeofpaceRN · May 8, 2009

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.

ProspectiveMDC · Jul 16, 2009

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

AniRN · Jul 16, 2009

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?

ebonybrn · Jul 18, 2009

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. :yeah:

mamaellis2many · Jul 19, 2009

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.

mmoffitt · Jul 21, 2009

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!

KateRN1 · Jul 21, 2009

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.

ProspectiveMDC · Jul 21, 2009

I wouldn't worry about the experience requirement.....apply anyway. It can't hurt. I figured that if they are willing to accept 1st semester nursing students to fill Patient Assistant positions, they would be willing to hire a new grad for the RN slots.
Did you check the Mayo site? They have new graduate programs. Here is the page:
http://http://www.mayoclinic.org/jobs-nursing-jax/nurse-graduate-orientation-program.html
Good Luck!

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.