New Grad RN can't find a job

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Mar 2, 2015

I graduated in December 2014. I passed my boards a couple of weeks later in mid January. Since then, I have applied to over 200 jobs. I have sent follow up emails, made phone calls, the whole 9 yards. Yet, still nothing. I am in the metro Atlanta area and have increased my search to many surrounding cities. I have searched for nurse residency programs and new grad RN positions. I still can't find anything. What else can I do? I'm frustrated that they always say "nurses are always in high demand" but no one wants to give the new grads a shot.

Unfortunately, as you are now finding out, nursing is NOT a "high demand job" throughout most of the US. The only people who believe that it is haven't talked to the many nurses who cannot find work.

It's not that no one wants to give new grads "a shot", it's that you are a dime a dozen: thousands more new grads with zero experience than can possibly be hired. Even experienced nurses can have a tough time of it, depending on where they live.

You are in an area without a need for new nurses; have you considered moving? Take a look at online job postings, see where you can move to and be able to work. That's your best bet.

Libby1987 · Mar 2, 2015

Theses posts come so frequently. I'm curious, did your group of student nurses either informally or as a class discuss the job market and impending difficulty finding a job?

cheezwizz90 · Mar 2, 2015

Yet another classic example of how critical it is for nursing students to have a job as a CNA. It's crucial to have your foot in the door because, for new grads, it's all about who you know. Currently employed CNAs get a smooth transition to the RN role, usually on their current unit. Everyone knows you will graduate soon and the manager may even hold a position for you, if you're a good employee. My hospital guarantees it.

Do you have your BSN? Matters more as a new grad who probably didn't work as a CNA, although you didn't address this in your post.

Proverbs 17:22

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine:

but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

allnurses Guide · Mar 2, 2015

Well, first of all, you just got your license around 6 weeks ago. 50% of new grad nurses are still unemployed at the one year mark. You have not been looking very long.

Most Nursing Jobs will not hire a new grad unless the new grad is invited to apply on the ad. The hospitals in my area, and many others from what I have read, only hire new grads via their new grad programs, which happen twice per year only. Applications and interviewing are starting around now until May for summer (usually June) start dates. January start dates would have been accepting applications and interviewing last fall. It is too late for you, but for other new grads reading here, you may need to start applying PRIOR to graduation. There are some hospitals that don't want to hear from you until you pass NCLEX. Others hire long before graduation takes place and if you wait until after you graduate to start looking you have already missed the bus. Explore your area to find out what is customary where you live.

As mentioned above, new grad nurses are a dime a dozen now and there are FAR FAR more of them than there are acute care jobs available. It has been said ad nauseum, but in case you have not heard it, you are going to have to extend your search to include nursing homes, rehab centers, home health, flu shot clinics prisons, medical offices and the like. There is also a good chance you will have to move to find that elusive first job. Areas that are still new grad friendly include Indian reservations, rural area, poverty stricken areas and the Texas/Mexico border.

Good luck.

JackiRN, BSN, RN · Mar 2, 2015

When I graduated nursing school I didn't have my BSN yet and couldn't land even an interview. I was lucky enough not to have children or a mortgage, and went out of state to start working. I did have friends in my program though that did not find employment for over a year because they wanted specific jobs at specific hospitals.

2k15NurseExtern4u, BSN, RN · Mar 2, 2015

Are you a LVN, ADN, or BSN graduate? From what I hear and have read on AN, it's difficult for non BSN applicants to find jobs in hospitals. Still tough for us all, but even tougher if you're not a BSN.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Mar 2, 2015

I am so sorry....((HUGS))

Contrary to popular belief there is no nursing shortage right now. Well.....there might be if they staffed appropriately but they don't....they are staffing with increased workloads to decrease costs.

Since 2008 there has not been a nursing shortage. There are many reasons for this....one being that when the economy tanked many of our 401K plans went with it. I know I lost about 60% following my financial planners advice and placed in an aggressive fund because we are getting to the "retirement" age. Well...wall street tanked and got bailed out. Banks tanked because of bad banking and they got bailed out. The auto industry tanked and they got bailed out....well, guess what? no one bailed me out.

