Unemployed & inexperienced New RNs. Vent it out!

Nurses Job Hunt

Published

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 "Wound care - geriatric care.

I heard from inside sources that hospitals are not exactly hurting right now. Some in my area have shown record profits, even though they are "non profit" (go figure). What I think is happening and don't quote me on that one, is that they are kind of betting the economy is not going to get better. In order to come up with record profits for the shareholders they look for cuts into everything including nurses benefits, training programs for new nurses, and others. Fine. If the economy keeps getting worse they are doing well because they will be able to grill retiring age nurses until they are 95 or 100; but if they are wrong and the economy is getting better, patients will come in in droves and old nurses and burned out nurses will leave in droves. Bottom line is don't plan getting sick in a few years and have new grad nurses with no experience taking care of you, it might not be good for your health.

Has anyone who has posted on this thread recently gotten a job? I would love to hear some good outcomes! It can all be so discouraging! It's easier to stay optimistic when others are in the same situation, and eventually come out with jobs!!

Specializes in Ortho, Med-Surg, Tele, Case Management.
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?:)

I'm in the same boat here, though you could hardly call me "new." I've been looking since 2009 so if anyone thinks their situation is bad, there's always someone out there who has it worse.

A tale of absurdity: I went to apply at Hospital X for their residency program, and the recruiter told me that while they're accepting new grads, their aim is to really fill those spots with experienced RN's for those positions. And I'm left wondering, since when are residency programs for experienced RNs?! We need those spots :eek: So needless to say, I wasn't chosen to interview. I always wonder wth is healthcare coming to and if I made the right choice by choosing nursing? My heart tells me yes but my $80,000 debt tells me no :crying2:

I know it is a hard process and depressing to look for a job and get rejections, but keep your hope up everyone.

I graduated on Dec 11 and lived in AZ, I think after CA, it is another state that is not too well for New Grad. So I started to apply out of state at the end of Feb (I got my license the end of Jan and ACLS mid Feb). I spent days and least 10 hours each day to apply for jobs. I got a job in Kentucky finally, but after I got an interview with KY, I got at least 8 calls for interviews that I did not go to. I meant it is a long and difficult process (Wake up in the morning everyday with rejection emails), but eventually something will come up, and when it does, a lot more will come. It is life and the waiting is suck.

Read the recommendations in this forum, open to move and be more assertive.

Specializes in Medical-Surgical, Telemetry, Geriatrics.

Hi, I live in California and am seriously thinking about moving out to a different state. I've been looking into endorsements but they can get costly for me since CA is not a compact state. Did you get endorsements first and then apply or just apply and worried about a KY state license later? Unless KY and AZ are both compact states!

Specializes in Emergency Department, Float Pool.

Every Night I have a hard night and I want to scream my head out I read this thread, and I'm Thankful for my job. Hang in there your "dream" job until your actually on the floor is out there some where!

Hi, I live in California and am seriously thinking about moving out to a different state. I've been looking into endorsements but they can get costly for me since CA is not a compact state. Did you get endorsements first and then apply or just apply and worried about a KY state license later? Unless KY and AZ are both compact states!

KY and AZ are compact states, however when I got calls from the hospitals for interview, most of them did not even know KY and AZ are compact states, so it seems like that is not a factor that they looked at to decide whether they should call me for interview. I will say just apply for position and make sure you know how long and process to get license in the state you apply to so when they call, you can tell them about it so they know it won't be a problem for you to get a license and start if a job offer is made. I really do not think they make you to get endorsement before apply, seriously cost lot of money and you can not just hold license on all states. They should be understandable about it.

Has anyone who has posted on this thread recently gotten a job? I would love to hear some good outcomes! It can all be so discouraging! It's easier to stay optimistic when others are in the same situation, and eventually come out with jobs!!
I had my FIRST REAL nursing interview. I think it went well but I haven't heard from them yet.

Hi everyone, here is my story. I graduated in 2003 and didnt test nclex until january 2012 (successful). When I graduated my father was sick with cancer so I took care of him and worked at a pediatric primary care office as a nurse. I started working there while in high school as a file clerk and remained there thru college. After my father passed my life moved forward (husband, kids etc). In 2010 after 12 years of employment I was laid off for financial reasons. I am now applying for jobs and cannot find anything. I have applied to at least 150 positions. I have heard back from 2. One was a pediatric pcp office affiliated with Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia. I interviewed and then was asked to shadow but I havent heard back from them. The initial interview was on feb 23. I have another interview tomorrow for a summer day camp nurse. Hope it goes well.

I have good reason to believe that my former office administrator is giving me bad references. I contacted her when I started applying, along with my nurse manager and one of the partners in the practice asking if they would consider being a reference for me and writing me letters. All 3 of them agreed and wrote me amazing letters of recommendation, but now a lot of companies send electronic reference forms to these people. One of my other references told me that the administrator had given me a bad reference on the camp nurse position, not sure about the CHOP job. I NEED a job, but on all of the applications I have filled out thus far I have listed this woman as a reference, I can find another person. How do I go about asking her not to respond to any further reference inquiries about me without letting her know I know what she is doing? Does anyone know if I have a right in PA to review or obtain a copy of my employee record? I need some guidance. This has been my only real job (the pizza shop doesnt really count). I am only trying to get a job to better the lives of my children and I feel like this woman is standing in my way. Please help me!

Specializes in PDN; Burn; Phone triage.
Hi everyone, here is my story. I graduated in 2003 and didnt test nclex until january 2012 (successful). When I graduated my father was sick with cancer so I took care of him and worked at a pediatric primary care office as a nurse.

...wait, you were working as a nurse without having passed the NCLEX???

they cleared it with their legal team and they were allowed to employee because they also employed medical assisstants

1:28 am by jeanine53098

1:28 am by jeanine53098 a member since feb '12. posts: 2

they cleared it with their legal team and they were allowed to employee because they also employed medical assisstants

+ Add a Comment