Feeling extremely frustrated :(

Nurses New Nurse

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Specializes in Home Health,ID/DD, Pediatrics.

I am a new grad, although I graduated Marh of last year. When I graduated we were told to expect it to take 6 months or more to find a job and possibly longer if you have no previous healthcare experience. it is almost a year later and no job. I found out about 5 months ago we (husband and I) will be moving across country for my husbands job so that makes things even worse. So, here I am doing nothing, just twiddling my thumbs until we move in March of this year. I have thrown out so many application/resumes both in the state I'm in and the state I'm moving to with nothing...no response. I feel that I've waisted my money on my education at this point. My student loans are due and I can't pay them!

I just can't believe how hard it is to get a nursing job (RN). I have been told home health is no place for a new RN, and honestly I am not sure I would be comfortable doing that being so new. I feel like I'm out of options, and now wonder if I am ever going to find a job. I guess I'm just extremely frustrated at the fact that it is so hard for a new grad to break into nursing. I get tired of the perplexed look on faces when they ask where I'm working and I have to explain that I haven't found a job yet. I get the "aren't nurses needed everywhere" response. I am moving to Virginia Beach BTW, in case anyone has good suggestions for that area or in general!

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no idea what to tell you but to keep applying. I have met many 2008 and 2009 grads who found jobs 18 months out. Are there any prisions or rural areas within driving distance of virginia beach?

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Specializes in Foot care.

Hello, Danaroo, I'm sorry to hear you can't find a job. My particular boat is further out from shore than yours -- I'm a May 2009 grad. Last summer I worked 2 weeks at a summer camp. I liked it, a lot, though I'd rather a permanent job. If I don't land a permanent job before summer, I plan to try for a summer-long camp nurse job at a camp near my home (last year I was far away). I then worked for 2 months (September & October) as a flu shot nurse. Honestly, there were times I felt a little humiliated. But it was work, and money.

Do you have an idea what kind of nursing you want to do?

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Specializes in med/surg tele, postpartum, mother baby.

I graduated June 2010, started working in Oct 2011. I left CA and came to TX after applying to well over 1,000 jobs. I would recommend taking a refresher if you are able to, and hopefully there will be some better job prospects for you where you are going. I know it's hard and depressing, but don't give up!

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Specializes in Foot care.

In addition to prisons you might also want to consider the VA. The application process is lengthy and tedious, and the interview process is somewhat unique. But your current US RN license is good no matter what state you work in; if your husband's career might have you traveling around, you might also be able to transfer within the VA system.

I've talked to a few prison nurses and a prison social worker; all have loved the work, had no problem with the population. I've been on a few prison tours, and had one 5-minute interview; I was not selected. If the prison is part of the federal system, you are put through one heck of a training, remeniscent of military basic training, though not so rigorous or lengthy. But you do have to be physically fit and pass physical tests that show you would be able to assist your co-workers if necessary.

The Virginia Beach area has quite a few hospitals; have you checked to see if any have new grad residency programs?

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Specializes in Home Health,ID/DD, Pediatrics.

Thanks everyone, I am not sure about prisons in Virginia Beach, although that is a great idea and I will definitely be looking into that now! I have worked as a flu shot nurse, it was a little humbling especially once a friends husband at dinner one night decided to bring that one up (a nurse friends of mine) in a way that seemed like he was wanting me to feel belittled about it. I have been looking at the VA, and it is a very lengthy process to apply but I am gathering all my needed items from my nursing school etc...to begin that process once something in VA Beach comes open.

It is hard not to feel hopeless, especially when most everyone in my graduating class has been working since at least last summer and have that "I had no trouble" attitude going on. Let's just say that my graduating class was not full of down to earth people who are capable of empathy towards each other. I keep getting the "oh your moving, things happen for a reason yadayadayada thing and while that may be true it certainly doesn't pay my student loans in the mean time. The one job I could have gotten about 8 months ago was blown out of the water by a "friend" I graduated with who told her good friend who happened to be the nurse recruiter that I was moving (this was 8 months in advance of the upcoming move) so there went that opportunity, because I guess in her eyes I should be "telling the truth that I am moving" to perspective employers. I am just frustrated, the place I am currently living seems to have no opportunity for me, for others yes for me it seems no.

Not sure what type of nursing I want to do, I had hoped to do a year or two of med/surg to get that good base. I have thought about community health or oncology but not sure.

Thanks for all your stories and suggestions, it does make me feel a bit better. I just now have to get over the horrible feeling that I am loosing my skills and have lost a year.

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Specializes in 1 PACU,11 ICU, 9 ER.

Try the military bases as a contractor which is what I did when I first moved to VA. Also maybe aged care as a stepping stone.

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evening guys. i may be able to help. we usually look for experience, but as a new grad if your gpa was good our company will interview. we hire rn's for virtual triage jobs part time. mostly military patients. california license is required. send me your resume and i will pass it along to the cno [email protected]. i know that we have hired a few new grads in the past (not many) and not sure what the additional requirements are specifically but the new nurses we have hired, gained relevant experience for acute care transition. pay is about 30 or so.

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FYI-I believe there are only 2 or 3 openings currently.

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FYI-I believe there are only 2 or 3 openings currently.

You mentioned California license - but do you have to be located in California?

- Asira

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Specializes in Home Health,ID/DD, Pediatrics.

Vtuhpinc - I am moving from the West Coast to Virginia Beach, Va. Is this a phone triage type position? I have no say in where I am moving as my husband has a government job so it's not an option to deviate from my planned location to go to California.

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Hi!

I graduated in Wisconsin last May 2011. My husband's job was moved to Virginia (Virginia Beach) and I took my RN boards here last August. I applied to hospital, nursing homes, plasma center, flu shot clinics, etc - I got nothing. The only health related work experience that I had was working as phlebotomist. I didn't realize that it is very hard to find a job for a new graduate. It is very frustrating. I even went to an agency because their ads didn't specify that they need someone with experience. The lady told me right away that I should get atleast 2 years experience then come back to them. How can I get an experience if nobody will give me a chance? Next month we are moving to Washington State. I applied for a license there. My WI license is expiring next month too and I will renew it just in case I would have a problem getting a WA license. I'm thinking I keep paying for these licenses and here I am couldn't find a job.

I was surprised that we have the same case, new grads, moving from coast to coast. Goodluck with your job hunt here in VA Beach.

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