new grad rn- can't find a job

Nurses Job Hunt

Published

hi all! I am a new grad - graduated in june and passed nclex in august...and needless to say I can't get a job in hospital. right now, I work part time in a private practice, but now I'm thinking that hospitals aren't going to count that as experience, so have been trying to switch. It is discouraging how hard this has been. at first I thought that was holding me back was not having my bsn, and only my adn (thus I have been enrolled in a BSN program and am in my first semester of it) but after reading some posts, I'm seeing that those with a bachelors are also having the same problem. I have been feeling down and discouraged. is there anyone else that can relate? I thought I was alone in this journey, but reading some of the other posts made me realize that I'm not. I'm from the east coast and there haven't been a lot of openings in the hospitals in my state. Starting to think that finding a hospital job is harder than going through nursing school itself!

Specializes in Med-Surg/urology.

Don't feel bad for not working as a tech through school. Although I worked 90% of my college years as a CNA and LPN, most of the job interviewers did not care one single bit :(

Anyways, although I am one of those people that feel that a year of med surg will be beneficial to a new nurse, I understand that the market is rough. Some places that new grads could consider are long term acute care hospitals, rehab facilities, jails and prisons, and state psych hospitals.

Specializes in Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy.

I was exactly where you are 3 years ago. I did not work in a hospital but I was a top student and thought that would help. Ha! People laugh in your face and sneer at you for being "book-smart" instead of respecting hard work. I looked for work for 6 months and then went back to school to become an NP, and I found a job as a pediatric nurse practitioner within 3 months of graduation. Sure, some people still sneer and look down on me as a second-rate NP because I don't have acute care experience.... But so what. I wasn't going to let some pompous nurse recruiter to hold me back from having a career.

I'm not saying that getting a master's is the ticket of success for everyone... I tried just about everything that people suggested to try to land that first RN job. I volunteered. I got PALS and ACLS. I applied to jobs all over the country. I was ready to go anywhere, do anything. Only when all those options came up dry did I apply to grad school and I am so glad I did. I know I still carry around bitterness from the way I was treated during my first Job Search... I hope this only makes me more compassionate and sensitive to those going through it now. The hardest thing is you can't even really talk about it professionally because people assume that if you didn't get a job there must be a reason for it. You must have come across as incompetent, or there was some red flag in your record, or you don't present yourself well... People always assume the worst of you when X amount of time has gone by and you couldn't find a job. So just keep believing in yourself and your own value... if you are very determined you WILL find a way to use your education and training for a positive purpose. It may not be what you thought/hoped/planned it would be, but it may be even better.

I had no healthcare experience prior to graduating except that of clinicals. I can only say - sell yourself. If you are so lucky to get that interview, be that iconic "bubbly. chipper" nurse. I believe that's how I got my hospital offer. And I am SO thankful.

Take advantage of every graduate nurse program you can find. They are looking for new nurses. I hope that helps :)

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

It times to look at nursing BEYOND the hospital...

Nursing "skills" I mean, tasks are lovely and sexy, but can be learned; people self cath, set up their chemo treatments, do their own wound care...one doesn't "lose" those skills, what can happens is the most important nursing skills-assessment, nursing diagnoses, NURSING JUDGEMENT, need to be confirmed and built upon, and that can occur in many nursing occupations; I have worked at a Rehab hospital, Peds facility/medical daycare, LTC, Peds Orthopedic Surgeon's office, home health visits and private duty, and even Medicare chart reviews; I did this as an LPN; it is as much as possible as an RN. :yes: You use the most important skills as a nurse-the nursing process, critical thing and nursing judgement-in ALL of the avenues I described. As a RN for 18 months, because of that experience I was able to secure a Critical Care Pediatric job and a nursing supervisor in a nursing home; I was treated as a new grad because I had no RN experience. I get calls still for he leadership work I do; yes hospitals call me.

If you are not willing to move, then, continue to hone your skills outside of the hospitals; it is FAR more important to have your assessment and nursing judgement in check than anything else; you have to be able to see the forest AND the trees. :yes:

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

Also network network network; use that money that you are working with to join your local states nursing association, as well as join a local specialty nursing association, take CEUs for the nursing you want to do, etc...it's going to take work to build a career :yes:

Concerto, where is your hospital? I'm a new grad and willing to relocate.

Specializes in Operating Room.

I graduated with a BSN in May 2013, passed the NCLEX and relocated to San Francisco, CA. Advice to anyone thinking of heading out west - stay put. There are very few new grad positions and the hospitals receive hundreds of applications selecting only 5-10 new licensed RNs to participate in their program. I moved back to my home in Florida (also a tight job market for new grads), applied for a new grad position and was offered to join a team of skilled surgeons and nurses in the operating room of one of the largest hospitals in the nation. I eagerly accepted and training commences February 2014. Don't give up hope new grads! Keep applying. Something will come your way. GOOD LUCK!!

I was exactly where you are 3 years ago. I did not work in a hospital but I was a top student and thought that would help. Ha! People laugh in your face and sneer at you for being "book-smart" instead of respecting hard work. I looked for work for 6 months and then went back to school to become an NP, and I found a job as a pediatric nurse practitioner within 3 months of graduation. Sure, some people still sneer and look down on me as a second-rate NP because I don't have acute care experience.... But so what. I wasn't going to let some pompous nurse recruiter to hold me back from having a career.

I'm not saying that getting a master's is the ticket of success for everyone... I tried just about everything that people suggested to try to land that first RN job. I volunteered. I got PALS and ACLS. I applied to jobs all over the country. I was ready to go anywhere, do anything. Only when all those options came up dry did I apply to grad school and I am so glad I did. I know I still carry around bitterness from the way I was treated during my first job search... I hope this only makes me more compassionate and sensitive to those going through it now. The hardest thing is you can't even really talk about it professionally because people assume that if you didn't get a job there must be a reason for it. You must have come across as incompetent, or there was some red flag in your record, or you don't present yourself well... People always assume the worst of you when X amount of time has gone by and you couldn't find a job. So just keep believing in yourself and your own value... if you are very determined you WILL find a way to use your education and training for a positive purpose. It may not be what you thought/hoped/planned it would be, but it may be even better.

^ Well said. I'm in the exact same boat. I'm currently in the process of applying to grad school. I can't delude myself any longer that I will find a job as a very old new grad. And it gets tiring of trying to explain to people why I'm x amount of years out of school with no job when so and so to the nth degree found a job straight out of nursing school.

^ Well said. I'm in the exact same boat. I'm currently in the process of applying to grad school. I can't delude myself any longer that I will find a job as a very old new grad. And it gets tiring of trying to explain to people why I'm x amount of years out of school with no job when so and so to the nth degree found a job straight out of nursing school.

Same here! I graduated from my ADN program at 49, I am finishing up my BSN program next month at age 50, and still explaining to people, on a daily basis, why I can't find a job during this "nursing shortage." It's very depressing. That said, this past week I was contacted by FOUR potential employers. Nothing for a year and a half, then what feels like a tsunami of interest! I'm finally starting to feel encouraged.

Where in northern Illinois is your hospital? I am in Illinois and I just graduated from an adn program. I am terrified about the job prospects.

+ Add a Comment