This is my story- I graduated from Nursing School in May 2008 (ADN) and passed my boards in October 2008.
I live north of San Fran and have yet to find a New Grad Program. I've been on Allnurses since last summer when I started studying to pass the boards. I used Allnurses especially the "random facts" thread which helped me pass the boards with flying colors. My family is ready to move out of the area because there is no new grad program avail out here.
I have spent hours online looking for New Grad positions in Washington State, Southern Ca, New Mexico, and Ashville NC. These are the areas, along with the Bay Area that I am interested in. I am looking to see if someone would like to buddy up or we can all help continue this thread and we can help search together for all the possible positions in the areas mentioned above or just in California. I have found that the work done alone is not enough or that I have just missed an application date, or I didn't know that blank blank just hired for the season.
The random facts thread was so hot because it was encompassing info about one main event with up to the minute info. Maybe a thread like "California's 2009 New Grad RN Program- Who's hiring right now?"- and it would include SNF's and whatever we can think of that a new nurse can do in the community, would be like the "random facts" thread. I'm sure I will hear from an Allnurses thread monitor about if this is OK or not.
At this point I am just trying to be creative and use the best resource online, which to me has been this sight.
Hi traveler2bee. Seems like anywhere you go nowadays, the situation has been the same. It's been difficult for me to find a hospital job and I graduated in December 2008. I was told by a nurse manager at a hospital I didn't get hired at here in NorCal that I should try my luck in southern California, Nevada, and Washington. And yet all my applications and efforts at applying to places in southern California have not resulted in any calls or interviews (except for one which didn't pan out either). I heard the Bay Area was saturated with RNs and new grads but I honestly didn't think it was going to be that hard and ended up moving here anyways because of my husband. Now I have to deal with reality.
As for the nursing shortage, it will be there- especially in the coming years. It's just not evident right now. With the economy the way it is at the moment, people who would have otherwise retired are hanging onto their jobs; some of them have spouses who are unemployed and that leaves them as the bread winner; and because of budget constraints, hospitals can't hire as much as they like. All in all, I think that you should still pursue nursing and finish your degree. I know I sometimes doubt my choice because I am still unemployed as a RN, but I know that there is still hope for me.
I plan on volunteering at my local hospital and hopefully the exposure will at least help me when applying for jobs. I have even tried skilled-nursing facilities and that in and of itself, is a challenge. Nobody seems to be hiring.
I understand your concern with debt and money and I'm on the same boat as you are. With private loans, you can defer them for up to six months if you are unemployed. Unfortunately, any loans from the government can only be deferred for six months if you have been actively seeking a job and have been enrolled at a job placement agency. I also think you can defer them if you only have a part-time job and can't afford to pay the loans on your current salary. (But don't quote me on that.) That means by the end of this month, I'll have to repay my Federal Stafford loans.
If nothing else comes up soon, I will have to look for a job other than nursing to help pay the bills. I was hoping that would not be the case since my stubborn side feels like I'm going backwards and not forwards.
But in the end, you got to do what you got to do. Good luck with your studies and keep moving!
Your stories all make me worry so much I feel pretty unmotivated to finish school and rack up even more debt!!
I am due to graduate in June 2010 and plan to move to California to be near my fiance. The market is flooded in my hometown, and its a big city. We have 1500 graduates coming out of 7 schools every year, and no one is hiring here locally, at least not new grads. I have heard of a few people with a year or more of experience getting hired on but it seems rare. There are folks who graduated in 2008 who still don't have jobs, so the waiting list just gets longer and longer.
I have to move, not only to be with my partner but also to find work elsewhere. Ukiah is my best option, but thats still an hour and a half commute each way from where I'll be living.
My question is to all those with financial aid loans who can't find jobs...we have 6 months after graduation before we have to start repayment...so what are you living on and how are you paying back your loans if you aren't working? is there some govt. deferrment program for new grad nurses who can't find work?? i doubt it. I suppose as long as you stay in school part time, you defer your loans so it makes sense to continue on for the BSN while you're waiting for the economy or the market to recover and jobs to open...who knows how long that will take, if ever, and in the meantiime you are just racking up debt for a job that may never become available.
I'm starting to believe that the "nursing shortage" they keep talking about is a joke, and a way for the govt and nursing schools to make money, they are pumping out new nurses like sausages but there is nothing for them to do and no where to go once they finish. Yet they still have to repay. Where is that money going to come from?? I'm starting to feel the pressure and heavy burden of the debt I have accrued so far. I got lots of scholarships but still had to take out loans.
Its hard to stay motivated to finish the last year of a tough program with nothing positive or hopeful on the horizon. I feel like I'm wasting my time, energy and money to get trained for a job that doesn't exist.
Does anyone have any hopeful words or advice about loan repayment?? how are you repaying your loans?
I wonder if recruiters look at the first couple of applications and discard the rest. Sometimes I feel like they look at the most earliest applicants and forget everybody else.
So does anyone know what is going on with Santa Clara Valley Medical Center? Has anyone recieved a call back?
I didn't apply to this program. But do you know how many spots are open? I know there are already 5 people who are sure to be starting that program.
I have a very good friend, not a new grad, who was already offered a position in the critical care program. She said she went to fill out paperwork and there were 4 nurses there also going into the program. All expereinced, no new grads. Doesn't look good.
emmanewgrad
214 Posts
After you get ATT (authorization to test) from the State of CA; you call pearson and set a location to test and a date to test.
You should be registered under Pearson Vue way ahead of time in order to be able to set a location/date for testing.
Then, be ready to test! Good Luck!
FYI, I got realllly sick after testing like never before...almost a near death experience!
complete migraine sick for two long days!)