Discouraged New Grad In AZ

SPNbabe08 · Apr 1, 2009

i would keep trying at the nursing homes. long term care is great for experience. keep calling them. and be willing to take overnights.

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Apr 1, 2009

it seems that there are a lot of schools and accelerated programs in your area. if you had not purchased a house recently i would have suggested that you move to a more rural area not surrounded by nursing schools. the other option is to take your resume in person to a ltc. walk in and meet the hiring manager. let him/her know that you are interested in working for their facility. do your homework ahead of time. if the facility is a chain, then you will be able to give reasons why that particular place is appealing. i agree with the above poster, be flexible in your schedule.

also, try talking to your former nursing instructors. many are "friends" with hiring nurse managers. let them know you are eager and willing to work anywhere and maybe one of them can point you in the right direction including introducing you to the right person? good luck!

Skippers1 · Apr 2, 2009

Sorry you're not having luck in the job search. With all the talk about the nursing shortage I don't think any of us new grads were prepared for how competitive the job market is now. It's a little far from Phoenix, but I found a new grad program in Flagstaff at Northern Arizona Healthcare. The program is starting in May and applications are due April 10. www.nahealth.com/careers/specialtytrainingprograms/current_specialty_training. Good luck!

llmhawaiinurse · Apr 2, 2009

I feel you! I am in the exact same situation, but in Hawaii. Graduated in December with a bachelors degree in NURSING, yet cannot get a job anywhere! Go figure! I guess we just keep applying? Good luck!

nuwbee25 · Apr 5, 2009

Same boat here. I am in Boston, graduated December 08 with my BSN honors, passed boards, worked as a CNA at 2 major hospitals and my aunt and her daughter are both nurses at one of those hospitals and my uncle is a doctor there. Talk about connections....didn't help one bit! I just had a few interviews in NC last week, hope to hear back from them next week. Also many of my fellow classmates have applied to LTCs, docs office, and home health. NO LUCK! I think if I do not get offered one of the postions in NC I will have to go back to school and defer my upcoming 60k worth of student loans:bluecry1:

UnicornRN · Apr 5, 2009

YRMC in Prescott has openings on their website. http://www.yrmc.org

RedhairedNurse, BSN, RN · Apr 5, 2009

Have you spoken directly to nurse recruiters? I only applied at one hospital because it was where I wanted to work and I would not accept anything else. But, in order to get the position, I basically had to be a pain in the **** in a nice, respectul and assertive kind of way. I would call the recruiters on a weekly basis for almost two months until they finally gave me an interview. I knew that if I could just get the opportunity for an interview, I'd get the job. Have been there a year now.

Good luck and definitely be assertive and display confidence if you aren't already. Also try to have patience. Take care, something will come soon.

Polley93 · Apr 5, 2009

I find this very confusing. I live in the Tucson area, am a BSN level RN, and am in a masters program to be an FNP. I see jobs everywhere! I find that a lot of the hospitals are educating their own and then contracting them from 24-36 months post graduation. With the economy scare, a lot of hospitals are on a hiring freeze which is insane since the need is so great and the working RNs are very over burdened.

I was a traveling RN for about a year as well before I started this grad program and traveled up to the Phx area a lot for assignments. I worked in Scottsdale (Scottsdale healthcare system) and also up in the far northwest area. there are so many hospitals up there I would be amazed if no one gave you an interview?

Its a huge city and there is definitely work up there in a big way. Put your nose to the grindstone and dont' quit until a door opens. Once one opens you will never be unemployed again. Guaranteed.

Best of luck to you!

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Apr 5, 2009

a lot of hospitals are on a hiring freeze which is insane since the need is so great and the working rns are very over burdened.
i was a traveling rn for about a year as well before i started this grad program and traveled up to the phx area a lot for assignments. i worked in scottsdale (scottsdale healthcare system) and also up in the far northwest area. there are so many hospitals up there i would be amazed if no one gave you an interview?

hi, polley, times have changed. yes, many places hire travelers because they do not have to pay as much for those rns. i know the hourly wage is higher then regular nurses but they do not pay for extensive training or benefits. travelers, i am told, are cheaper then new grad rns. thus, there is a hiring freeze for new grads in the bigger cities all over the country. smaller rural places no one wants to work/live are still hiring in parts but you have to dig to find them or move.

i also agree that it sounds like it makes no sense... the nurses already working will be burdened if no new nurses are hired. however, employers do not see it that way when they are looking at the bottom line. read a few more threads... new grads from may 2008 are looking for work. i feel sorry for the ones who are graduating this may!!!!

Polley93 · Apr 5, 2009

I find it all very sad. Hospitals are busier than ever, ER's are used for PCPs by the uninsured, staff RNs get called to come in literally every single day off they have, and hiring freezes?? What kind of sense does that make? This is the number one reason I got out of acute care/hospitals for the final couple of years to finish up my FNP. So many other options for sure in this field. Especially the higher up the educational ladder one decides to climb. Amazing field and I would do nothing else, but its getting very creative for sure.

I wish you much luck and will keep my ears open for anything I hear, will post if I do.

dblpn · Apr 5, 2009

Hello-
I graduated in December of 08, took and passed my boards in February and cannot seem to find a job. It seems as if nobody in the state of AZ wants an RN without experience! I have tried home health, hospice, nursing homes, hospitals, doctors offices, VA hospital, etc. I even offered to complete orientation for a CNA wage! I have yet to get as much as a phone call I have looked forward to being a nurse for several years. Looking back I would have become a CNA first and worked myself through school. I have applied for licensure in neighboring states and am considering moving for a year or 2 just to get some experience under my belt but would prefer to stay in AZ as I just bought a house. My student loans are quickly approaching and I am desperate to be working as a nurse....anyone know of ANYWHERE in the Phoenix area that accepts new grads? If not thanks for listening anyways....I had NO IDEA it would be this hard to find a job as an RN!

i'm so sorry to read of your situation. unfortunatly, this is becoming a reality for new grads not only in your area but other places as well, and some how this "nursing shortage" keeps being recycled over and over in nursing programs to students giving us the false belief that employers will be coming to us offering jobs and its just not the case.

just the other day in my LPN class we were told there will be a career fair this month and in the fall. although i have about 11 months to go before i graduate i'll go and see what their offering. even in mo. new grad RN's cant seem to get a job. i couldn't believe it. i'm thinking if it's hard for RN's to get work i'm sure it'll be doubled hard for LPN's also.