Dear well-meaning friends and family members: the rantings of a jobless new grad

Nurses General Nursing

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Dear well-meaning friends and family members,

I love you all dearly and appreciate your support during this frustrating time of my life. However, I'd just like to clear some things up so that you and I can move on to things I actually want to talk about:

No, I did not yet find a job. Believe me, when I find one, you'll know! I will shout if from my rooftop and notify everyone I know via phone, text, email, Facebook, and any other mode of communication I can think of.

Yes, there is a nursing shortage. I'd just rather not explain for the 1,000th time that hospitals are STILL not hiring! Shocking, I know!

I guess it would seem that despite what you've heard, nursing is NOT recession-proof!

No, I do not want to discuss with you anything about my job hunt or interviews, or lack thereof. It's difficult enough dealing with it 24/7. I do not feel the desire to re-hash it.

I could sit and tell you all about where I'd love to work and why, but it's not really relevant since at this point I will basically take any job I can get.

No, I do not know much about the illness your child/parent/neighbor/aunt/uncle has, nor can I give you my advice, because A) I will not dispense advice to someone I never met B) I am a new grad and don't know everything just yet.

And lastly, NO! I do NOT want to know about any personal medical problems you are dealing with that involve a body part I would not discuss at the dinner table! Yes, you may be my best friend, but in no way, shape, or form do I want to hear about your stool. This is why you have a doctor who is NOT your best friend. I know I'm a nurse, but that does not mean I like discussing poop with people I know.

Thanks for letting me get that off my chest!

Specializes in LTC, Home Health, Hospice.

I like the ones when they ask is you have any............meds! NO..Im not a pharmacist for one and for two, you need to see your MD...thanks and good night!

Oh my. I know exactly how you feel. I graduated with my BSEd in 2008 and I haven't had any luck finding a job. I get the exact same things you describe (except for the medical questions!)

What KILLS me is the people who act like I just haven't been trying hard enough to find a job. Believe me, I've been killing myself looking and I've been on dozens of interviews.

There is this one bitty who will practically run over herself in the grocery store to ask me if I've "found a job yet". She works at the school and KNOWS there are no teaching jobs so I know she's only asking to be a b****.

Then there are the people who ask "Have you applied here? Have you applied there? Did you turn in your application?" YES YES YES YES YES YES! I HAVE APPLIED EVERYWHERE!

I figure 2 jobless years is enough so I'm starting nursing school next week. If I can't find a nursing job, I don't know WHAT I'll do then!

Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

Actually it's quite flattering when people confide in you because it shows they trust you.

I hear your frustration. I am looking for a new position. I accepted what I was told a nursing community/aged care job and my first shift was horrid. Now they don't seem to have any work for RNs, and I already turned down another, fulltime job offer. I am just kicking and cursing myself for being too hasty but the first agency made the original job sound fantastic: they were so busy and overwhelmed, you can work everyday, blah blah. Just make sure you do a bit of homework before signing on with a new employer - some tend to lie just to get you to work for them.

I know it's disheartening mate but just keep applying for anything and everything - something will come up (more advice you have probably already thought of!) but I do know what you are going through.

The vasectomy and heamorrhoid stories are so funny! Definitely the wrong timing and place I think!

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