Many nurses who were stay at home Moms had to back to work when their hubby's got laid off and couldn't find work for money and benefits. Those of us who planned on retiring can't. Like anytime the economy is bad people flock to nursing for the "consistent good pay" and benefits with minimal education (2 years) and cost. Unemployment services were paying for people to be retrained to hopefully shorten their stay on unemployment....therefore many schools (mostly for profit) technical and community colleges as well as businessmen seized this opportunity of plentiful money and nursing schools cropped up everywhere. This created a plethora of new grads saturating the market.

So now nursing, who has been trying to make RN BSN entry only, for years, and couldn't because of the need for nurses, has an opportunity to forward their agenda (which isn't actually a bad idea) and began wanting nurses to go back for their BSN, hence, MAGNET accreditation was born. Now in order to get rid of the expensive worker it facilities started requiring older nurses to get their BSN...some nurses close to retirement just quit while others interred debt to comply (as many facilities lessened education reimbursement citing no money) and can't retire.

That led to another problem...hiring of new grads....sure they are cheaper and usually younger....but if they hire new grads with less than what they were requiring of older expensive nurses it's discrimination, So, the simple answer...only new BSN grads are getting hired in many ares of the country and even they have a difficult Job Search. The market stinks right now...which by the way has driven down wages and benefits.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Mar 2, 2015

Many parts of the country have a plethora of nurses and are hiring a majority of BSN grads only Many new grads recently have been getting hired and getting that one year and leaving to the "real job" Nurse practitioner or CRNA where the real money is making facilities hesitant to hire new grads.

The market in't good.

As you can see......Georgia[TABLE=width: 100%]

[TR]

[TH=align: left]City and Area[/TH]

[TH=align: right]Median Salary[/TH]

[TH=align: right]Employees[/TH]

[TH=align: right]Job Density[/TH]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Albany[/TD]

[TD=align: right]$55,000[/TD]

[TD=align: right]1,290[/TD]

[TD=align: right]+14%[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Athens[/TD]

[TD=align: right]$60,000[/TD]

[TD=align: right]1,880[/TD]

[TD=align: right]+43%[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Atlanta[/TD]

[TD=align: right]$64,000[/TD]

[TD=align: right]33,790[/TD]

[TD=align: right]-29%[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Augusta[/TD]

[TD=align: right]$65,000[/TD]

[TD=align: right]5,070[/TD]

[TD=align: right]+24%[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Brunswick[/TD]

[TD=align: right]$53,000[/TD]

[TD=align: right]710[/TD]

[TD=align: right]-1%[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Columbus[/TD]

[TD=align: right]$61,000[/TD]

[TD=align: right]2,630[/TD]

[TD=align: right]+24%[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Dalton[/TD]

[TD=align: right]$55,000[/TD]

[TD=align: right]710[/TD]

[TD=align: right]-43%[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Gainesville[/TD]

[TD=align: right]$64,000[/TD]

[TD=align: right]1,500[/TD]

[TD=align: right]+17%[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Macon[/TD]

[TD=align: right]$58,000[/TD]

[TD=align: right]2,810[/TD]

[TD=align: right]+64%[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Rome[/TD]

[TD=align: right]$59,000[/TD]

[TD=align: right]1,270[/TD]

[TD=align: right]+110%[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Savannah[/TD]

[TD=align: right]$62,000[/TD]

[TD=align: right]3,520[/TD]

[TD=align: right]+21%[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Valdosta[/TD]

[TD=align: right]$53,000[/TD]

[TD=align: right]980[/TD]

[TD=align: right]+10%[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

Has a plethora of nurses. Job Search data....Nurses Schools, Salaries, and Job Data

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Mar 2, 2015

Are you a LVN, ADN, or BSN graduate? From what I hear and have read on AN, it's difficult for non BSN applicants to find jobs in hospitals. Still tough for us all, but even tougher if you're not a BSN.

He/She said he/she is an RN, not LVN. But yes, some areas of the country (particularly metro areas, densely populated new grad areas) it's significantly harder for an ADN to find employment.

labdad1234RN · Mar 2, 2015

Consider another State or place. Never limit yourself to one geographical area. Go where the jobs are.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Mar 2, 2015

You need to spread your search have you looked into LTAC Long Term Acute Care? These are acute care options....take a look at teh LTACH forum....https://allnurses.com/long-term-acute/

https://allnurses.com/long-term-acute/new-grad-starting-819817.html