I just can't find a job.

Nurses Job Hunt

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So I've been at it for 2 months now. I have tried everything from monsters.com, careerbuilder.com, making cold calls, making cold visits (home health agencies, nursing homes, hospital HRs, LTC). I've tried referrals through friends that have been nurses for a few years now, I've tried reaching out to people on facebook (you never know if they know a friend of a friend sort of thing). I'm at my wits end here!! Only a couple of months until I have to start making loan payments. I'm in Miami, FL. I've looked throughout the whole state of Florida!! Some jobs say NO NEW GRADUATES AT THIS TIME. Many don't even bother sending as much as a confirmation email that they received your application. Hospitals that I've heard have residency programs don't state when or how. And don't get me started on Taleo and Indeed.com!!!!! OH and these open houses/job fairs......RIGHT!

5 positions for over 100 applicants! Some of which show up having 10 years experience!! GRRR needed to vent :mad:

Don't feel alone. I have 28 years experience in ER and critical care and I've been looking for a job for months. No one wants to hire an "old nurse" either, who might start out higher on the pay scale. I've tried all the same things you have. Did the flu clinic thing, but the shifts were all gone within an hour of the schedule coming out. Will try private duty, but that's PRN. And have a position with an Infusion Co. which might land me one infusion every couple of months. Very scary.

It's a horrible feeling, isn't it???? I have 12 years experience and a Masters degree...... I couldn't get an interview if I paid for it myself! But I know of 2 nurses who both have 2 years experience in LTC and an ADN and both have been offered 3 jobs within the last month! It is hard not to take it personally:bluecry1:

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Specializes in Home Care.

Florida has changed alot since 2008, its sad.

TheTampa Bay area was my home for close to 17 years.

I gave up on the idea of nursing in FL, I left the state last year.

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Yes volunteering has helped me. Does not pay the bills but opens up doors.

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Regarding flu clinics and getting yourself scheduled...they have a new online scheduling system where you can add the dates and areas you are available for and also put that you want to be on call. Doing that moves you up on their list and they will call you when other nurses do not show or call in sick. Moved me right up and I got several shifts that way. Easy job, kinda boring, but still it is money and experience.

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Specializes in PACU, presurgical testing.

I don't know if this will help, but do you know what area of nursing you really want to do? As in, if you had your pick, what would it be? The reason I ask is that you seem to be applying everywhere, as so many applicants are doing, which is one strategy, especially if you really need to land a job, any job. Problem with that strategy is that I imagine your cover letter is starting to sound a little stale. I always wondered when I would submit 3 online applications to the same hospital, with 3 different cover letters for 3 different departments--isn't someone reading these going to think, "Hey, didn't she just say she wanted to do xyz instead of abc???" Would you really be thrilled to work ANYWHERE? If so, great, but if you do have a preference, you can target your search a little more. And don't give up; 2 months is not bad at all. I have classmates that looked for 6 months, all folks with great GPAs. Some wanted something specific, others were 3rd-career and were at the older end of the spectrum, etc. Keep looking, and do think about what you want to do with this!! Good luck!

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Wow. This came as a surprise to me. I thought there were a wealth of RN jobs in Florida--due to the older population.

Oh yes, and best of luck to you!

I know I've been trying to get my first CNA job since last October and it just seems brutal to get call after call back saying, "We thought you were a strong candidate, but ultimately, we had to go with the candidate with 5 years of experience." I filled out 40 applications over the last two weeks and have 3 interviews next week. Keep at it!

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Some of my classmates found a program through the local community college in which they registered as students and then worked M/S on the NOC shift at the local hospital as "interns," though they were working under their own licenses. At least one got a job out of the deal.

One got a job, and the hospital got multiple nurses without paying for any of them. What a fabulous program for the hospital. For the nurses, it's all the work, all the stress, all the liability, none of the pay, none of the benefits.

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Specializes in Emergency.

Florida is supposed to be one of the states that is still hiring... I am in Florida.

I agree that googling Critical Access Hospitals may give you an idea of where to look.

I would also make sure that you have an application in to ALL of the big systems. And refresh the application each time you see a job you qualify for.

This and I think you may also need to look outside of Florida. Though I am surprised, because I see positions open in Fl all the time...its the No new grad thing thats awful.

good luck.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.
One got a job, and the hospital got multiple nurses without paying for any of them. What a fabulous program for the hospital. For the nurses, it's all the work, all the stress, all the liability, none of the pay, none of the benefits.
The really disturbing part of it is that the 'program' was turning people away... far more demand than positions.
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I'm in the same boat...passed boards in April and haven't had any offers here in Boston, MA. very brutal out there right now...

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"Hey Mav, do you still have the number for that truck driving school?"

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Specializes in "Wound care - geriatric care.

I am sorry sugarsugar15 but you finally arrived in the real world and the state of our economy. I myself feel your pain because I've been looking for almost two years now. Don't get discouraged, soon the winds will change and the jobs will be back. As for your loans you can ask for an extension on the payments even though interest will be charged. I think that there are only a few places that will take new grads right now and I mean very few 25 bed hospitals in very remote areas of the country and in some states. In the large metropolitan areas is almost useless to look. I would however apply to every new grad program you can find in your state. California is one of the worst states for new grads I hear FL is pretty bad too. The only places who will be interested in NG are those located in ares where no one wants to go to and usually in very, very remote areas that are of difficult access...sorry but it's just the way it is now. But who knows you could get lucky and get a job soon.

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