New Grads, A Few Words of Encouragement

I got my Vocational Nursing License in the middle of June this year and since then I've been looking for a job but until now I still havent find one. I cant count anymore how many resumes and application forms I filled out. I got interviewed once and after the interview the HR manager told me that the opening is for LVN II. I feel so frustrated already. I sometimes feel like it wasn't worth the sacrifices that I did just to finish vocational nursing. I lost the good paying job that I had before and started working for minimum just to get thru nursing school. I kept on telling myself its a numbers game but its really getting into me. I know I am a good person and the reason why I took nursing is because I want to have a rewarding career. A career that will make me feels good because I know that I am helping people.

I hear you completely. "BIG hugs". I also quit a very good paying job before going to nursing school. I went into nursing too to help and care for others, particulary to help the Hispanic patients who cannot speak our language. I had a friend whose father almost died because he went into shock because he didn't know what the signs of low blood sugar were. You know why? When the nurse discharged the him the first time she had given him the information in English! That is why I want to be a bilingual nurse and yet no one is hiring me in hospitals or clinics. Yes, there are jobs in long-term care but you tell me how many Hispanic residents you will see. Where I live there are none.

I also sacrificed so much during school. Worked with a husband and 2 kids either part-time or per diem during school. Sacrficed time with my kids. My oldest of 7 yrs used to tell me all the time "Mommy, you can't play with me because you have to study too much"...it always broke my heart. Then my husband worked an overnight job and still managed to take care of the kids and take a few hours of sleep so I can study for tests and stuff. I always said to him that I would "pay" him back for all he had done when I started working full-time and he could cut down to a part-time day shift, but with me not getting a job he is still working overnights.

All I can say is we'll hold on together. You, me, and all the other ones out there who did the same sacrifices. My instructor said she'd seen this overflooding of nurses before back in '93. She keeps telling me to give it a year and it will get better. I know most of us can't financially wait a year but I have high hopes someone will see our talents and give us a chance soon.

May God be with us all and for those who don't believe in him, may the good fortune find you soon.