Helo everyone!!!! I passed the NCLEX exams last february. I thought I was triumphant with it. But I am still having problems in finding jobs in hospitals. I have applied on every hospitals in San Francisco but up to now it still am frustrated. You see i am a foreign graduate nurse and I worked in my country for 2 years but still they don't consider this as a work experience.

The next problem is that they are looking for registered nurses who has an acute care experience for a year or 6 months experience...Hey!!! If you apply, they won't hire you..So where do we have to go to get that acute care experience if we are always turned down by nurse recruiters... Why don't they give a chance to these nurses who would want to be trained and have a local experience so that they could apply in some health agencies, hospitals or nursing facilities.

I can'tget the idea that hospitals are hiring travel nurses and pay a big amount while the nurses who are within the area are not given importance because of the local experience they ususally ask you. We are demoralized already and someday would want to go to another state because we feel very frustrated on what is happening here in California.

I know a lot of nurses who are stilll trying their luck on some hospitals here but they are being turned down. We studied very hard to attain our degree , took the nerve wrecking nclex test and working on no-nusing jobs to sustain our families.... That's sad. I hope some recruiters or directors of nursing would look up on this matter.

treasurern,

i totally can understand your pain. I am in same position as you are in right now....Even i asked myself the same question''if nobody is gonna hire where are we gonna get the experience''? Anyway i am not ready to give up...

JJG

Hi!

I suggest you go to reputable agencies as a last resort.They can help you get hired.:)

Am in the same boat here. Just got my greencard last month and been looking for a medsurg job in northern cali. I went to this one hospital that I really wanted to get into, got my resume in and the chance to interview. I did not get the job though. The nurse recruiter informed me that I needed to take a refresher course with a clinical component as I was out of school for a year...I'm totally frustrated already, I mean I really want to start working and be trained as a med surg nurse and I can't seem to get a break. I've worked so hard through nursing school and then to pass the boards...I don't expect a medal for anything but I just wish things would let up.. i don't think there is a shortage in Northern California...if anybody has a suggestion for what to do, please tell us..

Hi!

I suggest you go to reputable agencies as a last resort.They can help you get hired.:)

Hi Badminton.

Thank you for your suggestion. Can you please explain or even name one of those reputable agencies.

In my humble opinion, any agency requires a nurse to have at least one year of experience. Of course, I might be wrong.

Am in the same boat here. Just got my greencard last month and been looking for a medsurg job in northern cali. I went to this one hospital that I really wanted to get into, got my resume in and the chance to interview. I did not get the job though. The nurse recruiter informed me that I needed to take a refresher course with a clinical component as I was out of school for a year...I'm totally frustrated already, I mean I really want to start working and be trained as a med surg nurse and I can't seem to get a break. I've worked so hard through nursing school and then to pass the boards...I don't expect a medal for anything but I just wish things would let up.. i don't think there is a shortage in Northern California...if anybody has a suggestion for what to do, please tell us..

Dear Bellybear, it is my first time that I have heard something like that. I think that it was just an excuse, an awkward excuse... How long have you been looking for a job?

Anyway, I think you should go to another hospital and talk to another recruiter. I know about people who after a year of SNF (there is no many of opportunities to practice nursing skills either) found placement in a new grad training program.

Bellybear, I think you should post this information on the general forum to let all new grads to know and also ask experienced nurses their opinion and advice.

It is very hard to get into a new grad program in the Bay Area even if you attended school in the US; it is going to be almost impossible for you to do at this time.

And yes, it is true that one can start off with a year in a SNF and then get hired into a new grad program; that would be the easier thing to do if you trained out of the US. The refresher program is not really going to do you any good, getting a job based on just that is not going to help when you are competing against so many that have trained here and already have experience in the facility as a student.

Best of luck to you. Besides, new grad programs only start two times per year; a couple of hospitals start three times per year.