Any Jobs for new grads/ newly licensed in Boston area?

by omo jesu
Views: 6,880 Comments: 12

Hi everyone,
I just passed my NCLEX exam in October and got my RN license. I have since been unable to find a job. I live just outside of boston and have applied for jobs, even hours drive away. But no luck. I have no professional experience as an RN, or CNA except for my clinical experience in nursing school. And every where I apply to they want at least a year's expereince.

What can I do?
12 Comments

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Dec 18, '10

what facilities have u applied for? or do u prefer? hospitals or nursing facilities?

i had limited time last November to find jobs in Boston (and its surrounding towns and cities). But was able to find some openings, most on big nursing facilities. I was able to speak to one DON and one HRdirector of two nursing facilities, one is Boston, one is in Cambridge. The one in Cambridge is even affiliated to a teaching hospital of H.

It's a lot harder to get quick response from hospitals, and yes most if not all require a number of years of experience. Some hospitals have internship/training/specialty program for new grads.

I'm not a new grad but I'm newly licensed too. Scenario's the same anyway. I plan to take a (reentry) program offered by a teaching hospital outside Boston. After which I will apply for their nursing specialty program, while searching jobs. At least through this, I will be able to gain work experience or even get hired by waiting for the DON and HRmanager to notice me.
Dec 18, '10

New Mac, I see you are a foreign trained nurse, Since you have a MA License you must be here legally and not need a visa since your SSN will help to verify your legal status. Every time I renew my license they check the status of my ssn which is tied to many governmental programs ( parking tickets, chlid support, taxes) . That is good news since hospitals are not renewing or apply for any visas even for experienced talented doctors. Visas cost hospitals money that hospitals don't have extra money. This year I have seen countless docs sent home since their visas where not renewed. If you need a visa especially if you need a H1B, last year the US Government posted less then 100 were granted, and they were from highly trained and very experience nurses.

I work in Boston, and there are very few new graduate programs ( over 500 applications to one position) - many hospitals have a hiring freeze. Medicare is cutting back on funding, many working nurses have taken a pay cut or no raise for several years.

If you graduated before 2008, you are not considered a new grad, you will be considered a nurse with no experience. You will be required to take a re entry program, I believe Boston College has one which is very expensive. Even then nurses who are re entering nursing in MA are finding it impossible to get a job. You will be behind experienced nurses, new grads, and locally trained nurses.

Suburban Hospitals give preference to local grads since the schools and hospitals have relationships, you will be at the end of the list.

Nursing homes tend to prefer LPNs since they are less expensive and RNs need to know medicare, DPH, and other local regulations, I hope you are well versed in these areas since Nursing homes and LTAC are fined when these guidelines are not met.

What would make you an outstanding candidate would be a membership in the Nursing Honor Society ,being a published author, or extensive work as a CNA.

Best of Luck and Happy Holidays.
Dec 18, '10

Quote from omo jesu

Hi everyone,
I just passed my NCLEX exam in October and got my RN license. I have since been unable to find a job. I live just outside of boston and have applied for jobs, even hours drive away. But no luck. I have no professional experience as an RN, or CNA except for my clinical experience in nursing school. And every where I apply to they want at least a year's expereince.

What can I do?

Very tough market in MA, apply to nursing homes and be flexible, take any shift, be willing to work weekends and holidays, good luck
Dec 18, '10

i was and will be back in the us (boston) legally, and no my visa does not entitle me to have an ssn. ma does give rn license without one.

i completely understand the employment atmosphere in the us, especially in boston. i am also aware of the status of visa (h1b and eb3, eb2 etc..) and other immigration issues. i graduated in april 2007 and september of that year i flew to the us. in 2010 alone, i went to the us four times. i'm really willing to start my nursing career... going to cities/state where i do not know anyone.

i've heard a lot of success stories. a number of my friends/batchmates were able to do it amidst having limited experience. that is why i am hopeful. what i mentioned above is what i experienced last november (i'm currently outside the us). jobs are there. but yes, hospitals even nursing homes are being selective because of the sea of choices they have.

i know it’s currently difficult for usc and pr nurses to find jobs, especially in boston. and i know it will be a lot tougher for me. that's why i’m willing to explore other states/cities.

most of what you said is correct. but i wanna give it a try. don't worry i have a clean foreign travel record and i have no plans of doing anything illegal. should i not succeed, at least i know i didn't give up and gave a shot.

should i be apologetic if by doing this i may take the opportunity that should be given first to citizen or a pr? i'd rather not comment.

thanks for not bashing me and thinking i'm naive (or i so i believe so[?]).

if i'm wrong, at least, thanks for being modest.

