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

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I have been reading through these threads and haven't seen an answer to this question. I know that it is tough to get a new grad RN position and some say they are still looking after a year post graduation. So what happens to those who get no experience and in effect are now "old grads with no experience" when the job market begins to open up again? What do those in the know recommend for those who may not be able to get a job within a year or two of graduation? Do you get more certifications, i.e. ACLS, PALS, etc while waiting for the market to open? Do you volunteer in a hospital? If volunteering, do hospitals allow clinical practice as a licensed RN volunteer? (Of course, there may be union issues with that). Essentially, will a licensed RN with no experience become obsolete since many will graduate and be "newer" when the job market opens again?

There are clinical refresher courses available to nurses looking to reenter the field after an extended absence, I imagine something like that is an option even for someone without experience. I considered it (out of school 11 years before getting my license) but there weren't any in my area and the closest ones all required a license which I didn't have at the time. I didn't take a refresher after getting licensed as I was offered a position even without it.

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Specializes in LTC, Acute care.

Usually, I'm upbeat but today I'm just so depressed and down especially after I read an email from one of the places I applied to saying that I didn't fit what they were looking for. I can't even count how many have told me that and I still don't know what it is they are looking for or if they even read the resume and application I filled. I'm just so annoyed and I just can't stop crying (yea, I know it won't help) but I've begun to feel like failure and that feeling just sucks. I don't know what else to do.:sniff:

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wow-I'm glad I'm not alone in what I'm going through I guess, but I never thought I'd be here-jobless after a year- when I finally got accepted into nursing school after trying so hard and waiting so long to get in- I graduated last May. I can't even count how many applications I've sent in and how many rejections I've received. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I've started looking into RN refresher courses as well and I took a volunteer position at hospital- but it's so degrading- I bring people juice and pick up their meal trays :crying2: I'm an RN... GEEZ I shouldn't have to be doing this. I don't know what to do anymore- I'm so discouraged and very very frustrated like the rest of you.:crying2:

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I graduated last June and have sent also too many applications to count. I did my ADN and have my RN license and now going back to get my BSN. If the job market is still terrible when I'm done I am seriously considering joining the Navy Nurse Corps, which is a worst case scenario. They have great benefits and would offer awesome training, but the idea of being their property for three years is scary. However, its that or I don't know what else.

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Specializes in IV infusion, phlebotomy.

Wow! Where can you get PALS, ACLS, and BLS certification? Usually they offer it through the hospitals, but it sounds like you took the time on your own to do this. I am not sure there is a program here that is not associated with the hospitals in some way.

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which hospitals are currently accepting new grads?

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Its funny but sad and depressing at the same time.... I just graduated last month and cant find a job. This post started in 2005 (I think) and things arent looking any better for RNs. I submit about 20 apps per day!!!!:mad::mad::mad:

I agree that the schools are really being greedy and OVERPRODUCING nurses. I havent recieved any calls yet but I have recieved emails about not being "qualified". How can I get experience when 9/10 jobs require experience?:confused:

UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.......ok I've vented now back to the Job Search. Oh yeah and the ACLS and PALS cost money that I dont have right now.

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consider the ACLS and PALs an investment. One you need to make in order to get the job to make the money to pay for them. charge them to your credit card if you have to. there are plenty of other people wiling to do this and that shows employers which grads are willing to work hard and make sacrifices for them. I know the job market sucks, but one month isn't that long. It takes HR that long just to get their office door open. Keep applying. You never know where your application will end up, and keep taking classes that add to your resume. Get another job in the meantime to live on. Good luck.

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*** it doesn't matter where the foreign nurse is educated the us federal department of labor states it clearly the a citizen cannot be refused employment and a non-citizen be given the job, or continue to fill the position. check this on your computers by going into the site and search the subject.. takes about 2 minutes. please read on!!

the federal department of labor clearly states that; united states citizens take precedance and a non-citizen cannot be employed if a united states citizen is available for the job. but this is not the case! rn's that are united states citizens are not given precedance, united states citizen new grad rn's are not being given precedance either. here is a link that has a power point from the california institute of nursing and health care, that states on page 7 that 16% of the rn's in california are foreign nurses. whether they are on visa's or have green cards (e3's, etc. and/or have permanent residency - green card), these nurses should not be employed when a rn who is a us citizen needs a job! furthermore, the foreign nurses are getting employed without verifiable job references and proof of positive employment histories. the foreign nurses are gaining experience while employed here, which further disables us citizen new grad rn's from getting hired. us citizen nurses job history backgrounds are scrutinized and a foreign rn who doesn't even have verifiable (cannot prove the legitamacy) job references etc. can get the job instead. in california 16% = 64,000 foreign rn's (we have a total of approximately 400,000 rn's). i would say that number is greatly affecting us rn's from getting jobs!! this is just in california.. another point is that the cinhc estimated that in 2009, 5,768 california new grad rn's would get hired for jobs and 3,812 california new grad rn's would not get a job (page 23 of the power point). yet, the cinhc wants to continue to flood the market in california. with new grad rn's that will not get jobs. the reason for this is that they want to receive the annual $60,000,000 for the states budget for nursing education - because this pays for their nursing instructor salaries. here is the link - http://www.cinhc.org/wordpress/wp-co...ionsed0809.pdf

