I'm going to apologize now for the rant I'm going to go on, but I need to vent! I cannot get a job!!!! Okay, let me back up here a bit...I have been working in a LTC Dementia unit for 5 years. I started out as an aide after having been a medical transcriptionist for 25 years. I've always wanted to be a nurse but I put my family first and put my education on hold until everyone had either passed on or moved on. After 3 mos of being an aide, I was offered to become a med tech. I started back to school, took all my prereqs, started nursing school, worked full time and graduated with my AD in May of this year and passed my boards in August of this year. I did it...I became an RN! Here's where the "disgusted" part comes in....I've applied to every hospital in the city. Don't get me wrong, I love my job, the residents, their families, my DON, my coworkers, etc but I'm not using my skills. I've been promoted to the 3 to 11 supervisor and yes, I have RN after my name but I'm doing the exact same job that I did when I was a med tech. Pay, you ask? Okay, I went from making $8/hr to $16/hr and quite honestly, it's not about the money for me. I want to utilize my skills! I want to hang blood, I want to start IVs, etc. I want to do what I've been trained to do! Here's where the really "disgusted, disgusted" comes in....every week I see ads in the local paper for one particular hospital that I've applied to multiple times since passing my boards but I hear nothing? Does anyone have any advice? Am I doing something wrong? Has the fact that I've worked in LTC hurting me? I just don't get it! I'm half tempted to go back to medical transcription! Please someone offer me something positive and thanks for listening!
Specializes in AA&I, research,peds, radiation oncology.
Hi rawrn-Are there not other hospitals in your area that you can apply to? It seems to me you are spending too much effort at one facility when there may be others that you can work for , build up your skills, confidence, resume' and then, if you'd like, retry the "primo" facility again. What about agency, home health, etc. Look at ALL your options!!
Hi IMABSNRN-Seems to me you're disgusted for a different reason-you can't or won't move on b/c of your family situations or you're unwilling to do so. You mave have to relocate!! Kids can adjust easily, commuting /moving is sometimes necessary for growth. Also, you have a BSN, which is more managerial work than an ADN from what I understand. Seems to me you've got what you've been educated for. Just my
Submit your resume and cover letter directly to the directors of the units. Don't mess around with HR; they sometimes prescreen applicants and for whatever reason don't always pass them on to the directors. At my present job, I was interviewed, hired, had complete my pre-employment physical, and was scheduled for orientation before HR called me back to ask me if I wanted to interview with them.
After you have submitted your resume and cover letter, wait a week and then contact each director individually, by phone. Something quick and easy: "Hi, my name is BluegrassRN. I see in the newspaper that you are hiring, and I submitted my resume last week. I just wanted to follow up; did you have a chance to look it over yet?"
If they have, ask: "Did you have any questions or comments?" Then they can either let you know that they will be interviewing soon, or they can ask you a few questions then. If they say something noncommittal, just smile (they can hear it in your voice) and say, "Well, I hope we can meet soon. Thank you so much for your time."
If they haven't, say: "I am very interested in a position on your unit. I hope you will contact me when you have the chance to review my resume and are scheduling interviews. Thank you so much for your time." And then, call weekly asking for an update on their hiring status until they either give you an interview or tell you to stop calling.
I agree with the above comment from Bluegrass. I don't think you should completely blow off HR though. Physically go there and try to meet someone in HR with your resume in hand. Ask around (even former professors) if anyone knows somewhere there and call on them too. Also, companies typically have employee referral programs. If you can find a current employee to submit your resume it may get a better look.
Tabacue, you are absolutely right. I should have said, Don't *depend* on HR. Definitely submit your resume and cover letter to HR, but don't stop there.
I have encountered the same problem OP. I have been dying to work at a medical park- and they are hiring - I have applied to different job postings as they are listed and the other ones are filled. And right now, as we speak my dream job in PEDI is listed. I have gone there and filled out the application and given my resume. I have applied(for different positions) online and NOTHING! And i know they hired new grads cuz a girl i went to school with works there. I also have a good family friend who they all love working there in a diff department- who went and spoke to HR about me and I put as a reference- and still nothing. When i asked who i should call and speak with to determine my application status they said if they are interested they will call you and that there was more than one HR rep so they couldnt give out any names as they dont know who has the application and who is reviewing it. This was well over a month ago- and still NOTHING- and the job is still listed. As a previous poster has said, they are prob holding the position for someone- but have to list it online d/t policy- but already have the candidate picked out, just waiting around for them. cuz this is what happened to the girl i know who works there- she had the job well before we graduated just neversaid anything to anyone- . In the mean time, they have all these qualified candidates applying and that could start working NOW but no- Its all about who ya know I think. And it is very frustrating. Just keep applyin to other places so you can do what you want as a nurse. It may not be the ideal facility you want but atleast you will be getting to use your knowledge and skills and get paid for what you went to school to be- Good luck and I hope things change for the better for you.
If I were a career counselor, and I'm not, I would probably advise you to find out who the director of nurse hiring is at the facility posting the ads. And then I would advise you to write them a letter, explaining how qualified you are with details, and enclose a resume. Make it very personal, and tell your story. Grovel a little when the topic becomes wanting to work THERE. Research the hospital and their mission statement and repeat it to them, in various ways, in your letter. Ask for an interview. Consider the worst case scenario: you won't get one. How much worse is that than where you are now? Sometimes these bold measures are the ones that get people noticed and in the door.
