Can't get a job as new RN

U.S.A. Florida

Published

Hello all,

I'm hoping someone will be able to help me...I'm a brand new RN in Orlando, FL and I've been looking for a hospital job for the last 5 months with no luck. Every job opening I see requires you to have at least 1 year of hospital experience but no one will hire me. I've applied to about 200 jobs and nothing....every recruiter/HR dept tells me it is because I don't have experience. Anyone else around here going through this?? :o

try parrish medical, cape canaveral, and wuesthoff. these are in brevard county and can be 30min-1.5 hours away depending on where in orlando you live. i lived in cocoa, fl and drove to ucf for 2 years while getting my ba.

good luck!

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The situation is just as bad in Tampa.

No Tampa Bay area hospitals want new grads.

Most of the Tampa Bay area hospitals have only a few openings, require a minimum of 1 year of acute care experience, and will only consider candidates who have recent hospital experience.

I've been an RN since 2004, but my most recent jobs were in outpatient care and home hospice. I am out of work and trying to find any full time RN job in a hospital, but I keep receiving rejections.

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Specializes in Ortho/Neurosurgical.

Well, I'm thinking of you guys for sure. I'm pleased that I have a job, even if my preceptor is trashing me all over the place and running my butt ragged. It's a job. Good luck to you all.

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black_butterfly,

Although I'm an experienced nurse, I'd like to say that you're not alone! I'm in your "boat". I've relocated to Orlando on 12/31/08 fm Maryland and have been applying to (outpatient) employers in the Orlando area since Nov '08 (although I was just finally issued a license on 1/8)! I did hear fm a local recruiter that Orlando Regional had a hiring freeze. Also, if you're granted an interview for Florida Hospital, you are likely to have to complete up to three interviews before being hired! Know that patience & perseverance pays! Expand your area scope and try applying to home care companies first, even if its for a temporary time until you get into the hospital you want.

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Specializes in Operating Room.

I thought that this was only happening in the hospital that I work for. We only hire new grads twice a year and unfortunately the time frame in which they recruit does not coincide with graduation so applicants must wait 6mths or more. Furthermore, the program at my hospital requires that new grads have license before starting the program which leaves a lot of people out.

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This is also the case in the Palm Coast, St. Augustine, and Jacksonville area. I've tried every hospital from Deland to Gainesville. The new grad programs are full and I was told by the Mayo recruiter that they are full for the April intake also. I grad Dec 08; I got my RN license as soon as I could test. I have a husband that is supportive, thank the Lord for that but we have two children and a mortgage to pay for. I've even tried to get a job as a CNA or a PCT but no hospital will hire me because I am an RN. Does anyone know the law on this? The Nurse Practice Act doesn't really get into detail when it comes to this kind of thing. Sure there are plenty of RN jobs out there including nursing homes, staffing agencies, travel nurses, and even hospice. I've been applying but they all want experienced RN's. I've been a CNA since 2003, but this doesn't seem to help me either. I'm trying not to get discouraged. I'm just going to keep praying and applying. I hope you do the same.

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Same story here in Brevard county. I graduate in May 09 and have been told to look outside of my area, seems like outside of my area is having the same troubles!!!

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Specializes in geriatrics,emergency,hospice.

Same story in Ocala. I graduated in January, and passed NCLEX in Feb. I started applying to hospitals before graduation and am still continuing to do so. No one wants to hire new grads/inexperienced RN's. I took a job in sub acute/LTC. Im happy with it so far. The pay is better, and on the sub acute, I am learning new skills. I still get to do IV's, PICC lines, dressing changes, and of course pass alot of meds. My former classmates are experiencing the same thing.

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Specializes in NICU - 112 bed NICU.

You didn't say what degree you had. Right this second, there are 3 RN clinical nurse 1 (entry level) posted in the ORH job listings. 2 require BSN and 1 just says RN or GN.

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Thank you for the info.

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This is scary. I live in the Jacksonville area and am applying to SJRCC Orange Park RN program that starts in January 2010. I am giving up a great paying job to go back to school (I already have a B.S. in Business Administration) because I really want to be a nurse. Now I am not as sure about being able to get a job when I get out.

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Wow, this thread is starting to make me re-think starting the LPN program next month.

I thought we still had a "nursing shortage"??? Maybe I should think about medical

assistant, does anyone know if that field is in demand?

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