happy holidays too!
Dec 18, '10

I am not saying you are doing anything illegal, but I don't know of any hospital that is hiring foreign nurses at this time. The hospital has to prove that there are no qualified RNs to fill the positions, with so many nurses unemployed you will find it impossible to find any position since Boston nurses are unemployed. Assuming you are coming on a tourist visa, you can not look for a position but please check with an immigration lawyer,

From USCIS

"RNs to be eligible for H-1B status." In effect, the vast majority of RNs cannot qualify for an H-1B visa because most of them do not meet the requirements set forth by statute. Stakeholders reported to the CIS Ombudsman that the H-1B process is not a viable route for nurses most employers do not require a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent for a RN position. The few RNs who qualify for an H-1B visa typically hold a supervisory or very specialized nurse position.40 USCIS approved only 38 RNs for H-1B visas in FY 2006, 66 in FY 2007, and 136 in FY 2008.41 The low numbers of H-1B nurse visas issued each year indicate that this route has not alleviated the nursing shortage"

2009 and 2010 numbers are not released, but my guess is that they are less, Since you are saying your batchmates got h1B visas, I wonder how they got specialty or supervisor positions.

Even if the market changed you would have to over come some major obstacles.

The major reason is the hospital has to pay all the fees which are thousands of dollars. You will not be able to renew your license until you provide a ssn.

Who can locally provide you with a professional reference? What recent clinical experiences at a modern hospital do you have? What local work experience non nursing can you provide? Since you don't live in the USA how can you provide a credit report ( many hospitals require this). What makes you stand out as an outstanding new grad, are their local nurse managers or instructors who can provide a letter of reference ? What Honor Societies do you belong to? With no experience you do not qualify for any certifications.

It would be demoralizing to the staff and patients to see a foreign nurse employed over a local nurse unless you have exceptional skills or experience and be able to all of the above criteria.

Happy Holidays, but I hear everyday more and more work visas being removed, when I see high level talented professionals, being sent home, I would say that an inexperienced professional does not have a chance. It seems everyday I hear of a doctor or other highly qualified professionals being sent home, it is sad since many are loosing thousands of dollars due to the depressed housing market.

My suggestion, get nursing experience outside the USA, become an outstanding nurse in a modern hospital, join a professional nursing organization, do nursing research, and then you will be in a great position if the market changes .

Personally with the budget cuts, the market won't change soon.

Last edit by Ginger's Mom on Dec 18, '10
Dec 19, '10

thanks for your thoughts... but let's not forget that this thread is not about me or my situation. i can see where this is going.

i just shared information relevant to to the original post.
Dec 19, '10

The advice I have for new grads, get letters of references from your instructors, get to know your clinical managers, network with your classmates who get positions, they can recommend you for any jobs that open up. Have your resume checked and reviewed.
Participate in community activities. Check the state web site, the state often has open positions, while they are not the most appealing they have good benefits, check the VA System.

Get politically involved, let your congressman and senator that H1B ( work visas) should not be allowed in the Boston area since there are many Americans and non Americans who have legal status to work unemployed. If you see a foreign nurse( one who entered recently) employed ensure that there were NO American nurses available to fill this position. I would find it almost improbable that no American Nurse was available for employment. Keep an eye on the Dream Act, so far it has failed. While I feel sorry for these students, they are college educated and know their parents brought them here illegally....in my opinion their issue is with their parents who have broken the law, they should not be taking jobs from Americans or legal residents.

Remember your first position is not going to be your dream position. Follow the news especially Medicare and DPH regulations since your nursing practice is effected by this. Keep your credit score positive. Network with your neighbors, friends, and family.

Keep your BLS current. Move if you can to other areas of the country to get experience. And Best of Luck!
Dec 19, '10

I don't know of any hospitals that are hiring but I started as a private duty nurse in September and it hasn't been too bad. I work 38 or 32 hours/week (it alternates) and could have benefits if I wanted. I received enough orientation to make me feel comfortable doing my job. It is not ideal but it pays the bills and it is experience..
Dec 19, '10

Ginger's Mom, I agree with you. The situation is just *unbelievably tough* for legal residents here in Boston, and adding anyone else to the mix is just unthinkable. Further, I do not see how anyone can expect to receive even one paycheck without a social security number... it's simply not gonna happen.
Dec 19, '10

Pedilover2147 sounds like you have a great attitude, good for you, any professional nursing experience is valuable.
Dec 19, '10

My SIL was a LPN and the facility told her they would happily keep her on once she graduated as an RN. What came to pass was that she got no pay raise and was working as an RN at LPN wages. She was eventually able to find a RN job in another nursing home, most likely based on her several years of LPN experience. MA is tough. Keep your options open and follow every possible lead. Good luck!
Feb 19, '11

PediLove2147,

I just graduated in December just passed my boards and am currently looking for any job right now as an RN. Where is that you work as a private duty nurse?

Any Jobs for new grads/ newly licensed in Boston area?

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