America needs nurses? Doesnt look like it!

[Woman_in_love]

Hello from a very frustrated and depressed Israeli RN.

It's been almost 6 months since i started looking for a job and i still dont have any. I have applied to a numerous hospitals for so many positions and no one calls me back.

I graduated from college cum laude, i passed my NCLEX-RN from the very first attempt, i am very motivated and eager to work. The only problematic thing is that i dont have much of experience(6-8 months pure experience).

But then again, i apply only for those positions that do not require experience at all, like positions for new grads or for positions that require only limited experience. And still i do not get any calls back. In close to 6 months i had only 2 interviews, THATS IT! What is wrong with me besides the fact that i am not a very experienced nurse? But I solved it by applying for specific positions that would accept even a new grad. How come they reject me and immediately decide they dont want me if they dont even know me and I answer their criteria? What i learned that hospitals hire their new grads, who studied in the nursing school, affiliated to their hospital. While being a student, during hospital training and practice or part time work, students book in advance their places in the hospital and go to work there as soon as they pass their NCLEX. So the ONLY people with no experience that the hospital will accept-is its own students. Is it fair to other nurses? I dont think so. Sort of discrimination isnt it? So i am neither their new grad, nor a very exprienced nurse. Where do i come in the picture? Nowhere, right? So S***w me and dont hire me.

Its ridiculous and sad that in almost 6 months i applied for about 30 different positoins and i do not get ANY CALLS BACK WHATSOEVER. Is it normal?

Ok, one last thing to ask-there are companies that provide employment to nurses and other medical professions-like"Nursing stuffing" whatever.

Its not travel nursing but if you agree they send to to different hospital every shift within the city or state. You're being like a substitute nurse for a specific shift in a specific hospital. The company however offers you a benefits.

I dont know whether its worth working like that but what to do if every hospital doesnt want me for a reason i dont know about.

Thanks for the attention

[Woman_in_love]

Rosewine, it is hard on marriage indeed, but in my case for another reason.We desperately need money, my husband is full time student and also works part time in Walm-mart.

He doesnt have enough time to study and its his final semester.

I want him to quit this job as soon as i get mine but i cannot find any hospital that would take me.

Also we plan to move to California where he has better chances to have a sucessfull career with his degree and i have better chances to find a job, but for that move we need money, of course.

I sit home for 6 months, i call hospitals every day, apply for a new positions every day and nothing helps.

All nurse recruiters, even in other city know my name and already hate me coz i bother them so much.

I dont know what else to do, i am so eager to work.

I dont understand just because a person has 1 year of experience and i have only 6 months-does it make that person a better nurse than i am?You can spend 1 year in hospital and suck and spend 6 months and be a great nurse.

Sigh, its depressing.

[Indy, LPN, LVN]

How about, go visit. And I know you're frustrated, and may have already done this. But go look at the job postings, whip out the little notebook, write down what units are hiring. Then step out of the HR office and into the hospital. Follow the signs and find the units. See if it's possible to physically introduce yourself to the nurse manager. (Have your resume on hand and make sure it's some hospital you already filled out a job application for.) Ask specifically about orientation, experience, etc and if they are positive and interested in you, ask if the visa/green card situation could be a problem?

Maybe the HR departments don't want to go through the extra work to deal with your situation; if a unit director wants them to, though, they might have to. Just my two cents.

[mcleanl]

Woman in Love, I didn't fully understand the post. Are you legally able to work in the US, do you have a work permit to use until your green card comes in?

[austin heart, BSN, RN]

That is what I was wondering. If not that would be your problem more than likely.

[CarVsTree]

WIL I have to ask this as I see no one else has. Your written English is very good. Is your spoken English also very good? I went to school with someone whose written English was very good, but she had great difficulty with spoken communication. Not saying this is your case, but it is possible that people are passing you over if they think you will not be able to communicate successfully with patients.

Has anyone in HR told you WHY they are not hiring you? Is it just the experience thing?

Good luck.

[Rosewine]

Indy, thank you for your advice. I am going to do it...

WIL, CA..do they need a lot of nurses there? WIL, at least you have 6 mths of experience. Excluding clinical and voluntary experience, I have 0. Actually, if WIL's visa has problem, I think the recruiters will voice it out. Anyway, it is better to ask them otherwise they won't tell us what's wrong. Sometimes, I wish the recruiters will be more honest.

For my case here,...the demand for new RNs is not that high...It is not a 'shortage' area. Hospitals seem to take in grads from the schools here first...so there is a preference issue here. I believe I am sidelined as my deg is from out-of-state and I am an inexperienced 'Alien'. So it sucks.

[RebeccaJeanRN]

I loved the prior suggestion: speak with the person responsible for hiring and be really, really nice as you ask why you weren't hired. Its so important to find out- but it may be as simple as the fact that another person with experience applied too and they hired the more experienced person (which they will do almost every time because it cuts short the training time). Also, you do not have the experience to do independent work without training and preceptor- I'd really advise against it!!! You don't want to risk the license that you worked so hard to get. One suggestion: the very next time that you get in the door for an interview, make sure that they know the very best about you and come prepared to show them (what were your grades in school? did you ever do anything that was 'leadership' oriented in school? any referrals as to how hard you work, or how carefully/safely, from nursing school instructors or nurses on the floor?). Make sure that you alleviate their concerns about a new nurse- but also make sure that they have a preceptor/training program for a brand new nurse!

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

By the way, i forgot to mention i came to the US not with working visa, just for an employment.

I came here to live with my husband, who is U.S. citizen and i will be getting my green card soon.

No working Visa is your problem.

There are very strict regulations/bureacracy/paperwork on foreign nurses working in the USA. There are nurses for whom, it takes years to get permission to do so. And, no, just because there is a shortage, does not mean that they will make it easy for you. And if you have no previous RN comparable experience, they are even less likely to make the extensive effort on your behalf.

Most hospitals do not want to take the responsibility of sponsoring foreign nurses, and handle the paperwork, unless they are in absolute dire need. And 9-11 has made it even more burdensome. And chances are if they are in that dire a need, they are not that good to work for. And those generally recruit from specific areas such as the Phillipines and make arrangements well in advance.

Suzanne can probably give you the best advice.