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?:)

Just wanted to share that at my orientation on Monday, the hospital said they get between 14,000-30,000 applications a month! I am not sure if that is the case for most hospitals (this one has roughly 1,000 beds). This helped to put things into perspective a bit for me.

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(Hubby's an aerospace engineer and as he likes to remind me, at least they can't outsource nurses. lol.)

LOL, oh but they do.

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Specializes in none yet!.

I had a horrible time finding employment. I graduated with my BSN in May of 2011 and passed boards in June. I applied everywhere (it is like sending them to a black hole). Some places you get the email back from and some you never hear from again. And why is it so hard to get in touch with a Nurse Recruiter for the hospitals. Its like you send email after email and leave message after message and yet they never get back to you. So annoying. Anyways it is 6 months later and I finally received an offer back from a hospital I really wanted to work for (because of their extensive ER Nurse Residency Program) and was super excited :nurse: to say yes hire me...lol. I went into nursing to help others I just didn't think it would be so hard to find employment.. OK I am done ranting!!

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R.Williams: CONGRATS!!! So what did you do in those 6 months ? I have a feeling I might need to find something to occupy myself with for some time...

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Specializes in PDN; Burn; Phone triage.
LOL, oh but they do.

I've heard stories that hospitals are still bringing in Asian nurses on worker visas because they don't have to pay them as much -- but being fairly knowledgeable about visas in general (hubby is Canadian), I really don't think that's actually possible. I suppose they could bring over experienced nurses and pay them at entry level wages even though they don't need the extensive training that an actual entry level nurse needs. I do know that many of the community hospitals in the area hire the bulk of their nurses on a PRN basis to keep from having to pay for bennies, overtime, etc.

I just told my husband that hospitals these days hire fewer nurses to do the same or, usually, even more of the work that several nurses would have done before.

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Me: "Hmm follow up? Ok, I will try that again."

Called hospital, nicely asked about the status of my application.

HR Receptionist::covers phone and talks to coworker:: "another new grad nurse calling to bug us about the status of their application."

Me: "So sorry I am bugging you! How do I get a job at your facility, it seems very professional there?"

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I am from NJ and looking in NJ an MA. I have heard the usual time frame is up to about a year. It is Difficult but we will make it through. Do not give up!

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If I hear one more person tell me to just apply in LTC..... :madface:

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I'm sick of people who supposedly love me pointing out everything I must be doing wrong. YES, I've made mistakes! NO, I'm not perfect! If I was the perfect job hunter and the perfect interviewer, I would have a job!!

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
I'm sick of people who supposedly love me pointing out everything I must be doing wrong. YES, I've made mistakes! NO, I'm not perfect! If I was the perfect job hunter and the perfect interviewer, I would have a job!!

The job market is so bad right now that you could be the perfect job hunter AND the perfect interviewer, and still end up sitting on the sidelines jobless. You could be applying outside the box (read: not a hospital) to any position out there, be as flexible as they come, be willing to work any shift including the worst possible, and be ready to relocate to anywhere...and it still may not land you a job.

And people need to realize that the fact that you don't have a job is not always your fault...because sometimes the employer's hiring decision boils down to chance and dumb luck.

It's not fair to all of you, but that's unfortunately how it seems to be right now :(

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

I hpoe things start looking better for you all.

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How long was your process to get hired in the corrections system. I have applied to about 5 jobs. I mistakenly applied before I got license and was told due to the huge number of applicants with licenses I would not be considered. Can you offer me any suggestions to get in? Thank you

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