Feeling extremely frustrated :(

Nurses New Nurse

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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!

Specializes in Home Health,ID/DD, Pediatrics.
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.

It sounds like the job situation in Virginia Beach isn't very good either. I've been applying to open nursing positions at Sentara hospitals and plan to start compiling a list of walk in clinics and even doctors offices of varying types to start shooting my resume to as well. Where at in Wasington state are you moving? I can tell you that it is hard here as well. (I can make some suggestions if you are moving to Western Washington (Seattle and surrounding area). Did you like living in Virginia Beach? I am very excited to be in a warmer place where you can actually sit on a sand beach and swim in the ocean in summertime!

Home health not for new grad nurses? Since when??? I did it for my first couple of months and was surprised by how much I liked it. Some hospitals even said that I was no longer considered a new grad because I had RN experience. Most hospitals require acute care experience but you never know. And on top of that the position paid really well. Go with a reputable home health company who isn't going to put you in a sketchy situation. Know when to say no if you're uncomfortable. Why not have a job while you look for your acute care position? I'm sorry you are so frustrated. I have been there, but don't discount your options so easily just because someone said something silly to you like new grad nurses don't belong in home health. Also don't be so quick to dismiss long term care either. I know a lot of my fellow nursing school classmates have had meaningful jobs in LTC and have used it as a great stepping stone to an acute care position. If you're going to be so ready to discount LTC and home health you're going to be frustrated. It makes me wonder how picky you're being about your Job Search. Time to get over what job you thought you were going to have and just get out there and use that degree as an RN in whatever capacity you can for the moment. I wish you the best.

Specializes in none.

Jobs are hard to come by for anyone. Agency work would have been a good way to start but those jobs are drying up. Keep sending those applications out and then follow them up with a phone call. That's all I can tell you. Sorry.

Specializes in telemetry, acute care, skilled nursing,.

Be glad you weren't in Hawaii - I had moved out to Hawaii back in January and had 4 years experience as an RN and its dead end over there with 2 major hospital closing and with more than 2,000 or more nurses without jobs. Even the local new grads had a hard time finding a job unless you worked with the hospital as an CNA before. I was even lucky enough to land a job with at an acute rehab hospital as a nursing supervisor for $43/hr but it was only oncall - but I was able to get in a few days - if I was lucky - I could get 10 days in a month. I finally decided to move back to California - specifically San Diego and accepted a position with a plasma center which opened up by biotech company. They pay $32/hr + annual increases in salary + weekends off (especially sundays since the owner is christian).

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