Can't get a job :(

cheesecake89 · Mar 26, 2009

I have no money to go back to school again. I really need a job to start paying off the loans I already owe.

noahsmama · Mar 26, 2009

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.

This is exactly what I did. First, I would go to the hospital's website, which often would list the names of the units, and sometimes the phone number. If not, I would call the main hospital number, and asked to be transferred to "unit X". I would ask whoever answered the "unit X" phone the name and phone number of the NM. Most of the time they just gave it to me. Sometimes they would ask who I was and why I wanted this info, in which case I answered honestly that I was a new grad looking for a job. Generally they sounded relieved and became more friendly when I said this -- probably glad that I wasn't a disgruntled family member! I never once had anyone refuse to give me the name and number. Most NMs were very nice when I spoke to them, whether they had openings or not. Some asked me to send my resume, and I *almost* got an interview this way -- but then the NM got so many internal applicants for the position that should couldn't interview an outside person. The only time someone was kind of rude to me was one unit whose NM had just quit, and I spoke to the (rather harried) person who was temporarily filling in.

cornpoohRN · 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.

I would like to know where, in Georgia, this technical training program is opening that you claim one becomes a RN via trade and not professional degree? Please, please, please provide me with your source!!!

cornpoohRN · 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.

Is it NS that is flunking everyone or is everyone flunking NS? Do you think that the schools should just hand out degrees? Should not they be earned? Continuing education is a wonderful thing to do, perhaps English 101. It sounds like you are not quite sure why you are in the nursing profession. I don't quite understand........is it for a degree to hang on your wall or to "make the big bucks?" No where did I see where you talk about patient care, the love, joy or passion of nursing: children, elders, dying, birth, cancer, support or compassion. Those are some of the quick thoughts that come to mind when I think of what it means to be a nurse.

And again, please, please, please provide your source for "the uprising of RN trade schools in the south" it sounds like a movement on the career front.

cornpoohRN · Mar 26, 2009

Hey everyone,
I graduated in December 2008 with a 3.82 GPA (Bachelors program). I passed the NCLEX in February and have my Massachusetts RN license. I have applied to around 40 positions all around Massachusetts and have not heard back on any of them. NOT ONE CALL.
I've applied to anything and everything that looks like a position a new grad would be qualified for. I haven't been picky. I know beggars can't be choosers.
Does anyone have any advice? I have a great resume, and write decent cover letters. I just don't know why I can't get a job!
Michelle
PS I am beginning to hate it when people tell me that nurses can always find work or that the poor economy hasn't touched healthcare related workers.

mchll9898,

Are there any RN new grad residency programs in your area? Internships? As one person posted apply as a US, maybe apply as PCT's......for as many positions as possible and when the HR people start looking at your application they will see that you are more than qualified for that position and might consider you for a RN position. At least they will be looking at your paperwork and not bypassing it, maybe you will even get an interview and get in front of them and explain that your are a RN willing to work at that position until something comes available .

Also, find out the fax number to the units if you can't cold call on the manager and fax the manager your resume. Do agencies work with or place new grads?

Good luck!!

cornpoohRN · Mar 26, 2009

Also, what about any upcoming job fairs? Are you a member of any of the nursing organizations? Their websites might have some information.

birdgardner · Mar 26, 2009

cornpooh, I'll agree with you about the poster's English. I'll also tell you no employer gives a .... about my passion for nursing or my compassion for patients, or my 3.975 GP, or my volunteer EMT work, or my desire to excel and go on for NP. All they want is experienced hit the ground running nurses, mostly PT or per diem.

Right now I'm in debt for an expensive education, and I want a job and money. Unlike the poster, I'm not putting another dime into nursing education and that advanced practice degree until I'm employed. I could chase that pipe dream, that I see hospitals hiring for now, and it would likely dry up by the time I got there.

Venting, venting...I am truly ----- right now - just spent another four hours bashing my head against websites that LOCK UP mid-application.

Time to get brave and make those cold calls to the NMs.

cheesecake89 · Mar 26, 2009

I feel so desperate to get a job.

Birdgardner, I too feel that HR doesn't care at all about your education, GPA, compassion. All they want is experience. But how can we get that experience if they won't give it to you!?

I just saw an ad for a job and it said "not taking new grad applications." For a med-surg position!

I swear I am so tempted to call these network news stations the next time they utter that nursing jobs are increasing and aren't affected by the economy. If that is so, why are people getting sent home or canceled due to low census and why can't us very qualified new grads get jobs?

The problem with getting a job as a tech or something else to get my foot in at a hospital is that I can't afford to do that. I have so little money as it is now and I'd need a good paying job to make the move from ME to MA and afford an apartment and all that jazz.

JoycMarr · Mar 26, 2009

Why are you applying for jobs 300 miles from where you live? Have you also applied for places like nursing homes? Anything to gain some type of experience. Hospitals can afford to be a little more picky in some areas and nationwide new graduates are having more difficulty finding jobs. Some of this is due to the economy and the fact that older nurses are not retiring as planned, or some are reentering the work force due to spouse being laid off, etc. Is there a particular reason why you need to live/work in this one area? If not, you might consider relocating to a state where there is a need for new grads!

cheesecake89 · Mar 26, 2009

JoycMarr, I am moving to be with my fiance.

cornpoohRN · Mar 26, 2009

Well, can you put off your move? And if you don't mind me asking.....what are you doing for work now? You did mention in your OP that beggags can't be choosy.

cheesecake89 · Mar 26, 2009

I was recently let go from my CNA job. The census was so low that I would get canceled whole weeks at a time. I wasn't making any money and it was really messing up my sleep because it was a night position. Each night that they canceled me I would be up all night for nothing, because I had slept during the day preparing for a night's work.

My move has already been put off, I have no set date that I "need" to move. But my license is only for Massahusetts anyway. Not Maine.

I wouldn't want to get another CNA job in Maine, only to find out in a month or so that I got a job in Mass.

I do make a small income on a website I own, it's enough to get me by till I get a job.