I Just Need To Vent A Bit... Or A Lot.

Nurses Career Support

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Literally no one else in my life can empathize with me lately, and this is just something I need to get out of my system so I can go back to obsessively applying for jobs. My license expires for the first time at the end of this month and, as a May 2013 grad, I have yet to actually use it. So yay for paying for this license that so far has been collecting dust, because I'm so poor I can't afford a frame for it!

I'm so sick of everything related to nursing.

I am usually a very appreciative person and I am always so grateful when anyone helps me because I hate asking for help, but right now I don't want it. Stop sending me emails of Nursing Jobs throughout the state. Stop asking if I've applied to XYZ Hospital or if I ever considered home health or hey, have I ever heard of these New Grad programss? Stop telling me that you heard about this staffing agency or that you found out about your current job through CareerBuilder/ Monster. Yes I saw that open position, yes I have applied at every single hospital in this state numerous times, yes I've heard of and applied to all the new grad programs, no I can't work for a staffing agency because they want 18 years of experience, and yes my resume is on CareerBuilder and Monster and LinkedIn and Indeed and this sketchy healthcare page that may or may not be legit. Stop trying to help me because all you are doing is making me feel like you think I'm stupid.

But then I feel guilty for getting mad at people for trying to help. Like yes, I know you have my best interests in mind, I know you want me to get a job, I know you want to help. But you saying all these things to me somehow computes in my frustrated mind as you thinking that I'm just lounging on the couch watching Supernatural all day. I'm working 45 hours a week at a job that I dislike / on the verge of hate for next to no money that is a 45 minute drive, I'm spending every waking moment scouring the internet for jobs and nursing opportunities, and I'm doing "volunteer" work that makes me feel like a douchebag 8 hours a week. Yes I am trying extremely hard to get a job.

Part of me wants to be mad at the health care industry and experienced nurses but I'm smart enough to know that this anger would be misplaced and that it's neither of these things' fault. I AM angry with my college and my nursing professors for spreading the lie about the nursing shortage and reassuring me that I would get a job right out of school, but no one made me go to nursing school, and people shouldn't have to retire just for me to get a job. It's just - the whole process of applying to jobs is demeaning and frustrating, and who am I supposed to aim all of these negative feelings towards? There's no one to really blame, so it just festers.

I've also never felt this desperate before. I would do almost anything for a nursing job right now! I would travel any distance, move to any state, work on any floor during any shift, and I would do it for minimum wage. I just don't understand. I have CNA experience. I've been at my current job for 8 years (yay longevity and dedication etc etc) and I'm an assistant manager. I had great grades. I have volunteer stuff. I have wonderful references. I was an athlete and a member of Sigma Theta Tau, I did a preceptorship. I've written hundreds of cover letters tailored to each job and hospital. I've applied to jobs in several different states.

Ugh. Okay. Rant over. I feel better for having written this down. Back to the Job Search!

Specializes in Neuro ICU/Trauma/Emergency.

Why would your license expire a year before you've had it? Did I read the correctly?

Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.
Seems like everybody I know is trying to become a nurse. At least, all the young people I know claim that is what they plan to do. Try telling them there is no nursing shortage? Nobody believes it! I have had adults outright dispute that. Everywhere you look there are advertisements from nursing schools, plus articles in the news, all touting what a great career lies ahead of you, if only you were a nurse!

So true. Such a scam!

Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

I know it sucks to have people repeatedly say "have you done this" bit remember that your absolute best chance of getting a good job is via a friend or colleague or classmate or teacher or instructor.

I don't work in hiring, but I know several nurse managers at large academic hospitals that post openings through HR. These openings generate several hundred resumes. The nurse manager never sees them. The job ends up going to someone who was recommended by a current employee or someone who dropped their resume off directly to them or the like. Networking is huge; don't be afraid to get out there as the downside to applying from a computer is the person hiring may never even know you applied. Hang in there!

Specializes in GI,Telemetry, Trauma ICU, Endoscopy.

Gosh this sounds terrible, and I hope all your hard work culminates soon for you! The only thing that I can think of that you may have thought of but didn't mention is certifications. Try and get certifications that an employer may be looking for like PALS, ACLS, etc. I know those can be expensive without a job, so sorry if this doesn't help. Sending good thoughts your way!

Specializes in geriatrics.

Prior to 2008, there were all kinds of jobs for nurses. The whole situation is very demeaning and unfair for so many people. New grads aren't finding work, and working nurses are getting burned out from chronic understaffing. We need nurses, but the system is built on greed. It's all about the bottom line.

Hang in there....eventually something will happen. If you can, relocate for your first job.

Specializes in medsurg, progressive care.
Why would your license expire a year before you've had it? Did I read the correctly?

Yup, you read correctly! In Connecticut, your license expires on the last day of your birthday month, and it's only good for one year - so every February I need to renew it. Since I just got mine in July after graduating, I've only had it 7 months. Happy birthday to me, right?

