Unemployed & inexperienced New RNs. Vent it out!

Nurses Job Hunt

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It's good to have an outlet you can spill your feelings about finding a job and struggling being unemployed.

Got my CA RN license in Jan2011 and trying to land a RN job anywhere. Passed hundreds of applications online which seems like sending to a blackhole (then I learned that most employers are only considering applicants that are referred and just ignore those who aren't). Applied to diff. RN Residencies in diff. states and the competition is really crazy (ex. only

I graduated last yr, I'm staling, I don't fit as a "new grad" anymore, very expensive RN refresher courses which doesn't guarantee an employment and I don't know where would I get money for that. I used to be this guy who's full of hopes, goal-oriented, productive & motivated, now I'm depressed, frustrated, stressed and broke.:smokin:

That's my story, what's yours?:)

Specializes in Medical-Oncology.

Ah man, this post about lobotomy boy made me laugh...I sure needed that after reading through all of these sad posts. :roflmao:

I graduated in March, passed NCLEX in May, and have been applying all over the country since. I live in Northern CA by the way, and as much as I'd love to stay here, I'm willing to move. I've had one phone interview, which I thought went well, but it turns out they were seeking someone with more experience. Why waste my time? In any event, it was good interview experience.

As I watch my classmates land jobs one by one, it really seems to come down to just plain luck most of the time. Some who've landed jobs have absolutely no healthcare experience, and some who are still looking have actual hospital experience and still can't get an interview. It's a toss up.

In the meantime, I've deferred my loan payments, signed up to volunteer for hospice & palliative care, and am about to take an ACLS class & an advanced 12-lead EKG interpretation class. I can't just sit here feeling sorry for myself. I've also been applying to various healthcare-related jobs because I need money. Jobs like intake coordinator, medical office admin (I have admin experience), patient coordinator, etc...but haven't received a single response. I imagine the hiring managers are wondering why I'm applying to those jobs since I just graduated from nursing school, and they just know I'll pick up and leave at my first RN offer. Sigh.

Anyway...good luck to all! I know it's achingly disheartening, but keep your head up and put your good energy out there. I believe that eventually we'll find what we're looking for.

You're not doing anything wrong, its a systematic process. I've been applying day in/day out too, networking, career fairs, going to HR, filling out applications, I picked up ACLS, PALS, I was an EMT (volunteer and paid for 3 years), tutored in A&P at the college level, M.A. in Psychological Counseling from Columbia University, worked as a counselor in a psych ER AND managed the nurses station. I've gotten two interviews (that said no) after countless applications, I even got rejected from VOLUNTEERING at a hospital specifically because I was a new grad RN. The biggest thing people tell me is to be patient. I was talking with a nurse who worked in an ICU for 4 years, and it took her 3 months to find a job. The fact is its just brutal for new grads. As far as seeing peers get jobs, just remember the biggest word in hiring is "capricious" Who knows why some of these people get picked. There was a guy in my nursing program who I was convinced had a lobotomy, I mean this guy had no personality, no facial expressions, a voice like Ben Steins and a hospital I interviewed at hired him into their nurse residency program...Sooner or later the odds have to work in you favor. If it worked for lobotomy boy it will work for us!
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Umm...I passed the board in Aug of last year and I still got no job. Right now I am in BSN but only because I need a BS in anything. I plan to use it to apply for any job that need at least BS degree to get in. It might pay less than working as an RN but at least it pays. Unlike this "RN" thing that I got and gets me no where.

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Specializes in Emergency.

My vent:

i was so excited when i got to interview for my dream job position in a hospital after only 6 weeks after graduation! the manager says to me in our interview that she knew she liked me from just reading my resume and that i tried to stand out. SHe then continued to say that she doesnt have a position at this moment, but one will be opening up a couple weeks, and that she usually doesn't say or do this but wanted to let me know i "should expect a call from HR in a few weeks, and to get my PALS certification in the meantime ( position requires it)". So,here i am so excited...i get my certification which wasn't cheap under the impression I landed the job. Fast forward a month later. NM doesnt answer any of my calls or return VM or emails of mine since its way passed due when she said HR will call. HR doesn't even have any information passed on by NM about me when i decided to follow up with them. I feel upset at this behaviour ( ethically unprofessional) because I could've used to $200 spent on my PALS class but was under the impression I was hired.Am I overreacting? Is this normal behaviour nowdays with NM? Anyone with similiar experiences?

