What do I do?

ruby360 · Dec 4, 2002

You must be pretty frustrated at this point! Where are you in Mass? Are you near an urban area with lots of hospitals? They are desperate for nurses. If you are not getting a response, I would recommend contacting a recruitment agency. They might be able to help you secure a position and figure out what you need to do to get noticed. :)

BMS4 · Dec 4, 2002

Hi Ruby,

We live right outside of Boston. I am very sad at this point, thinking that I will never get a job. Even with a nursing shortage, I can't get a job. My self-esteem is starting to fall.

Thank you for the advice on the recruitment agency. I'll look into it. :)

BMS4 · Dec 4, 2002

I wanted to add that I've worked really hard to get to this point, just like everyone else who becomes a nurse. I've always wanted to be a nurse and I loved my clinical rotations and the time I spent with my patients. I also enjoyed learning new things, which I did everytime I went to the hospital.

This isn't a matter of money. My husband is very supportive and I have been a stay at home mom most of my adult life. I want this for me and for the people I know I can help and care for. I truly believe that my becoming a nurse is a calling. Sorry if that sounds corny, but it's the way I feel.

I don't always know how to express how I feel. I'm not good with words. I think that also may have hurt my interviews.

Thanks for being there and giving me a place to vent. :)

zudy · Dec 4, 2002

BMS4, I am at a loss. I had no idea any one in the US had so many nurses that they weren't hiring new grads. How many places have you applied? Are you being flexable about hours, what unit you want to work in,etc? When I started out in nursing(many years ago) hospitals wanted new grads to start on a med-surg floor for the experience. Is this still the case? The last time I went job hunting(about 15 months ago) the various recruiters,NMs and HR people were so DISORGANIZED (losing my resume, forgetting appts) I also felt very discouraged. The position I took was with a hospital that didn't do this things. Keep plugging away, and let me know how you are doing.

tonicareer · Dec 4, 2002

Goodness the nursing schools are disorganized then when graduate employers are disorganized.

BMS4 · Dec 4, 2002

zudy,

I have requested Med/Surg at the 6 different hospitals I have applied to. I also asked to work evenings and nights. I don't mind a day/night rotation. I let all the facilities know that my time is my own so I'm very flexible. I have teenagers who are independent. Actually we only have one left at home now and he's in high school. Also, my husband has the ability to make his own working hours, so even if someone is needed at home, he can take care of it.

Like I stated before, I'm at a loss. And I'm fast becoming broken-hearted. Maybe I sounded TOO willing during my interviews. I don't know.

Thank you all for your interest. Sorry to whine (yes, I need cheese). :)

sjoe · Dec 4, 2002

BMS--Relax and enjoy the holidays. A lot of facilities have already spent their 2002 budgets and won't be actually hiring people until January. Of course it is easier for them to continue taking applications, rather than putting out an all-points-bulletin that they are NOT hiring right now. Then putting out another one in January saying "we changed our minds."

That is only ONE of the possible explanations for not getting hired just now. Disorganization, inept HR departments, supervisors not knowing what they want, etc. are some others. If you have not yet figured out that the healthcare system has more than its share of idiots, it's time you did so.

The "it's probably my fault...somehow" is not a useful attitude to have, IMHO, but one that nurses all too frequently adopt for themselves. "Terriblizing" is an equally useless strategy.

When it's time, you'll find an appropriate place to work. Meanwhile, you would do well to enjoy yourself and your family while you have some time off. A lot of people would trade places with you, I would think.

BMS4 · Dec 4, 2002

Thank you sjoe, for your encouragement. You are repeating what my husband has been saying about relaxing.

By the way, my online name used to paula4ms. You helped me out a month or so ago and I didn't get a chance to thank you then. I had some trouble with my allnurses account so I had to re-register. Thank you, you are always helpful and informative. :)

SmilingBluEyes · Dec 5, 2002

MY friend, have you followed up with thank-you notes and phone calls to the interviewer and/or HR? It is CRITICAL YOU FOLLOW UP! The remark about HR's being disorganized is very true...many are so overwhelmed with applications and many in-house matters at the hospitals, they "lose" things or just get behind. Please, send a thank-you to the interviewer for the opportunity to discuss the position you applied for and reiterate your continuing interest. THE INTERVIEWER, NOT JUST HR must be followed-up with! If still you get nothing, start weighing other options other places as much as possible. I DO WISH YOU WELL! Let us know how you are doing!

BMS4 · Dec 5, 2002

Thank you Smiling for your reply. :) I emailed all the folks I interviewed with, HRs and nurse manager (I only talked to one). Should I have sent a written note as well? I wasn't sure on the etiquette for that.

Anyway, I thanked them all for their time and interest. And I stated that I looked forward to hearing from them. A couple of them I called and left messages on their voice mail when they ask me to check back and I'm still waiting on replies. One of those was THREE weeks ago.

So far, I've had two HRs tell me that I needed more clinical experience. One told me to work at another facility for a year and then come back.

Vsummer1 · Dec 5, 2002

This may be a stupid question, but could you please clarify? You state that you graduated...

you don't state what program you took, or if you passed the boards. Are you an RN? LPN? CNA??? Are you licensed in the state where you are applying?

I can't imagine dealing with getting my RN license and going through what you are! I was told that I would have no problems as a new grad, so please let me know how you do...