Specializes in medsurg, progressive care.

Thanks, everyone, for the advice and well wishes!

Specializes in medsurg, progressive care.
Seems like everybody I know is trying to become a nurse. At least, all the young people I know claim that is what they plan to do. Try telling them there is no nursing shortage? Nobody believes it! I have had adults outright dispute that. Everywhere you look there are advertisements from nursing schools, plus articles in the news, all touting what a great career lies ahead of you, if only you were a nurse!

THIS! I was so shocked when I graduated and couldn't find a job right away because even my professors in nursing school, all of who were STILL WORKING as RNs or APRNs, would tell us that there is a nursing shortage and we should all get hired a month or so after passing the NCLEX. What a joke!

I feel your pain, I am CT also and it is very difficult to get a nsg job. (09) I was at the point that I wanted to just put on my scrubs, go into a hospital and start working without being hired! I would never do that but that showed how I felt at the time. I found my current job on cr******st. School nurse, love it! Good luck with your journey! Oh and btw, some of my class got jobs at St Fran by networking with each other. IE, one person got a job there and then recommended a friend and so on. Not me tho. : (

Literally no one else in my life can empathize with me lately, and this is just something I need to get out of my system so I can go back to obsessively applying for jobs. My license expires for the first time at the end of this month and, as a May 2013 grad, I have yet to actually use it. So yay for paying for this license that so far has been collecting dust, because I'm so poor I can't afford a frame for it!

I'm so sick of everything related to nursing.

I am usually a very appreciative person and I am always so grateful when anyone helps me because I hate asking for help, but right now I don't want it. Stop sending me emails of nursing jobs throughout the state. Stop asking if I've applied to XYZ Hospital or if I ever considered home health or hey, have I ever heard of these New Grad programss? Stop telling me that you heard about this staffing agency or that you found out about your current job through CareerBuilder/ Monster. Yes I saw that open position, yes I have applied at every single hospital in this state numerous times, yes I've heard of and applied to all the new grad programs, no I can't work for a staffing agency because they want 18 years of experience, and yes my resume is on CareerBuilder and Monster and LinkedIn and Indeed and this sketchy healthcare page that may or may not be legit. Stop trying to help me because all you are doing is making me feel like you think I'm stupid.

But then I feel guilty for getting mad at people for trying to help. Like yes, I know you have my best interests in mind, I know you want me to get a job, I know you want to help. But you saying all these things to me somehow computes in my frustrated mind as you thinking that I'm just lounging on the couch watching Supernatural all day. I'm working 45 hours a week at a job that I dislike / on the verge of hate for next to no money that is a 45 minute drive, I'm spending every waking moment scouring the internet for jobs and nursing opportunities, and I'm doing "volunteer" work that makes me feel like a douchebag 8 hours a week. Yes I am trying extremely hard to get a job.

Part of me wants to be mad at the health care industry and experienced nurses but I'm smart enough to know that this anger would be misplaced and that it's neither of these things' fault. I AM angry with my college and my nursing professors for spreading the lie about the nursing shortage and reassuring me that I would get a job right out of school, but no one made me go to nursing school, and people shouldn't have to retire just for me to get a job. It's just - the whole process of applying to jobs is demeaning and frustrating, and who am I supposed to aim all of these negative feelings towards? There's no one to really blame, so it just festers.

I've also never felt this desperate before. I would do almost anything for a nursing job right now! I would travel any distance, move to any state, work on any floor during any shift, and I would do it for minimum wage. I just don't understand. I have CNA experience. I've been at my current job for 8 years (yay longevity and dedication etc etc) and I'm an assistant manager. I had great grades. I have volunteer stuff. I have wonderful references. I was an athlete and a member of Sigma Theta Tau, I did a preceptorship. I've written hundreds of cover letters tailored to each job and hospital. I've applied to jobs in several different states.

Ugh. Okay. Rant over. I feel better for having written this down. Back to the job search!

Your previous posts say you got a job as a sub school nurse? What happened there?

Specializes in medsurg, progressive care.
Your previous posts say you got a job as a sub school nurse? What happened there?

Haha, funny story. I got hired without even interviewing, just sent in my application for a school nurse and they called 2 months later saying they had already filled the position but needed a substitute school nurse. Went in, filled out the paperwork, met with the HR woman who explained how it worked (I would have to call a number to hear available sub jobs throughout the city, then "beep" in for the job I would take that day). When I asked about orientation / training she said "Kathy" would call me the next day, as she was out the day I went in. Kathy never called. I called HR multiple times, google-stalked Kathy and called her and found she had no idea who I was. Physically went down to HR to find that the woman who hired me had been fired (assuming for something unrelated but they obviously didn't tell me why she no longer worked there). When I asked what that meant for me, they took a look at my resume and told me that she never should have hired me because I was a new grad with no experience and that they had no positions available for new grads.

God I totally understand how you feel

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