Can't even get an interview!

Published

I've been a nurse for 5 yrs. but I've always been in school health. Now I'm trying to get into the hospital and I've had 2 interviews at 2 local hospitals. Both hospitals told me they didn't want to hire me because I don't have any hospital experience! Well how am I supposed to get the experience if they won't hire me? They are hiring new grads but not me, and I've had 5 yrs. experience as a nurse. Granted, it's public health experience, but my job is autonomous and I have other skills like prioritizing, excellent assessment skills, etc. All I need is clinical orientation to bring my skills to par. I have the nursing theory under my belt.

I feel like I presented myself well in the interviews, explaining how I bring other skills and experience to the job. The 3rd hospital is still in limbo. The recruiter told me the floor managers don't even want to entertain the idea of interviewing me since I don't have hosp. experience but she is "working on them". I'm quickly losing hope on this hospital. How am I ever going to get into the hospital? Why are hospitals hiring new grads over me?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Gosh that really sux loving2. Nothing makes sense in healthcare these days. And here, everybody is telling NGs to just take anything because of today's market, when you are a good example of how even if you've been working, and are a great nurse -- those qualities are totally passed over when you make an attempt at doing what you really want.

People say how versatile nursing is. Those days might have ended.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I can't believe they are doing this to you! I'm pre-nursing major and not even close to where you are. However, I really think that something greater will come along for you. Just keep your head up and keep looking for more :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute Mental Health.

The market is so saturated right now that most employers have their pick of the crop so to speak. I took my Boards at the end of this past March. I finally landed a job in behavioral health in July. I applied at so many places and was thrilled to get the offer even though I had no psych experience and wanted to do at least 1 yr med surg in a hospital before branching out. Good luck to you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PCU/Telemetry.

That stinks, I know alot of nurses right now having trouble finding work. The only advice I can offer you is to maybe take some classes like ACLS, EKG courses, IV therapy courses, or even a hospital RN refresher course (local community colleges usually offer these as a refresher to nurses who have been out of the hospital setting for a few years). These may help you to market yourself a little better and will show that you are serious about your career. Good luck, and keep trying :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, Med-SURG,STICU.

I totally understand the frustration that you are feeling right now. I can not count the number of interviews that I went to before getting my current job on a med-surg unit. I think the reason they are picking new grads over nurses that have a few years under our belts just not in the hospital setting is that they have to pay us higher wages. In addition, they do have to give us a little more training than a nurse that has been working in the hospital setting.

I will add to just keep trying to land a hospital job if that is where you want to work. However, I will warn you that you may have to take a PRN position just to get your foot in the door.

This is just my thoughts on the matter.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Adult and Pediatric Vascular Access, Paramedic.

Keep your chin up!

I had been applying to work in a different area in the hospital in which I am currently employed and it took two years to get an interview, and thankfully the job!

Don't give up hope, I am an example of how peristence pays off!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
That stinks, I know alot of nurses right now having trouble finding work. The only advice I can offer you is to maybe take some classes like ACLS, EKG courses, IV therapy courses, or even a hospital RN refresher course (local community colleges usually offer these as a refresher to nurses who have been out of the hospital setting for a few years). These may help you to market yourself a little better and will show that you are serious about your career. Good luck, and keep trying :)

I've thought about taking some classes. What are some reputable schools? Anything online?

Thanks for your responses. I never thought it would be this hard to get a job. I've always interviewed well and have never been turned down for a job. It's so discouraging and humbling.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School, LTC, OB, LNC, Instructor, etc.

Loving 2,

Have you applied in the Pediatric unit of a hospital? Once you get your foot in the door, wait for something to open in a different area, maybe in 6 months and you can put in for a transfer. You would have hospital experience and also the people in the hospital would know your qualities. Good luck

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I totally feel your pain! I am in the same boat. I have applied for countless jobs and have managed to get 1 interview. I took a job at a local hospital straight out of nursing school in the cardiac telemetry unit as an admissions and discharge nurse. It turned out to be a very bad decision on the director's behalf since the job required you to be able to bounce back and forth between admissions, discharges and patient care. I didn't get the proper orientation for patient care and didn't do it often enough to become comfortable with a full patient load. I had a horrible charge nurse who would not come out from behind the desk to help me. My director called me a liar when I went to her about it. She wouldn't release me to transfer within the hospital, so after several incidents and some very scary situations for a brand new nurse, I gave my notice and quit. She was so mad that she marked me ineligible for rehire...which I eventually got overturned after about a year and a half. But that has been a huge black mark against me. In short, I have had incredible luck for finding the worst possible jobs out there...I have had 4 jobs in 2 years, with the past year being spent in home health working for the armpit of all agencies. I have applied for darn-near every job posted in the past 10 months at the 2 local hospitals to no avail. Many positions withing an hour radius and I have even started applying for positions in a 3 hour radius with no luck! It's not like my work history prior to graduating from nursing school 2 yrs ago was questionable. I was at my last job for 7 years! I've just managed to find the worst of the worst everywhere I've landed. No one will take a chance on me because I don't have hospital experience. It's so frustrating! I am now considering either traveling or going back to school to get an NP degree. I'm already 32K in debt for my bachelor's..I hate to get further in debt with no guarantees that my luck won't follow me! I have even contemplated getting out of nursing all together. I thought once you got your nursing degree that you'd be set. Boy was I wrong!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospice, Wound care.

Loving 2 & Yourkyfankim,

We must live in the same city! :) I'm currently a floor nurse at a nursing home facility, trying sooooo hard to get into med surg at the many hospitals we have here. When I graduated (LPN), I worked part time as a Hospice nurse and full time admin at a state hospital...then I decided I wanted to do nursing full time to mentain my skills. That was a big mistake!!! The Hospice Inpatient unit I was at closed down, I'd left my 9yr state job and it took me 6mths to find the facility I'm in now. I worked there as a treatment nurse, and even though it was hectic and frustrating, I loved it. Until I got the shocker of a lifetime - I was given a letter of concern, suspended then called in to be fired all in a 3 week period!!! I have never, ever been disciplined on ANY job I've ever held!!!! Ever!!! They offered me a hall nurse position - and I'm not stupid, I have bills to pay!!! So I took it! They gave me 2.5 days training and shoved me on there. Needless to say, I'm kind of a nervous wreck....I'm afraid that the slightest mistake will get me fired...passing meds has no challenge to it.....and I've lost all trust and respect for my employer. I've been job hunting!!! NOTHING is out there! Everyone says "you're a nurse, you can find a job anywhere" not true at all!!! Like yourkyfankim said, they want you to have all this experience, but no one is willing to take a chance to hire and teach you. I too have been wondering if nursing is for me.....i am passionate about it and medicine has always been my dream; but the reality of it is I have bills to pay...even if I work in a hostile wrk environment for people I dont trust, doing a job I dont like....sigh....

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Things are bad out there.

In my area, there are numerous hospitals. Where I work the census has been low for quite some time now which means frequent cancels. When the PTO runs out that means no work, no pay.

Two new hospitals have just been built, and they want to build two more to compete for these nonexistent patients.

There are 3 or 4 nursing schools and the graduates can't get jobs because there

about a hundred applicants for every position that is available.

The economy is supposed to be improving, but I don't think so, I think things are worse than people realize.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion