Being a New Grad stinks

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Specializes in LTC, sub-acute care, Hospice.

I am sorry if this has been posted before, I am sure it has, but there are so many threads to look through!

I just graduated with my ADN in December, and last week found out I passed the NCLEX. I was so sure that I would be able to find a job right away that I nonchalantly called the nursing recruiter at the hospital closest to me (who had told me before that as soon as I got my license I would get a job there), and he told me there were no positions currently open for new grads. So I tried another hospital, and another, and another. Nothing. I have applied to nearly all open positions in nearly all hospitals in the Denver metro area and have not had any luck. I have also talked to all the nursing recruiters in all the hospitals. They all say the same thing (IF I even get a response): "We don't hire new grads" or "Our new grad program is full". I know we are in a recession and all, but come on...

So I put my resume up on Monster.com and was contacted by a staffing agency who said they do hire new grads, and that I would most likely start out at the VA doing med-surg. I will most likely take the position because a job's a job right? But it is not what I want to do at all, and I know me, I know I will hate it.

My question is: Should I take this offer from the staffing agency? Does anyone have any remarks about Maxim Healthcare? If I take this, and can hold out for 6 months to a year, will that count as experience enough to get a position in what I really want to do (OB nursing)? Also, my dream is to do travel nursing. If I take a med-surg job will I be able to get a travel job in OB or will I have to stick to med-surg? And one more: Are other big cities hiring new grads more than here? Should I move?

I had no idea it would be this hard, and I know it has only been a week, but I already told my current boss to take me off the schedule starting next month, so I really need to find something else, soon. I appreciate any feedback and/or similar stories!!

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Specializes in Long term care, L and D.

I recently graduated and passed my NCLEX as well. Here in NM we are so short of nurses that it is super easy to find a job. I just started fresh out of school on an L and D unit with 3 months of orientation. I am not sure what its like in CO but all of our hospitals here hire new grads and are usually happy to have them. Our univeristy hospital has a residency program for new grads as well.

I would think long and hard before I moved but on the other hand you put a lot of effort into becoming a nurse and what a drag to not be able to use that!

I haven't really heard bad things about Maxim, however here agencies wont hire new grads, you need 1 year experience first.

One of my good friend is trying to move the Austin Tx and having the exact same problem as you.

Let me know what happens... Hang in there... maybe your dream job is awaiting you?

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Hi AniRN,

I totaly agree with you - being a new grad stincks these days, and it wasn't this way only a short 5-6 months ago. I have also been looking in the Denver metro area and found the exact same responses you have....and yes I have heard this type of a situation is common in many areas not just in CO. I had also had 1 job offer at a skilled nursing facility which I have turned down about a month ago and now I regret doing that very much. The point is I didn't think the market is as bad and I thought I'd better wait for a job I am truly excited about. wrong. dead wrong. In this economy I would take anything just to get my foot at the door instead of letting my skills and knowledge become stale. The point is, dear AniRN (I like the name, how did you come up with it??) as frustrating as it is, :angryfire something will open up, even for new grads it is a matter of time. The hard lesson I learned is that this is not a good time to be picky. Even 6 months of experience in any type of nursing will open many more doors.

I will give this 6 more months at the most and will consider relocating if won't find a job by then.

try to stay positive (I advise and try this atitude myself :crying2: it's hard, I know) I honestly believe this education and license will come to good work sometime... hang in there :redpinkhe

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Specializes in Peds Hem, Onc, Med/Surg.

my suggestion to you being the new grad that I am, you might want to bypass the recruiters when you see an opening in the hospital, go to that floor and talk with the manager. Just say Hi, I'm so and so and I know I am a new grad but I am willing and ready to work. This happened to me and the original position I wanted was given to a nurse with exp but she had another position open and she gave me that position. She said that she liked how I walked in and told her that I was willing to work. She said that it showed that I had initiative and that is what she wanted from her nurses. I got the job.

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Specializes in Long term care, L and D.

Just another piece from personal experience, I know the economy is terrible and jobs are hard to find, however getting a job doing something that you really don't want to do can lead to early burn out. I worked in a skilled nursing facility for 4 years because it paid well and was the only place that would hire me as an LPN, in that four years it was easy to become bitter, burn-out and tired. Throughout the entire 4 years I kept wondering " Y am I nurse anyways?"....

My point is to just be cautious, don't just sign up for anything. Despite the economy sucking, nurses are still in high demand...

I like the advise to go directly to the manager, that is how I got my L and D job ( AND I LOVE IT, AND I LOVE BEING A NURSE!)

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Hi AniRn! I read your message, and I really hope that you find something soon, its out there keep trying!

The reason I am writing is because my ex boyfriend used to work for Maxim as a healthcare recruiter. You can take this for what its worth, and all i know is just from his side of the story. He hated working there; which he wasn't a nurse, but he used to tell me that it was really unorganized, and that the nurses were quitting left and right because they were overloaded and being asked to do things they weren't supposed to be doing. But that is here in KY, so Im not sure if its different there or not; I hope so for your sake! I would post something in the regional and see if anyone has anything to say about maxim there.

Good luck! I hope you find what you are looking for!

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I will take the NCLEX-PN on 2/17. I plan to obtain a position at a SNF so that I will have some nursing experience when I graduate in June. I am estimating that I will not be able to take the NCLEX-RN boards until late July or August, depending on how fast the BON processes the application. So, I could have at least 5-6 months experience as an LPN when I start looking for RN jobs. I just want something that will give me experience while I work on an MSN. I plan to start the MSN program in late Aug or Sept. I do know that the US markets are getting flooded, so you have to think outside the box. :twocents:

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Hi AniRN! Hang in there. I'm from NJ and I have classmates who are still looking. I also agreed with gato_bait13 about staffing agency--they usu required new grad with 1 year of exp--it maybe different with Maxim. sorry, I cannot provide much info about Maxim because this is my first hearing about them. Good luck!

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OH MY GOSH! I should have read your message before I posted mine (just now). I just moved to Denver (with my license and all), and CANNOT FIND A JOB!!! It is SUCH a rough time right now. I'm finding myself sitting at home a lot just trying to figure out my next move, but knowing how hard I have worked to get where I am and STILL cannot find a job...it's aweful! I completely sympathize with you. I have also applied to jobs as far as an HOUR away from where I live, and NO ONE will hire a new grad.

Please keep me posted on your progress!

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When I saw the title to your thread, I had to think that being a new grad is certainly a lot better than being a no grad. There are scores of former students who would probably give their right (or left) arms to have graduated, have the chance to take the boards, and be right where you are now.

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When I saw the title to your thread, I had to think that being a new grad is certainly a lot better than being a no grad. There are scores of former students who would probably give their right (or left) arms to have graduated, have the chance to take the boards, and be right where you are now.

I think she is just frustrated because she worked hard enough to get through school and her boards, but has yet to reap (not just monetary rewards) but the self satisfaction that her years of work finally are going into something meaningful.

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

No one wants to get all the way through nursing school either and pass boards and be unable to find work. The entire process is exhausting. Between prereq's, working and actual school it took me 7 years to fulfill my dream. And now to not be finding work, it's very devastating. I'm on the border of losing my house, and I know I'm not the only one in this situation.

BTW, I've been applying at not only hospitals, but also, nursing homes, home health, clinics. EVERYTHING.

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