Can't get a job :(

VERYNEW · Mar 26, 2009

Same thing in CT, I'm depressed.No big hospitals hiring new grads,everywhere else they need expirience.Own a home in CT,don't want to move. Don't know what to do:bluecry1:

CaLLaCoDe, BSN, RN · Mar 26, 2009

I feel for you both. What if you volunteered at the hospital of your choice and made chummy with the floor of your dreams manager? Just a thought. Or apply for unit secretary jobs. I am wishing you both well! Good luck!

PS. I was cancelled today due to low census, so we're feeling it here too (sort of). And you'd say at least you have work! Good luck to you both.

gwlillith · Mar 26, 2009

Was just discussing this with another nurse tonight. She's relocating and has over 18years experience in Neuro ICU and can't get passed the snooty HR rep on the phone at the facilities she's applied at.

The best thing to do is find out who the NM is and go directly to her/him. I'm thinking the HR departments are doling out the qualified applicants with a thimble to keep within the "budgets", and the NM's aren't getting the applicant's resumes like they should!

Good Luck

noahsmama · Mar 26, 2009

Was just discussing this with another nurse tonight. She's relocating and has over 18years experience in Neuro ICU and can't get passed the snooty HR rep on the phone at the facilities she's applied at.
The best thing to do is find out who the NM is and go directly to her/him. I'm thinking the HR departments are doling out the qualified applicants with a thimble to keep within the "budgets", and the NM's aren't getting the applicant's resumes like they should!
Good Luck

Absolutely -- don't even bother talking to HR, go directly to the NM. Walk into the hospital and hand your resume to them personally. I graduated in May 2008, and many of my classmates got jobs this way. Meanwhile, don't give up on applying online or sending out resumes -- I finally got my job after applying online to well over 100 new grad positions in just about every discipline -- I was shocked when I finally got a call back (I got 3 interviews total).

Volunteering is a good idea too, if you have the time. I had been a volunteer at the hospital that finally hired me, and was about to reactivate as a volunteer when I got the job. The NM mentioned my volunteer work when she called, so she definitely noticed it on my resume.

Good luck!

Diane

birdgardner · Mar 26, 2009

So how are you supposed to contact the nurse-manager if you don't have contacts at the hospital/aren't networked/don't know the nurse-managers name?

Schlepter · Mar 26, 2009

I'm still in school and have a while until I start actively applying for jobs. However I'm trying to boost my worth now so that it might help me when I do get my license. I've been a volunteer firefighter for a couple years, and I'm currently taking an EMT class (along with a full time job and 2 classes). I'm hoping the EMS experience will help me when I start applying. In nursing class, we've been discussing the problems of new grads getting jobs in hospitals, and it's a real problem. With the economy, people are losing their jobs, and insurance. They aren't getting the procedures done they normally would, so hospitals are cutting back on staff. Hopefully it'll rebound eventually. However there are openings in other places such as nursing homes, VA hospitals and centers, ect. We were told that there is a slim chance you are going to get the dream job right off the bat, and to accept anything to start. As you gain experience and knowledge, other opportunities will present themselves. Good luck in your search!

Lexnursingstudent · Mar 26, 2009

I read about lay-offs the other day. Does anyone know if there has been any lay-offs in any hospitals. I know of one hospital in a nearby state that is sending nurses, RN's home early from their shifts because of low census.

CaLLaCoDe, BSN, RN · Mar 26, 2009

So how are you supposed to contact the nurse-manager if you don't have contacts at the hospital/aren't networked/don't know the nurse-managers name?

Call the unit and ask. They don't know you want to work there. You might be a disgruntled family member wanting to complain or something.

cheesecake89 · Mar 26, 2009

I know that in Maine, Eastern Maine Medical Center laid off some people. Not just nurses but other jobs.

Another hospital further south I heard was having low census as well.

Also, hard to volunteer when I'm around 300 miles away from where I want to work (I'm in ME and want to work in MA). :/ I totally would if I could.

Lexnursingstudent · Mar 26, 2009

And one more thing, I heard as a third party listener, that you have to know someone ( and these people were talking about a specific hospital, but I will not say) to get hired there. It is like they take you applicaiton and then when you walk out the HR door, they more less put it in a big stack, and when nurse manager! go through the stack, they pick who they want, and generally it is someone they know. Then, I head these "two" people say this is why we are loosing nursing students from our state. So, there you have it. Double major!!!!! There are also some nursing homes here where I am that only have LPN's, no more RN's, and my next clinicals are in a nursing home, figure that one out, I know, Iwill take care of the elder in a hospital. But, I have a friend who is in an LPN program, and they are training the LPN's and preparing them so extensively, that they could do just about anything an RN can do. In Georiga, the first RN technical training program is opening, so there to become an RN, will be a trade, not a professional degree, and the cost is much, much cheaper. And the trade RN will be hired just the same as a 2 yr or 4 yr RN. (part of the stimulus package?) Yes, for the south, for educaitonal stimulus package, where there is a larger part of the populaiton of the United States, to "train" students through a trade educational program. My sister is an RN and she makes 28.00 in a nursing home in WV, and she is not the DON, just like a charge nurse that oversees the whole facility. In WV, in a certain northern panhandle city, the hospital is very picky who they hire, and it is hard to get on. A "Click" thing is going on there that involves HR.

Don't stop with your 4yr, go do something else.

Lexnursingstudent · Mar 26, 2009

low census do send RNs home early from their shifts. One is going to have to continue further in education, goes as high as you can in nursing; like Nurse Practioner, or Phd to teach, or just go get a job in the medical records department, and make somewhat decent money, GOOD BENIFITS, be a professional student, go to law school, you can open your own business, and make good money. My fiance make good money being a lawyer, if the nursing school does not quit flunking just about everybody, then I am going to apply for law school. His schedule is sweet, he has a sole business, does a lot of his work at home, and is in court everyday with cases, and he travels some, to other nearby counties. I am telling you, go get another degree other than nursing, if you don't plan on getting a higher degree in nursing. Technology and webbing is BIG BUCKS. Personally, I will finish my nursing, and go to law school, and then.....probably something else. I did a research paper for my Developmental Psychology class on how many different jobs a person will have in their lifetime. It is really suprising, but people move a lot, change career a lot...etc..... So, just keep going and get all you can get. Hopefully, you will find an RN job, but I promise you, I know we choose to be nurses because we want to take care of people, but there are people getting RN positions, who became nurses, not becuase they wanted to take care of people at on a humane level, but because they wanted a degree in something so that they could always have a job, and that is so sad too. But, with in the South, the RN trade schools uprising, everybody is going to nurisng school, it is going to have to be that you go for a second career, and this is for everyone who reads this. Take one day at a time, explore other options, other careers. Surely, you will get an RN position. But when you do get that RN position, start immediately on preparing for another career. Sorry, but it is an eye opener if an RN cannot find a job, goes home early w/o pay etc....or a hospital closes. Go higher and higher and higher.