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 LTC, sub-acute care, Hospice.

I have heard rumors that having a BSN doesn't help much in terms of getting a job in a hospital... they still want you to have experience.

I don't live in FL, but I do see the same thing here in CO. No experience? Well tough luck. I applied for hundreds of hospital positions (both new grad and not) when I first got my RN and was rejected from everything, then I tried again after 6 months to no avail. Finally 9 months after getting my RN I was offered a position at a home hospice agency that my former boss worked for.

So, I guess what I'm saying is, you gotta have connections and in order to gain the connections you gotta start somewhere. Nursing homes are not ideal, they work you to death and you feel like a drug dealer most days, but a job's a job. I am watching my boyfriend struggle right now because he got his degree in philosophy and has been unemployed for a year now and having to take a position stocking shelves at Safeway for $8/hr... and he worked damn hard to get that degree, just like us RNs worked damn hard for our degree. But at least a nursing home will hire us, and pay much more than $8/hr.

I know how frustrating it is, believe me, but it could be worse.

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I am thinking of going back and get my BSN while the job market is so tight! Do you think this is wise?

yes, the new BSN's in my area are getting first picks over the ASN's. Plus, employees want to know what you did to better yourself while looking for a job.

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You've got to have connections to get a job everywhere it seems. I have been calling people to see where I can be hooked up in a job. This is a shame...Some hospitals the nurses are overworked and yet the hospital decided not to hire new grads..I hate this era! Damn!

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I am entering my senior year of nursing school this fall and reading some of these posts definitely makes me sad. I was planning on moving to Jacksonville, FL right after I graduated but the nursing market there doesn't seem too bright. However, I do know that for those of you who live in north Florida and can't find a job, Tallahassee Memorial Hospital is hiring new grads. It's not a rumor and you don't have to have the 1-2 years of experience like most jobs. The website is www.tmh.org. Please check it out if you are having trouble finding work. I wish you all the best.

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Specializes in PCU, Step/Down.

I graduated nursing school Dec 2009 and had already been applying for jobs like 2 months pre-graduation. I got my license 02/01/2010 and, at that point, had been applying for nursing jobs for nearly 4 months. I figured that I hadn't received a call back b/c I wasn't licensed; although, I know that GN positions were out there- just few and very far between. I live in Tampa, FL and I was applying all over the state. I finally got a job offer from Hillsborough County School System as a school nurse; as you can imagine, the pay was lousy and I figured it wouldn't help as far as future endeavors. So I kept looking, everyday I searched the internet for hospitals 200 miles away in towns I had never heard of. Everyday I searched like it was the first day I started searching- I stayed motivated. I called local hospitals and was told "due to the amount of applications we have received, we are only accepting applications for new nurses with bachelors degrees." I am a ADN. Anyways, I was called by a small hospital located in the middle of no where. I have a little over 4 months under my belt now and I am just trying to make it to the year point so I can go elsewhere. I know I was very fortunate to get this job and they have been very good to me. But, it is very apparent that this hospital is trying to do more with less. Staffing is always an issue, but still no one is ever hired. This is a for profit hospital and they count their pennies and save them in all areas. If your looking for a job, just don't give up. I called HRs before I wasted my time with the long application process online and I applied online to hospitals at least 5-20 times a day depending if I was working or not. Just don't give up. Something will come through, but that something is going to make you work for it.:eek:

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I start NS in Aug '10, but sometimes I am a bit discouraged by my findings. I have NO medical/health experience and reading RNs are having issues finding jobs is very scary!!! I remember even up to 5 years ago where hospitals were paying sign-up bonuses. My mom is an RN and we moved here 14 years ago, and she got $5K for signing up at BGMC!

I don't know what to think of all this. Seems like the job issues does not recognize no nurse - experience or none, it becoming a challenge to find a job! And NS is not getting any easier. Even up to the admission are becoming harder and harder. Now a days, there is no more waiting list. You either get a 'YES' or 'NO' and they only take the best and brightest, yet you can't find a job?!?!?!

Everyone keeps saying there will be a turn around but who knows when...today, tomorrow...2 years...5 years...10? SMH!

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I am entering my senior year of nursing school this fall and reading some of these posts definitely makes me sad. I was planning on moving to Jacksonville, FL right after I graduated but the nursing market there doesn't seem too bright. However, I do know that for those of you who live in north Florida and can't find a job, Tallahassee Memorial Hospital is hiring new grads. It's not a rumor and you don't have to have the 1-2 years of experience like most jobs. The website is www.tmh.org. Please check it out if you are having trouble finding work. I wish you all the best.

Keep in mind TMH is located in a BIG college town. The competition is something fierce I imagine.

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Specializes in Marketing, Business Start-Ups, Nurse Entrepreneurs.

Gentle -- I cannot PM you -- I'm a new member. Please PM me with your info. I'm interested in agency work. :) Thx.

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Omg reading all these threads is scaring me. I live in California and I am still taking my general Ed classes... I thought the hospitals were hiring nurses bc they are in need.. Any suggestions out there? Is it the economy right now that why things are this way ?

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Omg reading all these threads is scaring me. I live in California and I am still taking my general Ed classes... I thought the hospitals were hiring nurses bc they are in need.. Any suggestions out there? Is it the economy right now that why things are this way ?

I am starting too myself....I think we'll be fine....regardless of recession or NOT, somebody, somewhere, somehow will hire a nurse. By 2015 when then Health care reform kicks in and more and more people will be heading to hospitals, they will need nurses for sure. Also, start NETWORKING!.. I know at least 2 friends that are nurses and I am staying in contact with them. If you don't know any, attend any nursing functions or volunteer....it will be key to getting your foot in the door when you graduate....

GOOD LUCK!!!!

My 2 scents :)

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I am in Orlando also. Can you send your email or contact info?

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Specializes in peds.

its still bad. i graduate this august. i applied for 50 jobs. i have had to interviews one in july and one today.

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