Agree with previous poster: $16 for an RN? Crap I make more than that as a Unit Clerk, and the CNA's make even more. I'd take an agency job before I'd work for that.
Thank you for your reply. I think this is a great idea and one that I haven't thought of. Again, thank you.
If I were a career counselor, and I'm not, I would probably advise you to find out who the director of nurse hiring is at the facility posting the ads. And then I would advise you to write them a letter, explaining how qualified you are with details, and enclose a resume. Make it very personal, and tell your story. Grovel a little when the topic becomes wanting to work THERE. Research the hospital and their mission statement and repeat it to them, in various ways, in your letter. Ask for an interview. Consider the worst case scenario: you won't get one. How much worse is that than where you are now? Sometimes these bold measures are the ones that get people noticed and in the door.
Agree with previous poster: $16 for an RN? Crap I make more than that as a Unit Clerk, and the CNA's make even more. I'd take an agency job before I'd work for that.
I am sorry you are having such a difficult time finding a job... Just continue to look and don't give up hope. I graduated this May also and passed my boards the beginning of July. I applied for every acute care job in the area that was accepting applications from new grads. I got three interviews and was denied the jobs. They wanted people with experience, which I can of course understand.
My self confidence pretty much went through the window and I felt humiliated every time I had to tell someone that I didnt get the job. There were a lot of tears shed because I never imagined that I would struggle to find a job after receiving my nursing degree.
Since the economy took a turn, hospitals are cutting back on many things including staffing. When a position opens up it is usually only because a nurse leaves that position. So, in my case, there were 30-50 applicants applying for ONE position and of course the hospitals are going to hire a person with experience over a new grad... not because new grads are incompetent, but because it is CHEAPER. new grads need a long orientation under a preceptor, so basically they have to pay two employees for one employees work.
I didn't give up though... I had to make adjustments. I got licensed in my home state and decided to apply at some rural hospitals. (My original plan was to land a job at one of the big urban hospitals in my neighboring state). I ended up landing a job as an ICU nurse. I have been training on med-surg for a month and I move over to ICU tomorrow, actually! I am very excited to be getting experience in acute care and I am so thankful to have a great-paying job in this economoy! This hospital was definitely not my 1st choice... or 2nd or 3rd for that matter. But I have been learning so much and the staff I work with makes me feel so comfortable and accepted. I will not mind being here for a year or two to get some experience before moving on to a bigger hospital. I think it is actually going to be a much better transition. So I think everything turned out for the best.
As far as pay goes... I CANNOT believe the wages they are paying you. What state are you in? I am making $20/hr as a brand new nurse with absolutely no experience. I also live in Wyoming which is one of the lowest paying states for RN wages. DO NOT SETTLE! We all know how hard nursing school is and you deserve much better pay than what you are getting for all of your hard work.
Keep your head up and do not give up on finding a job in acute care! Something will come up eventually and you will be a great nurse!
I too would like to work in the ICU/CCU but I'm willing to work on Med/Surg and welcome the experience. I live in Pittsburgh.
I hate to tell you this but with the economy being what it is and the scarcity of jobs, you probably should be thankful for what little that you do have. I have gone for months on end with no job at all. It really hurts not to be able to take care of yourself or your family. When I worked in one LTC facility, the RN made $17/hr as opposed to $16/hr for the LVNs. But that was 15 years ago! Continue with your job search while you are making do with your current job. There will have to come a time when you are able to get a better position. Good luck.
You are right. I am thankful for the job I currently have. My husband tells me that all the time. When I to feeling sorry for myself, I always try to look at the bright side and think to myself, listen self, lol, there are a lot of ppl out of work. So, with that being said, I am very thankful that I have a job...just feeling disgusted with having gone to school, having worked so hard to get my RN but can't get a job in that actual environment. I will continue to think positive. Thank you!
Keep aggressively applying. Expand your search. Have you considered moving to another area?
Yes, actually we have but on that note, my husband has been with a company for 25+ years and to ask him to up and quit his job for me is something I would never ask him to do, even though he probably would do it for me. But, if that's what it takes...scary though with me being 47 and him turning 50 in December...hmmm
I can understand wanting to utilize your skills, but realize that the experience you're getting now is also important. ALL nursing experience is important, and it all contributes to your knowledge. You're making a living wage, which is not great for an RN, but you won't starve on it. I too would like to move on from my Med-Surg job soon, but I've realized in this economy it's just not realistic. I guess what I'm saying is be patient (no pun intended). There are no magic cures these days, unfortunately, but I'm one of those people who believe the job market will pick up within 2-3 years. Also, no one has mentioned that you may be an older new grad(?) Could that have something to do with it? At any rate, good luck and hang in there!
I believe that too Molly. I can't believe that this "recession" will last forever...at least I hope not!
IMABSNRN
56 Posts
In the South, day shift RNs can get around $23/hr, night shift goes for around $27-$28/hr (in the hospital.)
LTC pays about $25/hr to start.