Everyone keeps telling me there's a nursing shortage but I sure as hell can't see it

[Ziger]

I am having a issues finding a job and its becoming frustrating.  I graduated from an 2nd degree accelerated nursing program this May and passed my NCLEX late July. I have been looking for a job ever since passing. I have been working at a hospital for 2 and a half years as a Registrar.  I have applied to 5 local hospital systems (about 11 hospitals) and I have had very little luck.  I have even interviewed about 5 times but still nothing.  2 of the interviews felt like they weren't looking at me seriously (one only asked me 1 question in the interview, the other asked me weird non nursing related questions like "What do I like to do in my spare time",).  I even interviewed with a nursing residency but didn't get it.  

I don't understand what I am doing wrong.  One of the non serious interviews was even with the hospital I work with.  I've reheorificed interview questions multiple times and have updated my resume several times.  I am not picky with the jobs I've been applying to either.  Applying to day and night; ER, critical care, telemetry I no longer care.  I am debating on applying to outpatient jobs but am anxious.  I eventually want to become a Nurse Practitioner and am worried that going outpatient know will hurt my chances of getting into a hospital later.  Should I keep trying the hospitals or go outpatient? Am I being impatient about the whole thing or am I right? Any general tips and tricks will help.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

Yes, there is a nursing shortage. A shortage of experienced nurses in hard-to-fill positions. There is not a shortage of new grads- who are a financial drain on the organization for the first year of employment minimum. 

Yes, you are being impatient. Covid has displaced nurses and disrupted hospitals. Things are not back to normal. Residencies were cancelled or postponed. Nurses in closed departments were deployed to others. 

My best advice is to look outside the hospital- even if it is not the dream job/ end goal. 

Why?

Less-than-desirable job = RN pay and RN experience

Waiting on the dream job = no pay and no RN experience 

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

On 9/14/2020 at 8:54 AM, meanmaryjean said:

Yes, there is a nursing shortage. A shortage of experienced nurses in hard-to-fill positions. There is not a shortage of new grads- who are a financial drain on the organization for the first year of employment minimum. 

Yes, you are being impatient. Covid has displaced nurses and disrupted hospitals. Things are not back to normal. Residencies were cancelled or postponed. Nurses in closed departments were deployed to others. 

My best advice is to look outside the hospital- even if it is not the dream job/ end goal. 

Why?

Less-than-desirable job = RN pay and RN experience

Waiting on the dream job = no pay and no RN experience 

As a dialysis clinic manager, I encourage you to look at our specialty. Apply and give it a try! It will get you RN pay and help hone some RN skills. And during this pandemic, there were no furloughs or PPE shortages. I love the specialty, and can definitely recommend it. There's something new everyday 

[Ziger]

Update I recently accepted a position to the hospital I work at.  I called the recruiter and she said she had a position to offer me.  I could tell the recruiter was backed up with other work.  I plan to send her a card for her trouble.  I was kinda worried I'd never get a job because a lotta people I graduated with have jobs now.  But I guess going slower isn't a bad thing.  I appreciate the advice and the tough love.