Thanks to getting my RN license I may be jobless and homeless

suzanne4, RN · Feb 13, 2009

You are no longer a graduate nurse since you have passed your NCLEX exam. Congratulations for passing the exam.

Did you not apply to the facility for a position for a new grad position? Was your manager not aware that you were going to be taking the licensing exam? Was a job not offered to you for when you graduated?

Things are tight all over the country now, and in many locales, the hunt for new grad orientations have many more applicants than they have positions that are available.

Have you checked into other facilities at this point in time, or did you ever speak to Human Resources at your hospital about being able to get a job there as a new nurse? This was something that should have been done by you months ago.

You may need to look into long term care if you cannot find anything in the hospitals right now. Chances are that all of the new grad openings are now full at this time as well.

Best of luck to you.

BuddahNature · Feb 13, 2009

I was working as a student nurse tech at a large hospital. I notified the lead charge nurse that was doing to schedule, the date I was taking boards and that I needed time off for this. When she was notified that I passed boards she said she had no idea I was taking boards and that I could no longer work since I passed the nclex. See my other post..there seems to be no jobs for new graduate nurses.

I am sorry to hear about the uncertainity you are going through. I have an idea,but you will have to check to see if this strategy is legal. I would give up my license in the state I am in and apply for license in another state. When things get better,you can always apply for a license in your state. I see your position was student nurse tech,and I would agree that since you are not a student anymore,than that job would no longer be yours. I know things look bleak now,but I hope you find it within you to be a bit more proactive about your situation. For instance ask yourself what are you willing to do to get a job, as an RN ? Are you will ing to drive a longer distance ? What about relocation ? I deally,sounds like you would like to work in a hospital,but I would identify other positions outside of the hospital where RNs are needed. Also do not forget to network with others. Can the school you graduated from give you any advice,or leaDS ? What about your former classmates ? Can you contact any and see if any have landed jobs and have any leads for you. Meanwhile,a sudden loss of income,can be difficult to deal with. I would suggest as a stop gap measure,you seek employment in a non nursing job. Afterall,money is money,and as long as the source is legal,than why not to get through a hard time. Also,because you have a healthcare background,see iif you cannot parlay that into other positiins in a medical setting. I am thinking about things like working in a doctors offive,in the front area. I am sure other nurses may have suggestions for you in here, and I hope things do a turnaround for you asap.

caliotter3 · Feb 13, 2009

It is not necessary to give up your license to work in a nursing assistant category rather than an RN category. However, if your employer knows of your new license status and refuses to continue with your employment that is their prerogative. As stated before, you should have cleared all of this up a long time ago. You would have been able to plan accordingly. Good luck in your job hunt.

reigh · Apr 29, 2009

I'm with you I do not care what suzanne4, buddahnature, caliotter3 are talking about they miss the point. They all probably graduated many years ago or have a friend were they work that got them the job or something other then become an RN and get good grades or interview well to get the job. buddanature can't even type or spell so I'm fairly sure these were average RN's that got lucky. Truth is facilities are unwilling to take nurses anymore who just graduated. There are hundreds of jobs if only you had acute experience. Residency is disappearing in fact hospitals in my area are laying nurses off. Ok so you bit the bullet and say fine I will work at a subpar facility where I may have to compromise my moral values of taking care of residents. Those facilities are known for poor staffing and training and lawsuits but I need a job right. Wrong they are not hiring you either they are looking primarily for management staff because they had to fire the last batch that screwed up the healthcare system. I would say though don't compromise if you don't get into acute care somewhere shortly and I emphasis shortly after school you never will. I graduated a little less than two years ago and the hospitals all say you have been out of school too long for their new nurse training and have no experience for the other RN jobs they so desperately have a "need" to fill due to the "shortage" of RN's. No they are greedy all holding out hope for expectations they will never fully fulfill for all their staff. I am mad about this and work hard to fight it but in the end I say my prayers to God and kiss my butt goodbye knowing life on earth is the closest to hell we are going to get and hope for a quick death instead of slowing starving to death paying off student loan dept from my unemployment checks. Or maybe just maybe the world will turn on its head and people will get over themselves and hire newer graduate nurses and we can actually "help people" and "make a decent living".

dgclough · May 4, 2009

Where in Missouri are you located? Are you willing to relocate? The facility that I work at (I graduated May 08) is still hiring and I'm sure is also hiring new grads and they have a wonderful intern program!

mary5678 · May 4, 2009

Hi,

I'm a new RN who is working as a social worker in a hospital and now "changing" my position as RN--wondering if I will be hired as I have not had as much acute hand-on-care experience but willing to learn, make less money, etc. I have been applying to graduate nurse positions but still they seem more interested in folks with lots of experience yet there are literally hundreds of job openings in my health system...I thought I would walk right into a job. Any advice???

Thanks!

Jillybean1988 · Jun 11, 2009

This is alarming to me! I am in school to be an RN. How do they get nurses if they do not hire graduates?! That doesn't make a lick of sense. I can't see how they could expect you to have any experience in acute care if you are a new grad. What part of Missouri are all of you in? I am in St. Charles County. I am starting my last year of nursing, (the home stretch) and I was wondering when I should start applying to places. I hope I have not doomed myself to be jobless!