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To roro13sf,

Take your nursing info OFF of your resume. Only list it under your education in one line. You have admin experience, so cater your cover letter to that job only. If you get an interview you can come up with something to be your reasoning as to why you aren't pursuing an RN position - it's important you say that you are not, in order to get a job. Your listing of your RN is a death nail for employment outside of nursing

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klarity,

No you are not over-reacting. But lesson learned. NEVER SPEND MONEY in anticipation of a nursing job. You are one of many who got scammed in this way. I know people who were promised during our last semester and then the same happened "crickets" -- and many more at all levels of experience as you can read here on AN.

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My vent:

i was so excited when i got to interview for my dream job position in a hospital after only 6 weeks after graduation! the manager says to me in our interview that she knew she liked me from just reading my resume and that i tried to stand out. SHe then continued to say that she doesnt have a position at this moment, but one will be opening up a couple weeks, and that she usually doesn't say or do this but wanted to let me know i "should expect a call from HR in a few weeks, and to get my PALS certification in the meantime ( position requires it)". So,here i am so excited...i get my certification which wasn't cheap under the impression I landed the job. Fast forward a month later. NM doesnt answer any of my calls or return VM or emails of mine since its way passed due when she said HR will call. HR doesn't even have any information passed on by NM about me when i decided to follow up with them. I feel upset at this behaviour ( ethically unprofessional) because I could've used to $200 spent on my PALS class but was under the impression I was hired.Am I overreacting? Is this normal behaviour nowdays with NM? Anyone with similiar experiences?

You are not hired until you have an offer in hand. Maybe she interviewed someone else and liked them better? Maybe budgets got cut and she was no longer able to create a new position? Maybe the sky fell down, who knows? Do not make the mistake of thinking you have a job until you have actually received and accepted an offer, and finished any preemployment requirements such as a background check/physical.

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Specializes in Emergency.

Lol, at this point I do hope the sky fell on her head :-). Could've gone to a few Happy Hours with my PALS money spent! haha j/k.Im starting my new job Monday at a plasmapharesis laboratory. Pays decent and will keep me busy until I get that RN position at a hospital. Been applying to the new grad programs but seems the BSN students are picked first....so im starting my BSN next month. Tippy and Netglow you both are right.....No job until formal job offer and dont spend the $$ until after the offer.

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Specializes in Emergency.

Ok, so I ended up getting the job! I was just being impatient, frustrated and having a tantrump. Keep the faith...I had no connections and have my AA only.

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There are so many advertisements online/ so many places to apply….. yet so few vacancies exist for new graduates. I’m truly happy some of you gals/guys…. along with a few of my classmates have been fortunate to enter into the field…. but it’s making me CRAZY knowing that we’ve invested so much time and effort with little to show (a F***ING JOB). I’ve been licensed for about 18 months now and feeling pretty hopeless.

It’s even worse how the public (Media coverage does not help btw) and Especially MANY nursing managers, D.O.N. and nursing staff are often oblivious to this issue. The unfound criticism and judgment by peers, comparison to their previous experiences (ease of effort years ago/ or the fact they had connects, were just lucky ect)…. List goes on. I’m to frustrated to write anything right now; just ranting. Writing in these forums is the only way I get a chance to vent.

Entering this profession is feeling hopeless right now. I’ve been applying to big city police departments lately in effort to have a backup plan (nursing was number 1, police number 2). I figure if I enter a profession to help others, have variety/constant physical and mental challenges along with excitement……I’ll be a happy dude. Whichever opportunity is available first I’ll commit to 100%

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Don't give up sneeze! Question: can you move? I know that family/life can get in the way, but believe me there are plenty of RN jobs in good places - that might become a permanent home once you get there! Unfortunately I had to move and my husband had to leave his job in order to come with me for a new grad RN residency. Do you have a particular specialty in mind? PM me if you'd like more info. but I hope things do work out for you. best of luck to you!

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Specializes in ED, trauma.
Don't give up sneeze! Question: can you move? I know that family/life can get in the way but believe me there are plenty of RN jobs in good places - that might become a permanent home once you get there! Unfortunately I had to move and my husband had to leave his job in order to come with me for a new grad RN residency. Do you have a particular specialty in mind? PM me if you'd like more info. but I hope things do work out for you. best of luck to you![/quote']

Hello! I tried to PM you and was unable to do do. I would be interested in any info or insight you could help me with infringing my first job! Please PM me!!

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

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MissM.RN, thank you so much for taking the time to reply. Unfortunately I don’t have the resources to move right now. Currently I’m near the NYC metro area without any solid leads. Ideally I would LOVE to do emergency however, I would take just about anything to get started.

Tried to PM ya but received "chosen not to receive private messages or may not be allowed to receive private messages. Therefore you may not send your message to him/her." :/

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