Can't get a job as new RN

U.S.A. Florida

Published

Hello all,

I'm hoping someone will be able to help me...I'm a brand new RN in Orlando, FL and I've been looking for a hospital job for the last 5 months with no luck. Every job opening I see requires you to have at least 1 year of hospital experience but no one will hire me. I've applied to about 200 jobs and nothing....every recruiter/HR dept tells me it is because I don't have experience. Anyone else around here going through this?? :o

Specializes in Telemetry.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!

VA is also not hiring as many new graduates among other states. I typically see one or two new graduate or RN positions and the rest are wanting more experienced nurses. This is because of the economy... hospitals are more inclined to hire experienced nurses instead of spending lots of money on a new graduate's orientation.

I wish you luck!

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Hey guys,

Thanks for the great feedback. I was wondering if I can get an idea of how many of you completed online applications and how many submitted applications in person? I dont think I'm doing things right and I need to start changing up my strategy!:confused:

Anyways, I feel like I'm living in a twilight zone. I'm hitting brick walls left and right:banghead: In my area, it seems like no one is hiring anyone without at least a year or more of experience. Some places, they want at least 2 to 3 years experience. Hospitals look at training new nurses as an expense but rather as an investment. If they did, then maybe a lot more of us would be working now instead of wasting our skills and education.

I just pray that the recession doesnt drag on for very long. Seems like hospitals with high turnovers are also not hiring. All that means is that nurses who are currently employed are being grossly overworked and this cant be good for nurses or the patients.

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If they *didnt*

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Tele, DOU.

Hi everyone,

I have been reading your posts and am in a similar situation myself. I have been considering relocating and have had to take time off. So, I too am looking for employment and it is challenging to say the least. And I do have experience.

I did talk to a traveling/agency recruiter on the phone today. I explained to him that though I couldn't use his services due to my own situation I have noticed the problem with new grads finding employment. He in turn let me know that he wouldn't mind helping if he and the company can help. (They are at least willing to try.)

He said that he does know of a couple of hospitals in the US that are willing to take on new-grads in traveler positions. There are tests that one would have to complete/pass. Some of the new-grads have in fact passed the tests and some haven't. I didn't ask what kind of testing was offered or anything else. And this is the only time I have ever spoken with this person in my life. However, I can give you the website and a name if you like and you can check out the company.

I think we need to be extra careful with one another and help one another, considering the current down-turn of the economy. With this thought in mind, I am trying to be helpful.

So, if you want the name of the recruiter/agency, please pm me.

Recruiting agencies are not supposed to post or advertise in the bodies of letters etc. so you must pm me. thank you.

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Try the VA they have a Nursing Home in Orlando and are opening a new hospital in 2011!

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Specializes in COS-C, Risk Management.

I just saw an ad from Baptist Hospital Nassau that is advertising for a new RN for nights.

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I just saw grad nurse positions offered on Florida Hospital Orlando's page for NICU; http://www.linktoyourfuture.com/application/index.asp

Have you guys called about this-look to the right and go to Grad nurse positions for non florida hospital employees and there are several grad jobs. Good luck.

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Hey... thanks for the heads-up. Just wanted to let you know that I applied for several "will consider new RN with BSN" ads for Baptist Nassau last year... went through a telephone interview with HR (the HR rep seemed very positive about our interview) and about a week later, I got a phone call from the HR to let me know that the nurse manager decided not to hire a new grad. FYI. But I have my fingers crossed for any new nurse who applies.

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

Take heart all of you. When I graduated in 1993 hospitals had been laying off nurses for a year and the only peopel in my class that got hospital jobs moved to texas for them.

Within a year or so it all turned around and it stayed that way until this last year. Soon I am sure things will change around again.

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Thank you for the perspective. It helps. But the situation you describe kinda makes me wonder even more if the 'nursing shortage' ever really existed. :)

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

I don't think so. It was just a shortage of nurses who were willing to work under the stress of the staffing issues at many hospitals.

However, with spouses layed off, and all the other economic strains, many had to go back or up their hours. Some areas were short, but they never did anythign to retain nurses. Also, many had advertisements with listings they never intended to fill. They want to keep nurse staffing as lean as possible budget wise, but look like they were searching for nurses and couldn't get them. Just my opinion.

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i dont know where in florida you live but broward general medical center in fort lauderdale is always hiring may not be the position you wanted. but they are always having recruitment dinners. usually its med-surg, telemetry and the infectious disease floors

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