Can't Find a job!!! This wasn't supposed to be this hard!

[Frustrated in Cle]

So there is a nursing shortage, is there not? Why can't I find a job? Has anybody else experienced this? Is the economy this bad? Granted, I am only an LPN and I literally got a license number yesterday. The thing is I have been applying for jobs since September in preparation for graduation and I'm not really even getting any calls back. Maybe they passed over my application becuase it had no license number and now it will get better? Most of my friends have been able to get jobs already, though. I graduated number 1 in my class from a good PN school and got into an even better LPN to BSN program which I am starting in the Spring so I can't understand why I can't even get anyone to call me back. I'm starting to think that there must be something that I am doing wrong. Please let me know if anyone is having/had a similar experience, has any ideas about what I'm doing wrong or what more I can do, etc.

[SweetLemon]

I am an RN and graduated in May & have passed my NCLEX and am experiencing similar problems. I have applied for countless positions and keep getting the "thanks for applying we already filled this position with more experienced people" letter. I have even called and specifically asked for new grad friendly positions!!!!!!! I am starting a job as a psych nurse on Monday which I am excited about but really did not expect to try psych nursing until later on in my career. I am quite nervous about being away from the med surg side of nursing while my technical skills are so brand new. WHY OH WHY is it so hard to get through to anyone in HR.... most of the time they wont even return my phone calls!!!!! :angryfire sorry... needed a moment to rant... i am better now

[mswhite]

Good luck sweetlemon. after a year or so of psych, you can always switch.

[AtomicWoman]

Also, consider working as a CNA while you are looking for work. In my area, a good CNA makes almost as much as a beginning nurse, or doctor's office nurses.

Is that actually possible to do? I always thought that once you had a license for a position at a higher level of responsibility and knowledge, facilities wouldn't hire you at a lower level (of responsibility) because you are legally required to meet the standards of your licensure, no matter what position you work in. And that creates liability problems for facilities. Is that just an untrue rumor? (I've also heard the same thing about NPs not being able to get RN positions.)

It would be good to know that if nothing else, a new nurse could get SOME experience working as a CNA until that perfect job comes along. :)

[mswhite]

yes, it is possible. however, most facilities would not accomodate you. they want experience nurses only. if I had known that, I would have worked as a CNA before graduating from the lpn program.