Any experienced nurses having trouble finding a job?

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I recently had to quit my job due to my husband being transferred across the country in his job. At our new city, the unemployment rate is higher than average, 10% but, I thought being an experienced nurse with great references, national certification and leadership experience that I would have no problem finding a job. Well as far as I can tell right now, I was wrong. There are lots of jobs posted and I have applied to about 35+ jobs in the past 5 weeks and 50% of them have sent me rejection notices thus far. The remaining jobs I have not heard anything from or they tell me that I meet the minimum requirements and my "application is under review" (and has been for 2-3 plus weeks). Other than what I mentioned, I have not heard much. Also, these hospitals are mostly large and all say essentially, "Don't call us, we'll call you" although I did call a few of the numbers to enquire since they had a nurse recruitment number posted.

In the meantime, I signed on with a staffing agency per diem and Have been cancelled 90% of the time even though this particular agency has ads posted all over saying they are in dire need of experienced RN's (so frustrating)

Am I overreacting? Do I just need to be patient? Is anyone else in the same situation? This is so frustrating. :o

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

I would let christmas/holiday time be over and then start looking again.

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Specializes in jack of all trades.

It's taken me about 6 months and I've been a nurse for over 28 years!! I'm only awaiting my background check at this point. I ended up applying for home health. Also I heard alot of "over qualified" or "not experienced enough" lol. Hang in there as it will happen. Not like it used to be walk in one day and hired the next. Some of the apps I sent it I didnt get responses from until almost 3-5 months after!

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Specializes in Cardiology, Oncology, Medsurge.

Yes, in the same boat as you! I am contemplating agency work right now. I hate the fact that benefits are lacking (after 90 days the agency will only pay $200 towards a monthly insurance for a family of 3 around $1100) and that hospitals are more apt to contract a nurse rather than higher one, but something must be cost efficient or less taxing to a hospital to do so. I am grateful though that I have the experience, those new nurses who are not employed have one shoe (license) sans the other (experience) and hospitals are cutting back new nurse entry level positions, really a sorry state our economy is in right now.

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

What specialties do you have?

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Same here. I have 35 years of experience, mostly ER. I have been a travel nurse for the last 3 years. My last assignment ended up being 9 months instead of 13 weeks. I kept extending my contract. All of a sudden I'm not getting any calls for interviews. My last assignment ended in October and I have not had one call even though the agency is submitting my application to jobs posted. I have tried to get a job in or near my hometown. I have applied to hospitals, nursing homes, retirement centers, Dr. offices, and several other places that has nothing to do with nursing. I have had one interview and am still waiting to hear how that went. I have hand delivered applications and filled out hundreds on the internet. I am either "over qualified" or don't have enough experience for what they are supposedly hiring for. Everything is specialty now. My recruiter even told nme that most places "are afraid you can't keep up the pace." I've never had a problem before. I never thought that with a career as a nurse I would not be able to find a job. I'd like to thank our government for the part they have played in my plight.

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Specializes in NICU,ICU,ER,MS,CHG.SUP,PSYCH,GERI.

I think there are several factors affecting the more experienced nurse. I have over 35 years experience with excellent references and a great job history and am finding getting a job challenging, to say the least. I think we are too expensive...we top out the salary limits. Why pay more for me when you can get some less experienced nurse for a lot less money. Our experience is not of value to the hospitals. No matter what they dither about, the bottom line is to get the job done as cheaply as possible. A less experienced nurse is going to be more apt to go along with management ideas like scripting and increasing patient loads. A less experienced nurse is easier to bully. And I don't think this mindset is unique to nursing. I think everyone running businesses just want the job done adequately, not especially well.Not that a less experiened nurse will not do a good job...it is just no one is there when you stop someone from making a ghastly mistake because you know better.They aren't aware when you calm an agitated family and prevent a serious complaint. They don't see you get a severely compromised patient to the unit because what you were seeing told you there was serious trouble coming, when everyone else thought it was no big deal. My only answer is to work nights,when no one else wants to work.

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Thank you all for the replies, it is nice to know that I am not the only one in this situation.

My specialty is med surg, maybe that is not the right specialty to be in right now? Critical care seems to be the specialty that is more heavily advertised as needing nurses in my area. On the same token though, there seems to be lots of med surg jobs but either they are not filling these jobs or they are not prioritizing hiring during the holiday season.

Thanks again everyone for the posts, and keep them coming!

Are there areas of the country where travel nurse contracts are more plentiful? I am considering doing this if I do not find anything in the next few months. I would basically travel anywhere in order to preserve my skills, my sanity and to get a bit of money in my bank account. ( I have a license in a nursing compact state)

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Specializes in med-surg.

I'm thinking the EXTREMELY high profiled health care reform situation has got everybody a bit apprehensive about taking on new employees. I know I'm a bit freaked out about it, especially since I will graduate RN school in May. who knows what the heck's going to happen??? Having a hard time adjusting to not being able to just walk in and being hired on the spot. Miss the good old days.

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Specializes in home health, dialysis, others.

Thirty-five years of experience, now with a bad back. Cannot get hired for anything anywhere. Going on welfare and foodstamps.

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Specializes in pulm/cardiology pcu, surgical onc.
I would let christmas/holiday time be over and then start looking again.

I think this is a tough time of year to find work. A lot of regular staff pick up extra hours for Xmas and might be why you're getting cancelled thru the agency. Managers might have positions posted but not necessarily in a rush to hire because of the holidays. I know on our unit census has been down due to a decrease in surgeries but we make up for it in ED admits ick. Hang in there, business will pick up, hip fx season will soon be upon us!

And I'm in an area that has among the nation's highest unemploment rate - 12% last I recall hearing. There is still jobs posted for experienced nurses. Awhile back, just for #%*+# and giggles I applied for an acute care med tele job (as a PT 2nd) and even with just a little under a year's experience I was called by the recruiter for an interview. Didn't go for it though as they were looking for a FT and I already have a awesome job just looking to get some extra $$ to pay down student loans.

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Specializes in Cardiology, Oncology, Medsurge.
Hang in there, business will pick up, hip fx season will soon be upon us!

:lol2::D:lol2::D

Too funny! I guess I aught to be grateful (sans income) not to have to be contending with pneumonia season!

Sometimes life in the hospital is like farming or the beginning chapter of Ecclesiastes (a time for MI and a time to love, a time to feast and a time for SBO, etc etc) , thanks for your light hearted trump during a depressing subject, TittytatRN! :yeah:

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