Can't find a job...what to do in the meantime?

[gogatsby]

I just graduated from nursing school in December, and I am having absolutely no luck when it comes to finding a job. I've applied to over 30 jobs in multiple states (Illinois, Pennsylvania, New Jersey), and all I've gotten is one interview at a hospital that currently won't return my phone calls (and they haven't told me if I've gotten the job, but at this point I'm assuming no). I really want a hospital job (and I'm really not picky at this point either...I wanted ICU, but I've applied to everything) because that's what I went into nursing for, but it seems like no one is hiring new grads. I really want to be in eastern PA or NJ because my boyfriend is out there, but the hospitals all tell me that they don't have positions for new grads, or that it is an "off" time for new grads since most people graduate in May/June.

Does anyone have ideas for jobs while I'm waiting to find a hospital that will hire me? My parents are like "oh find a part time job or a job with a temp agency," but I have no experience at all, so I'm not sure those are options for me. I don't really know what else to do because I feel like I'm losing the knowledge I learned in school. Any ideas?? Thanks in advance!

[newgrad82]

Hey I totally understand and am in the exact same boat as you except I graduated in September. I also have a boyfriend in the area I am in and don't want to have to relocate, although its looking like it may come to that. I actually graduated from a school in Philly and my friends that stayed there when they graduated have told me there is a freeze. I think you should look into clinics and skilled nursing facilities to start. If that doesn't work look at blood banks. If you tire of that there are opportunities in the prison system and also opportunities with the Navy and other armed forces, both as a member and a civilian. If all else fails you could look into CNA positions (yes I have resorted to this). I think if NJ, PA is where you want to end up you should look for these opportunitites there, because you will make some connections that may end in an ICU job. I wish you so much luck!!

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Wow, timing sure is everything, isn't it? This awful economic slide is taking a toll on so many people's hopes and dreams. My heart goes out to OP and everyone else caught in this terrible situation. You're right - temp agencies want experienced nurses who can hit the ground running with a full patient load. They don't have any capacity for training new graduates.

From the information that is available on this site alone, it seems like the NE is the epicenter of the 'no jobs for new grads' situation. In my part of the world, we're still hiring. You may need to consider relocation for a while just to get started because the longer you wait, the worse it will be from a resume standpoint. As for getting a CNA job??? Legally, you will still be held to an RN standard of practice, no matter what your job description says. If you could get hired, this would put you in a really strange situation.

Best of Luck in your continuing search. Try not to get discouraged. This has to end sometime - I just hope that when it does, we don't have to suffer from an even worse shortage due to a whole "lost generation" of graduates such as yourself who weren't able to find work as a nurse and moved off in other directions.