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WHY aren't the UNIONS helping with this??? Something has to be done! I worked as a LVN for 5 years and just got my RN license, too. I have high GPA, commendations up the ying yang, years of volunteer work in the community, etc.. I cannot get a job, I do not get phone calls, all I get are emails that turn me down. This has to stop!!!! In California we have approximately 64,000 Foreign RN's taking our spots!! They continue to block us because they are said to have experience - well guess what - that doesn't matter!!! New grads have to be trained, and we cannot be turned down or refused employment and a NON-citizen have the job - regardless of the excuses that Hospitals make!!! Look at any VA job posting, they state right off the bat that the RN candidate MUST be a citizen of the USA, not a permanent resident, not on a visa, etc. The VA states that because it is FEDERAL LAW set forth by the Department of Labor. This Federal Labor Law applies to ALL employment whether it is private sector and government... SOMETHING must be done - I am not going to be unemployed and a NON CITIZEN has MY job... No way.. so since I don't have a RN job right now, putting the word out all over the place has become my job!! Nursing advocacy for work deprived USA Nurses. Permanent residents can gripe that they pay taxes, etc. etc. well that doesn't mean they can have a job over a USA Citizen, even though this violation of USA citizens rights is occuring in LARGE numbers. Oh and I have to repay my $50,000 loan for the RN program... I better get a job, cuz I am getting ******!

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Specializes in Critical Care/Coronary Care Unit,.

It's hard to find a job in nursing as a new grad. I swear I applied to 50 places and was rejected by most of them as a new grad. However, I got a preceptorship on a tele unit. I think aiming for a preceptorship as a new grad rn is going to be your best bet. It'll require a contract, but in the end it's worth it to get the experience. Call your local hospitals and ask for new grad rn programs. Good luck.

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I graduated in December 2008. Fifty-seven applications later, I started getting responses. Now that I've been working for 16 months, not a week goes by that I don't reflect on how lucky I am to have been hired, let alone hired for a job I really wanted. But it wasn't easy. I had to be very persistent.

First, I accepted a job on a skilled unit in a rehab center. Since I'd expected to be in an ICU training program -- one that went south with the economy -- I was crushed. It turned out to be great experience. Consider rehab. I had to work with IVs, PICCs, Foleys, all kinds of meds, peg tubes, complicated dressings.

Second, I looked for opportunities to network and gain other experience wherever I could. Rehab was fine, but I wanted ER! I told myself I'd stick with rehab for six months -- the minimum commitment expected by the institution -- then start looking. When my state put out a call for health care volunteers, I signed up immediately. I wound up working at flu shot clinics, and since the governor had waived liability for volunteers, organizers were happy to have a newbie. It made a nice entry for my resume, particularly since I worked with immigrant populations and children. It was also a great opportunity to get out there and network with experienced nurses.

Third, I contacted the hospital where I'd done my clinicals and asked if I could attend inservices and skills fairs. Again, another chance to pick up skills and meet nurses. One of them eventually tipped me off to the job I landed 10 months after getting my license. If this isn't an option for you, and you're worried about maintaining your skills, how about asking your alma mater for some lab time? Just getting in there and working with Sim will help you stay current and boost your spirits. You've probably got classmates who are in the same boat. Work together.

Right now I'd keep an eye out for summer camp nurse jobs -- they're still cropping up. You could also contact your local school department to ask if they need substitute RNs when someone calls out sick. (My state only employs RN-BSNs in schools, so they frequently call on substitutes.) No go? Contact the school nurse to see if s/he needs help with physicals, hearing and vision screenings, or even contacting parents to update information on file. It's experience, it's networking, and it looks good on a resume. Is there an organization in your area that works with migrant workers? They'd probably be thrilled to have someone with your skills to help with patient teaching, especially if you speak a second language.

I do think that certifications like ACLS help on your resume. But it's expensive to do that on your own. Most of the hospitals in my area specify that you are expected to earn that certification within one year of hire, and they'll pay for it. Not having it didn't hold me back.

Are there nursing organizations in your area that you can join? You never know who you'll meet. Always, always have a current copy of your resume in your car or your briefcase, and be ready to offer it. I often tell my husband how lucky I am; when I do, he kindly reminds me that luck is when opportunity rewards preparation. Make your own luck. Be prepared.

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