Exploring Options

Published

I'm about to hit that year mark from graduation and passed my boards in January. I've only had 2 interviews for the same position at MD Anderson. I've also applied outside of Houston in small towns but haven't even got a call or anything from them. I've created a profile on linkedin and have had a few nursing recruiters get in contact with me or requests to connect but I kind of think they just want their numbers to be high so they can say they have 500+ connections. haha!

Don't get me wrong, I'm extremely passionate about nursing and everything it entails but I'm sitting here feeling like I was tricked into believing that nurses are in demand and that I would have a job right out of school. I hear it every single time someone asks me where I work and I tell them I haven't found a job yet. it kills me!

I can't lie, it upsets me from time to time that I haven't found anything and that no one has found me but something inside of me is encouraged that there is something out there for me and that I just need to keep swimming!

I was wondering if any of you had that problem (not getting a job out of college) and if you did, what did you find worked for you?

I'm even thinking about going back to school, what could I do besides nursing? because I know some/most places require you to have nursing experience to do a masters in nursing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

If you don't have a BSN, there are very few acute care options for you as a new grad in the Houston metro area, but based on your speculation about returning to graduate school, it would seem that you are a BSN. Have you enlarged your job search to include non-acute settings? I am sorry that you feel as though you were misled, but it was up to you to verify information before making a decision to enter nursing school. Popular opinion is seldom based on fact.

It probably doesn't make you feel any better, but there is actually a growing demand in the Houston area for experienced nurses, particularly those with specialty expertise. In the last few months, we're even seeing the resurgence of sign-on bonuses for some specialty areas.

I wish you the very best of luck in your continued job search. Make sure you stay in touch with local recruiting events - St. Jo just had a job fair yesterday. It is also a good idea to freshen up your online resume periodically to give it a 'bump'.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics.

Look at clinics and smaller hospitals in the outskirts.I've been seeing tons of nurse residencies on indeed.com.

Some recent jobs for new grads I've seen (Houston area):

Hotze wellness clinic

Memorial Hermann residency

Cyfair Hospital residency

Home health hires new grads

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Is relocating a possibility? I was fortunate to graduate at a time when nurses didn't have much difficulty finding jobs, but I relocated to take a job in my preferred specialty because that wasn't going to be an option in the city I had trained in without first getting a couple years of med-surg experience. It ended up being a great experience.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion