New Grad RN-->No Jobs, Then what?

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Ohgoodness

5 Posts

Love it! I totally agree. I know it can be difficult for people with families, but for all of those unattached people out there, this is really something to think about.

jst10

3 Posts

I dig the road warrior mentality! I'm taking pre-reqs now to get into an accelerated second degree BSN but am honestly VERY NERVOUS about being able to find a job. A major part of the reason I am going back to school is because I want to be able to live independently, do things like travel, and this costs money! Dont get me wrong going back for nursing isnt all about the money but it doesnt hurt. Making enough is a reality to be able to function right now. I am just scared of getting out of school, with more loans, and not finding a job. I have hospital experience as a pharmacy technician (5+) years, and a science background, do you think this will help?

Mom2Chaos

48 Posts

As I read through this thread, I echo the sentiment of so many of you. I just graduated with a BSN and am awaiting taking my boards. I maintained a 3.5gpa, and have worked for a hospital for 4 years during school. I thought that a BSN and 4 years on the "inside" of a hospital would help me to transition right it, but it does not look like that is the way it is going to work out. My manager has told me that of the 2 units that she is responsible for, one is fully staffed and the other does not have money in the budget to orient a new nurse. Other department managers in the same hospital have echo'd the same sentiment- no money to orient a new nurse. I am trying not to stress too much about it until I pass my NCLEX, however I worry that when I apply to other facilities that they will think it strange that I am not being hired by the facility that I have worked at for 4 years- and possibly assume that I am not a good employee. (As an aside, I have all good evaluations, I don't call-out, I come to work on time, and I build a good rapport with my patients and their families). It does not seem that in the current climate that even working for a hospital or having a BSN make a difference. :cry:

AHHELP

6 Posts

Hi fotero, my name is ashley.i am a nurse from bc. I would love to work as a public health nurse!! Can you give me some advice on where I can apply, what certification I need to take... my circumstance is that I only did practium in public health,but that was in 2011, I am working now as a residental nurse, but just started that too. So...technically speaking I am almost at the end of my new graduate pathway...but still haven't had any acute skills yet :(

Don't worry guys. You will find a job....Remember you have to keep searching, and finding for it. Practice on interview techniques, and learning to write a letter of interest to the hiring manager. Also, try having some people call the managers/recruiters and put in a good word for you. Try having your grandmother call and give some honest comments on you... my grandfather was in the hospital and he gave some good comments. Anything helps. Keep tabs with that person. Volunteer and get to know the staff, and the managers.. Keep in touch with them it will help.

We as women and men should be more creative, and also have our certifications as well....

MarlynneRN

16 Posts

Volunteering can be a foot in the door of some company that will hire nurses but may be completely unrelated to direct patient care! Look into hospitals that have research groups who are needed volunteer nurses - this may be an eye-opener and an option for those who are realizing that they are not compatible with bedside nursing.

serenidad2004

119 Posts

Specializes in Dialysis.

I have been a nurse for almost 10yrs9yrs the 1st 4 as an LPN. I started in LTC and I loved it! Made going back for my RN much easier. If you can juggle 43pts medical psych and family issues thsn taking 5-6 sicker pts is a breeze. After my RN i moved to skilled care and let me tell you it might as well have been a stepdown unit from ICU the only difference was the pt ratio. Acute care = 5-6:1RN skilled care = 11-13:1RN. I learned so much in both settings. I just started a new position in the dialysis unit in the hospital. I was told they usually want acute experiance but that my experiances in both LTC & SNF were enough to be given the chance. I waz recently tolx by my DON that i have learned and adapted faster than any new hire theyve had and that i am going to be a huge asset to the unit. So please dont count out LTC or skilled care az valuable experiance you will be surprised just how challenging both are!

mmm333, LVN

298 Posts

The jobs are out there (OK I mean really out there- way outside the major cities, rural areas in some cases, smaller towns in other cases). The real questions is whether you are willing to go anywhere to find it.

mmm333, LVN

298 Posts

jst10 your experience is valuable if an individual hiring manager sees the value and if you are able to succinctly explain exactly why it is valuable and how you can use your knowledge, skills and experience in nursing. Obviously you know your meds, are detail-oriented (science background supports this also), able to follow instructions, record information accurately (science background supports this also) , communicate with doctors & the public, etc. from your job as pharm tech. Then as a nurse you will have more knowledge than most new nurses about basic pharmacology and the meds you pass. Also if your pharm tech job was in a hospital then that is pretty huge. It's also good that you have 5+ rather than 1 year or something.

mmm333, LVN

298 Posts

Go for the flu clinic as if it were your life's dream. Then start sniffing around agencies.

Remember my golden rule of nursing employment - the unemployed are 99% unemployable. Keep fighting for anything and keep stepping up the ladder.

ChicRN, MSN

27 Posts

Volunteering can be a foot in the door of some company that will hire nurses but may be completely unrelated to direct patient care! Look into hospitals that have research groups who are needed volunteer nurses - this may be an eye-opener and an option for those who are realizing that they are not compatible with bedside nursing.

I find research nursing interesting and discovered myself to be not so much of a bedside nurse. Thanks for the tip! Not sure where to start looking here in the San Francisco bay area though..but i'll try! Thank you!!

RNMom.3, ASN

2 Posts

Specializes in Peds.

I graduated in 2006. I worked in nursing until 2009. I sued my employer who fired me when I had a back injury. I'm convinced I have been blackballed in the nursing market in our area. I can't get a job anywhere. The market here is really tight, too. There's a lot of out of work RN's. My family is pretty desperate for me to have an income again. I feel just terrible that I have this RN after my name, but can't use it for anything. It's really despressing. I really hate nursing. Poo always rolls towards the nurse. Otherwise if there's a problem it's going to be the nurses problem, not the hospital, the union, the doctor or anyone else.

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