I have no idea what to do

Nurses General Nursing

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I graduated in May from nursing school. I took loans out to go through because everyone kept telling me it'll pay itself out once i graduate. SO I have my BSN, my state license, and surprise! no job. neither does about 30 of my classmates, i'm looking in ohter states (i'm in NJ) i'm looking everywhere, even in PR (where my family lives) and there is nothing. So now i have loan payments that start in december, and no job. ANd i've applied to non-nursing jobs to. there is nothing. Can anyone help?

Specializes in Psych.

BSN who graduated 13 months ago here. Still no job. i mentioned in another post that today I learned that they had gotten resumes from people with YEARS of experience for the designated entry-level position I had applied for. In this economic climate, apparently experienced people are willing to take those jobs if they can get them.

I too no longer know what to do.

Specializes in ER, Trauma.

Take a look at the hospitals in New Mexico and West Texas. Check out the benefits of the Indian Health Service. Nurses and jobs just aren't in the same places. The desert Southwest is beautiful, pay-scales are good, cost of living is low. Good Luck.

Specializes in Assisted Living Nurse Manager.

You can get a deferment on your student loans. All you need to do is contact the loan servicing center or go online to thier website. I have had to do this myself as I do not make enough money at the moment to pay them back.

Take a look at the hospitals in New Mexico and West Texas. Check out the benefits of the Indian Health Service. Nurses and jobs just aren't in the same places. The desert Southwest is beautiful, pay-scales are good, cost of living is low. Good Luck.

I will second this by advising you to give it very serious consideration.

Specializes in Med-Surg.

Definitely start by deferring your loans, most loan companies will let you defer for up to 6 months after graduation. Second, be willing to move anywhere in the US to get a nursing job. There are TONS of new grads all looking for jobs all over the country and those willing to move and take a job with possibly a lower starting salary are more likely to get hired. Best of luck!

The Southwest isn't that great--I live in Arizona and there are NO jobs here. People who did externships at local hospitals are the only ones who have a chance at getting a job--and even then, most of the agencies around town are not guaranteeing that. One of the hospitals in my town (Tucson) has gone back on their contracts with nursing students they partner with (as in, they paid for their BSNs) because they have no positions for them after graduation.

DO NOT move to Arizona looking for a job....you will find yourself in a rude awakening!

Look in El Paso. Hospitals are hiring GN's.

do not move to arizona looking for a job....you will find yourself in a rude awakening!

good advice for anyone contemplating a major relocation, for any line of work.

never move anywhere until you have secured a position first. the internet and long distance telephone interviews are now the tools of the trade for both employers as well as job seekers.

this allows you to market yourself to a specific shortage market as was noted by dthfytr

thx this is good advice, as well as depressing for how bad nurses are. I wanted to study marine biology and my father and family and counselors insisted i do nursing instead cuz i was guaranteed a job... wonder if i would've been better off with the fish.

ladyjoce...i was in the same situation u are in now when i graduated with my BSN and passed the boards in 1996. i tried so badly to find work and stay at home in the east coast area (went to school in Nyc) but to no avail. time was running out and student loans looming over my head.:uhoh21: no one would even hire me as a nursing tech because i was already licensed! if you have no other obligations, u may unfortunately have to relocate, sometimes to some God forsaken place...in order to start getting your feet wet. My first job out of school was a border town in TX where they paid my relocation bonus and i had to sign a contract for 2yrs. u can imagine what a culture shock that was!:bluecry1: good luck to you

I graduated 16 months ago and I still haven't found a job. Relocation is not a realistic option for my family for many reasons. I have no idea what to do either. I don't have any advice, but I just wanted you to know that you're definitely not alone. I am starting to feel that the past few years of my life and all the loans I took out have been wasted and I am going to be forced to give up on the profession I love.

However, I know so many people who have somehow been able to find jobs, some by relocating, some locally by some mystery I have yet to discover. Hang in there. You will probably be one of those people too!

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