After 20 MONTHS of job search.....i give up.

U.S.A. New York

Published

So, after 20 months of looking for work as a nurse, i've officially given up. Im putting the mistake of going to school to become a nurse behind me and moving fwd as a receptionist. If i knew wasting all that time, and money going to school was only going to give me $60,000 of debt i would have done something more productive. Do you know what a 60,000 vacation could be like. But i'm just stuck with debt and a BSN that will never get used cause no one wants to hire me!!!!

If one more person tells me to apply to North Shore, I'm gonna smack them. Does everyone really think I never heard of them and i didnt apply there.

I hate what not having a job has done to me. Ive become an ANGRY, BITTER person that HATES PEOPLE. I cant say I hate nursing cause no one has ever given me a chance to work. SO, I HATE THE PROCESS OF BECOMING A NURSE and looking for a job as a nurse. I HATE all the people I tutored in school for them to pass their classes, my so called "friends", who ive never heard from again since they got jobs!!!

Specializes in LTC.

I have spent some time today looking at different parts of All Nurses and have realized that employers want to know that the "new grad" is not going to be a "weak nurse". So many new grads come into the profession and, after a little time, say "this isn't what I signed up for" and walk away. And this after expensive training from the hiring facility. So, if you are already experienced (and you will have a high patient load as well, which requires experience) then the facility knows that you know nursing is a career you can handle. As far as new grads, alot of places seem to want you to have been a CNA at the facility before they hire you as a new grad nurse. However, not all people who have been CNA's at a facility get hired by that facility after graduation. While you are a CNA you are being watched by management: do you come to work on time, how do you interact with others, how do you react in a crisis? Based on what they have seen of your work, is it likely that you will be a strong and not a weak nurse?

For a long time, I thought that nursing school grades were very important. I have come to realize that they are not. Just as long as you pass. I have never had anyone ask me about my GPA from nursing school. Only if I have my license. In fact, in one of my local hospitals, I know for a fact they hired two of my colleagues who had actually failed nursing courses and had to repeat them. Both of these new nurses had been CNA's at the same facility and, apparently, their behavior during employment was such that they were able to secure a nursing position.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics, Geriatrics, LTC.

have you tried LTC? They are ALWAYS looking for RN's .

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I know exactly how you feel. I graduated in December 2010 with a BSN and live in Rochester. I have applied to numerous places and cannot find a job. Strong told me to come back in a year when I have experience. Where is a new nurse supposed to go to get experience if a hospital won't hire me? I need to get experience with the basics that we can't do in nursing school like IVs, blood draws, and other skills. No office will hire me without experience and so far every LTC facility I've interviewed at wants supervisory experience. I am at a loss and feel like giving up as well. If I had known that working in the hospital as a PCT during nursing school was a prerequisite to get an RN job, I would've done that. Does anyone know of ANY openings in Rochester, NY or surrounding areas?:crying2:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med surg home care PEDS.

I feel the same way, I have given up, unless someone gets you a job you will never get one in the NYC area, upstate there are some jobs available, however due to family responsibilites this is impossible for me. So I am back working as an admin and struggling to pay my student loans, what a waste of money

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Many years ago when I graduated there were no jobs. Many of my friends went to the United States. Have you tried Canada.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

can anyone tell me what the nursing market is like in nyc right now for a nurse who is NOT a new grad? is it much better than for new grads? and is it much better than it was in the summer of 2010?

i have 3 years of experience working med surg in a hospital, a bsn, and a neurology nurse specialty certification (cnrn). thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

im unemployed, it sucks but dont give up. Apply at the hospitals! And everywhere! Dont give up because I know YOU WILL find a job and if you stop applying that job that you see might be yours but it wont be cause u didnt apply. So stop and click the button to apply!!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

22 months and counting

Up Vote Up Vote ×
22 months and counting

I'm sorry for what you are going through. I graduated in August 2011 with a BSN. I have no RN experience at all. My first degree was in Theater Arts. Ever since I graduated in August I was applying for jobs online and when October came by and I realized my strategy was not working I decided to be proactive and I took my resumes, letter of recommendations, transcripts, and certifications to hospitals all over NYC. To my surprise I got an interview on the spot in a nice hospital. Three days later I was hired as an ICU nurse in that same hospital. That same week I started receiving calls from my online submissions. So the moral of the story is, do not get discouraged, look at what you are doing and maybe twitch some things around. Go out there and apply in person. Review your resume (even pay someone to write a professional resume). I know that you will tell me that hospitals do not like that, but DO NOT PAY ATTENTION TO THEM! The more you go out there and persist bigger the changes that somebody will listen to you. Sometimes people gives you a chance when they see that you are interested. Also, it is not the same when a nurse recruiter is going through applications and not be able to put a face to the application. Also smile, and be very confident when you meet a prospective employer because even if you don't agree with me, how you feel about the whole job searching will come through your expressions and the way you handle the interview. Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If you are still reading this..... I have no idea where in ny you are located but if it is nyc, i am very familiar with the NON hiring in large east coast cities form 2008 until now..... If you are at all interested in still working as a nurse I will offer some unsolicited advice. try rural areas in your state. If you are able to even further try rural areas in neighboring states. any semi city area up and down the east coast (boston, baltimore, philly, washington dc, northern nj, nyc)was semi useless applying to when i was doing it in 2009, so i suspect it is the still the same.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

really? is it that bad? I don't get it... If the hiring is so bad, then why do people still kill into nursing programs?? what a waste of time and energy and brain cells....:0

Up Vote Up Vote ×

There are jobs. It is getting better. Trust me. Be persistent, stay current on your resume, be proactive, positive attitude. Most of my friends who graduated with me this August had found a jobs.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment