Bad attitude!

Editorial Team / Admin · Feb 25, 2015

Yes, searching for a job in this current employment environment is frustrating. However, there are a few things you can do to try to help:

1. Polish your resume. Heck, have it looked over by a professional resume writer if you can afford it.

2. Network, network, network. Sometimes it's more about who you know than what you know that helps you find a job. Join nursing organizations, attend meetings, and network with the other members.

3. Look for jobs in the overlooked and sometimes considered "less desirable" areas to some nurses: home health, LTC, outpatient offices, private duty, etc.

4. It may be hard, but look into the possibility of relocating. Many other professions have had to relocate to find first jobs for decades; that trend is now spreading into nursing. While harder to find than saturated areas, there are small pockets out there experiencing nurse shortages.

5. Look into furthering your education. With employers calling the shots, many are requiring/preferring a BSN. If you don't have one, work on getting one.

Good luck and hope that venting helped you let off some steam!

Nolli · Feb 25, 2015

Rose is right. I don't know how long you've been out of school but its been 8 months for me. It took me 6 months to get interviews anywhere and until 7 to get an offer. I widened my search area looked into non-hospital jobs, went to job fairs, and passed my resume around like candy. I also used the downtime to volunteer and my interviewers loved that. I ended up lucking out and getting my dream job out of it, but I did have to relocate.

Some things to remember:

It isn't necessarily you

At least half of the residents going through orientation with me have had issues finding a job and we were hired. A lot of us have received over 75-100 rejections. It is tough to stomach it and you might ask yourself "Why did I bother going into nursing when no one seems to want me?" Distract yourself, volunteer, and if you are being negative take a break from applying for a few hours etc because you won't be at your best.

Be Flexible

Some(you'll have to check if the ones in your area do) residency programs take people who have had LTC experience and want to move to acute care so taking that job doesn't mean you'll be there forever if you don't like it. Yea it might take you an additional year to get to where you want to be, but hey at least you get paid and you may find out what you like/dislike about a certain work environment or management style. Other people have real long commutes in lieu of relocating and after their contract is up are planning to reapply with experience closer to home.

RunBabyRN · Feb 26, 2015

What is your state?

Yes, it's a tough market for new grad RNs right now. I sent out over 2000 applications before I FINALLY got my FT job that I just started Monday. I LOOOOOVE my new job. Don't give up.

Being able to find a job anywhere? I assume you didn't hear this from fellow new grads? There are resources out there. Apply, apply, apply. It's been interesting in this new job. I work in a clinic (I make more than my classmates that got hospital jobs, and I don't get called off for low census!), and my direct supervisor was talking about looking at resumes, how overwhelming it is, and how arbitrarily he was looking at them. Kinda scary! LOL I feel lucky I made the cut. Seriously, he doesn't have time to even scan them. It's only a small part of his job of working in surgery, training me, doing triage, doing supervisory duties... He's busy. Never assume someone will scan your whole resume. You need to stand out within 5 seconds. I was CONSTANTLY revising my resume.

I wholeheartedly agree with the previous posters. Urology was NOT where I saw myself. The prostate of a 93 year old is not what I want to play with as a CNM hopeful. However, I love this job already, the people are awesome, and I am learning so much. Be open to what's out there. When I was offered this job, I was offered two jobs. Another was in a specialty that was more appealing, but it was over an hour away, a shift I like less, and less money. Neither was acute care. Be open!!

CamillusRN, BSN · Feb 27, 2015

I agree with the above, and would add looking into critical access nursing (if there's such a hospital in your area). It's not glamorous or desirable, but a great learning opportunity. In my experience, it's kind of a revolving door for new nurses to get that critical year of experience and exposure to pretty much anything and everything. After a year or so, we go on to the "next big thing" if there's an opening, or keep on learning and honing skills at the current hospital if there's not. Limited resources and only a few nurses during the night shift, so learning independence, critical thinking, and teamwork are top priorities. Not to mention they'll pay for your ACLS, BLS, PALS, and TNCC!