Any new grads having a hard time finding a job??

U.S.A. Mississippi

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Just curious. Any new grad RNs having a hard time finding a job? I graduated in Dec. and CAN'T find a job to save my life. I've applied for numerous jobs at all the hospitals and various clinics on the coast and STILL haven't gotten anything. Is anyone else having this problem? Any advice/suggestions? I'm willing to commute to get experience...

Also many people can't handle working and RN school at the same time. The only people that worked while in nursing school in my program had weekend jobs at the hospital, and most of them didn't make it through the program. While many people in engineering or computer science programs may be able to work with ease, you'll find that it may be nearly impossible, or at least very difficult while in nursing school, frankly because nursing school is so time consuming and difficult. Instructors advise you NOT to work while in nursing school, because it is an overtime job in itself, doing care maps at home, paperwork at home for clinicals, doing clinicals at hospitals, lecture in the classroom, demonstrations and skilled test in the lab, and not to mention Studying like you've never studied before! I have been there and done it, I have seen some succeed and some not, most that do devote all there time to nursing school, which is what it normally takes.Congrats on getting in the program! You will see soon what it takes, I did, and it was not easy even without a job ;)

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You can't always believe the news. The media always portrays a image of something that is not factual. It is best to turn off your t.v. now days. The fact is that there is no nursing shortage. How is there a shortage when so many people are graduating from nursing school and can't find jobs? Hospitals try to cut back as much as they can. That is when you see a large patient to nurses ratio. (They just work the RN's that they have into the ground, and they become burned out.) The nurses that they have are swamped with patients. When you see an opening in the paper, it is just one opening at a hospital. HR has over 100-200 applications for just one opening. So in actuality, there is not a nursing shortage anywhere. Just go through the allnurses website, and you will see the same things I'm talking about. Go through and read some of these other forums and see how many graduates are having trouble finding jobs. I know of people who have been laid off from nursing in other states. In MS it is not that bad. There are just some hiring freezes at certain hospitals in MS. Again, don't let the news fool you. There are plenty of openings in education. Education should have been listed as the #1 recession proof job, and I remember CNN mentioning that a while back. There will always be funding for education, and by law they can't swamp teachers with students as they do nurses with patients. The reason why education has a lot of openings is because not everyone is qualified to go into the field. You have to have a Bachelor's degree and at least be certified. Also, I don't suggest people quitting their jobs for nursing because it would be terrible for them to come out and can't find a job and be in a worse situation than they were already in.

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have you tried other places besides the coast or ms. sometimes you have to go where the jobs are. tulane is hiring.

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I'm in the ADN program and when I graduate in 2011...do you think it'll be hard for me to get a job. Are they looking more for BSN degrees?

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Specializes in Ortho-Neuro,labor and delivery, nursery.
I'm in the ADN program and when I graduate in 2011...do you think it'll be hard for me to get a job. Are they looking more for BSN degrees?

Hopefully the job market will have picked up for new graduates by then. I started looking in Mobile for a job, but when I went over there they told me that they were slowly beginning to come off of their hiring freezes, so I just had to wait and see. Right now I'm volunteering at a free clinic in my area. I'm working with another new grad who is also having a hard time finding a job. Hopefully it will give me enough experience to get my foot in the door for an actual job.

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I'm thinking about gettingh a LA license as well. It's rough for us new grads.:crying2:

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Specializes in hopeful ER/Surg.

Please don't fail to recognize that you live in a storm-zone. Yes, it's been 4 years, but consider this: economic theorists believe that Hurricane Camille set the development of our area back 30 years. People are afraid to leave jobs, and people are afraid to commit to hiring. IMHO- education (particularly in a tech field) is never a mistake, and NEVER a waste of your time.

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Specializes in Private Duty Nursing : 1 year.

Hi everyone! whoa!has been reading these posts and makes me feel regertful of quitting my old job!

am just new here in MS. have BS degree, licensed in CA but gonna have my license endorsed here to MS. relocated here in Central MS.hmm...when you guys say newgrad, it means they already have licenses to work as RN's right?

hve yo guys tried applying at St. Dom? and how about UMMC? I am thinking of applying thee but now am having doubts...since i also lack the experience... =(

anxiety going up...! =(

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Specializes in hopeful ER/Surg.

Not a nurse yet, working on it- that being said, I would offer the point of view that I would take all that is posted with a grain of salt. Who knows what myriad variables amount to someone not getting a job. Perhaps the market is tough- who knows. I know in my own job searches, I have seen all manner of med field jobs- that's all I see! Look at Better Gulf Coast Jobs.com, or better yet, careerbuilder- look at MS- just in Jackson alone there are numerous jobs. They would obviously limit the new grad hires, but....I'm just saying that the jobs exist. Google search "high demand nurse". And don't buy into end time theories that you can't risk looking for another job. Sheesh.

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For anyone who lives in the Jackson area.... I heard an advertisement on the radio that River Oaks is hiring due to their expansion being complete.

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Specializes in Ortho-Neuro,labor and delivery, nursery.
Not a nurse yet, working on it- that being said, I would offer the point of view that I would take all that is posted with a grain of salt. Who knows what myriad variables amount to someone not getting a job. Perhaps the market is tough- who knows. I know in my own job searches, I have seen all manner of med field jobs- that's all I see! Look at Better Gulf Coast Jobs.com, or better yet, careerbuilder- look at MS- just in Jackson alone there are numerous jobs. They would obviously limit the new grad hires, but....I'm just saying that the jobs exist. Google search "high demand nurse". And don't buy into end time theories that you can't risk looking for another job. Sheesh.

The problem is not the amount of job openings available, because there are plenty of openings here on the coast but its a matter of are they willing to hire and train new grads. From my experience and several others the answer right now is NO. I'm sure in the Jackson area the job market is more favorable for new grads, but in this area it's not. The only position I've been able to find besides volunteering is a temporary job giving out flu shots. Hopefully this will give me the experience I need to get my foot in the door somewhere permanently.

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The problem is not the amount of job openings available, because there are plenty of openings here on the coast but its a matter of are they willing to hire and train new grads. From my experience and several others the answer right now is NO. I'm sure in the Jackson area the job market is more favorable for new grads, but in this area it's not. The only position I've been able to find besides volunteering is a temporary job giving out flu shots. Hopefully this will give me the experience I need to get my foot in the door somewhere permanently.

What you are doing (volunteering) is a great idea to get your foot in the door. Just keep talking to HR, and they might hire you because they see how persistent you are. Have you tried any hospitals in Jackson? I know the VA had a hiring freeze about a month ago, but it might be lifted by now. Try UMC or CMMC. They might have openings due to people not wanting to work there. Especially, CMMC! You might need to leave the option of relocating open. You need to go wherever in MS to get a job. Actually, I enjoy Jackson. Not a big fan of the coast, but I do enjoy Jackson. Lots of young professional people move there. So be open to relocate to Jackson if you need to. Anyway, good luck!

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