However, there are always jobs. Hang in there. Times are tough all around but theres always waiting tables or flipping burgers. I mean, money is money. Apply everywhere. Think on the bright side, if you are nearly homeless, it is easier to relocate. Apply in KC and in Illinois and in IOWA for heavens sake. You have to make money somehow. I know you can find something.

I would also talk to your boss, and then to her boss. Explain you didn't understand the "re"application process. Even if you have to stay working as a tech till you can get an opening. Most employers don't just dump competant employees. Beg if you have to. If it puts food in your tummy and a roof over your head, who needs pride.

c_beshore_rn · Jun 11, 2009

I guess it just depends on what part of MO you live in because I know the Joplin area is boomin for new grads. I work in Nevada and we hire em all the time even though our census is low. Nursing homes are never a good bet for RNs because they use only enough RNs to staff management and medicare guidelines. Travel nursing is usually a good bet but it can be scarry for a new grad to go wherever whenever they tell u to go. Good luck

WDWpixieRN, RN · Jun 14, 2009

Truth is facilities are unwilling to take nurses anymore who just graduated. There are hundreds of jobs if only you had acute experience. Residency is disappearing in fact hospitals in my area are laying nurses off. Ok so you bit the bullet and say fine I will work at a subpar facility where I may have to compromise my moral values of taking care of residents.

Truth is, local STL hospitals were all hiring new grads, at least as of the graduating fall classes; I know because the floor I was on hired several and the fellowship was still in place. I can't speak for this last semester's class, but I haven't seen too many postings where folks aren't finding jobs.

And as for needing "acute" experience, that only holds true if you want a specialty position....something that hasn't changed terribly much through the years. The fellowships had specialty acute positions, but they were not in the numbers of the med/surg fellowships or positions. It's a matter of starting at the ground and working your way up. Not fun, but more necessary in these tough economic times where ALL local hospitals are cutting costs and watching pennies. Unfortunately, most new grads turn up their noses at these positions which are traditionally considered the best way to cut one's teeth in the nursing world of new grads.

I would say though don't compromise if you don't get into acute care somewhere shortly and I emphasis shortly after school you never will. I graduated a little less than two years ago and the hospitals all say you have been out of school too long for their new nurse training and have no experience for the other RN jobs they so desperately have a "need" to fill due to the "shortage" of RN's. No they are greedy all holding out hope for expectations they will never fully fulfill for all their staff. I am mad about this and work hard to fight it but in the end I say my prayers to God and kiss my butt goodbye knowing life on earth is the closest to hell we are going to get and hope for a quick death instead of slowing starving to death paying off student loan dept from my unemployment checks. Or maybe just maybe the world will turn on its head and people will get over themselves and hire newer graduate nurses and we can actually "help people" and "make a decent living".

Honey, I hate to tell you this, but if you waited two years to start applying for jobs as a "newer grad", I think even you can admit that you are no longer a NEW grad with recent educational/clinical exposure. If you waited for two years to start applying for jobs, for whatever reason, then you and only you can be blamed for not obtaining a job at THIS time in our economy. There are no guarantees regardless of what line of work one is in -- good economy or not. The fact that no one will hire you now (if in fact, I am reading/interpreting correctly) is totally understandable given the circumstances.

And slamming the very experienced, knowledgeable nurses on these boards is NOT a way to make friends and influence people. The fact that they didn't feel the need to respond to your silly tirade is the best evidence of their classiness. And it also speaks volumes to a possible reason why you aren't finding work.

Jillybean1988 · Jun 14, 2009

I agree with WDW. You seem to be venting about your life instead of actually giving helpful advice to the poster. I am sorry you have had trouble with finding a position that suits you, but when you say things like "if you dont get into acute care quick you never will" you freak people out with things that are untrue. If you feel that way, I am sorry, but it does the poster no good for you to discourage her with misinformation.

I think she will find something soon. She has to just put herself out there and hope for the best. I know you can do it, Expo!

WDWpixieRN, RN · Jun 14, 2009

Jilly:

I'm sorry that a post like the one above is alarming to students. I can certainly understand how that might be.

I do know that the hospitals have been cutting back and are watching costs. Gee, like almost EVERY other industry out there these days (think auto industry, retail, education, etc.). It's just been a tough year or so.

With that said, I know that things are slowly starting to rebound. Hopefully the trend will continue upwards.

But the bottom line is, there will always be a need for RNs and I don't think the economy will impact the continuing growth in this field.

I DO think that it might be, especially in an area like STL where we have so many schools unlike more rural areas, that the competition will be stiffer.

I would highly recommend getting to know the staff where you are doing clinicals as well as you can. While doing clinicals, seek out and talk to the floor manager or other nurse managers, or heck, even head to HR and ask what the future possibilities will be for new grads at any facilities you are interested in. Shine when you're on that floor, always asking to help and pitch in whenever possible. Be willing to take part in any learning opportunity that comes along. Make nice with your instructors so they can be a good source of referrals for your resumes (and I'm not referring to brown-nosing; I'm referring to being a decent human being and doing what you're supposed to be doing and being interested in YOUR education). Try to take advantage of any summer or winter break internships you can find -- they do exist here locally.

And lastly, perhaps don't wait 2 years to start applying for jobs as a "new grad".

Good luck Jilly and others who are still in school! I wish you the best!!