New Grad Nurse Can't Find Job

[AFwife727]

Hello all. I am a new grad nurse, graduated from a university with my BSN in May 2012. I got my RN in August and since then I waited to apply for jobs until December. My husband is in the military and was deployed and I had my daughter, which is why I waited. I have been turned down by 4 major hospitals and I'm currently waiting to hear back from one other one. The fact that I haven't been able to land a job until now- is it due to me putting off getting a job? I know it has been almost a year since I graduated. It is so frustrating because it's been 2 months since my first interview (I had 2 interviews) with the hospital I'm waiting to hear from and the recruiter keeps telling me "We will be making our final decision this week and we'll know our selections at the end of the week. We'll be in touch with you as soon as we have more information." But it has been THREE weeks since they first said that and they still have not gotten back to me! Some people have told me that they think that's good because at least they haven't called me to tell me I wasn't selected. But I don't know. It's not fair because I just want to know if they don't want me! I have a hearing impairment so I really wouldn't be surprised if they waited all this time and then told me "Sorry, you weren't selected." I feel bad because I've been ON them - calling and emailing probably once a week, just to get the same response back... I don't want to push them away but at the same time, I don't want them to forget me. In the meantime, I've applied to other facilities and gotten in touch with a recruiter at another hospital. I know I can't twiddle my thumbs while I wait for that hospital to get back to me.

I guess this is a vent in a way. I'm starting to believe there is NO such thing as a "nursing shortage." There are so many jobs out there but they all want nurses with experience... of which I have none. There are so many new nurses out there now, with nursing schools pumping out nurses. But with no experience, we need to be trained. I want to be trained and do my job well! If anyone has advice or thoughts, I'd appreciate it. Thanks!

[Dewman]

Your disability may play a part in it, but mostly, your inexperience is key. I am in that same position, and there are NO hospital positions for new nurses. Everyone wants to hire experience, but no one wants to give experience.

The so-called nursing shortage is a cruel myth.

[AFwife727, BSN, RN]

It is cruel, indeed. Disability + inexperience... not a good combo :-\

[Dewman]

Yeah. :-(