Feeling Very Hopeless

Nurses Job Hunt

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Hey all, I thought Id vent or not really vent but voice my strain and hopeless feelings about not finding a job yet. I have read many inspiring stories here and tried to get myself perked up to no avail.

I have been on allnurses for a couple years. I started out as an LPN working in a nursing home, and then I left to pursue my RN associates degree. I graduated in November, took my boards in January 2014 and passed. I was so happy, no...I was beyond happy that I passed. I saw only bright things in the future and looked forward to finding a job, going back to school to obtain my BSN and eventually MSN, working my way up to find my dream job in a couple years, saving, building a life with my husband (I got married this year). So many new things happened this year for me that I felt so blessed to have happen to me.

Now its September...9 months later and I still am jobless. I have walked around to hospitals and nursing homes handing out my resume, only to have them tell me they do not take paper resumes and I must apply online. Those days I came away with a bunch of cards with web addresses. I applied online to every one, I signed up a million and one accounts to apply to jobs. Every site you can think of I have an account and daily jobs sent to my email. As well as hospitals I have accounts with, some send me new positions that I apply too. In addition to all the career sites, I apply daily to positions on Craigslist. I even applied to several agencies, some turned me down for lack of experience, some never called me back or got back to me when they said they would. Some said they had a place for me but never called me back even when I left messages and emails inquiring.

It is the most discouraging feeling in the world to look at myself and see that after so many months I do not have a job. I am a new grad RN, but I try to sell myself with that bit of LPN experience that I have...although I have been told many times that my LPN experience doesn't count. It is even more discouraging to hear that my classmates who have graduated with me have jobs. They live further from where I live however which makes me think that there is an advantage they have. For I am looking for jobs in NYC, and they are on the outskirts of the city, or not even in NY. The areas they have jobs at I have no way of getting to. I do not drive and rely on transit. I have been on a bunch of interviews only to have them tell me that they couldn't hire me because I have no experience. That is all I hear...its the only thing I hear. I am so desperate that I applied to receptionist positions in medical offices.

I am so depressed its horrible. My husband does his best to cheer me up, but I know that me not working is a struggle. We have rent and bills to pay, wedding expenses to pay off, my student loan, some credit debt..etc....its just not what I thought would happen after I passed the NCLEX. I knew that it would take some time to find a job but not this long.

I just wanted to tell my story and let it out. No one needs to reply to this, so I will thank you for taking the time to read this.

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I feel for you! I don't know if any of my suggestions are going to help you, but I want to help so I'm gonna try.

First: Is there a reason you cannot return to the SNF that you worked in as an LPN? You will have made some connections there, but you didn't say if you applied there. Connections are everything! Speaking of connections, what about preceptors that you worked with in clinicals? Call, email or stop and see them and ask if they can put a good word in for you if an opening pops up on their unit.

Second: You need to be sure you are applying at places that will hire ADNs. Some hospitals will only hire BSNs, don't waste your time with those. It just makes things more discouraging.

Third: Try drs offices, clinics, home health and LTCs. They seem to be more new grad friendly!

I have heard that NYC is a really tough market. Therefore please know that it isn't you, it's them! Don't let them get you down...there is absolutely nothing wrong with you! Where I am, it's hard too...I was running into nothing but rejections until I saw a post like this that mentioned utilizing connections. Sure enough, I contacted an old preceptor (took her cookies) and asked her if she would be willing to speak to the NM next time a job opened and voila...I have my dream job. If I can do it, you can too!!!

Best of luck and please let us know how this turns out!

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Specializes in EDUCATION;HOMECARE;MATERNAL-CHILD; PSYCH.
Now its September...9 months later and I still am jobless. I have walked around to hospitals and nursing homes handing out my resume, only to have them tell me they do not take paper resumes and I must apply online. Those days I came away with a bunch of cards with web addresses. I applied online to every one, I signed up a million and one accounts to apply to jobs. Every site you can think of I have an account and daily jobs sent to my email. As well as hospitals I have accounts with, some send me new positions that I apply too. In addition to all the career sites, I apply daily to positions on Craigslist. I even applied to several agencies, some turned me down for lack of experience, some never called me back or got back to me when they said they would. Some said they had a place for me but never called me back even when I left messages and emails inquiring.

OP, in NYC, it is who you know. Start networking. Join LinkedIn. Volunteer. Have you tried working through nursing agencies?

Instead of depression, pray and trust God.

Good Luck!

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I am checking in, and I must apologize for the grammar errors in my passage. >

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Scaredsilly: Thank you for taking the time to read and reply! Thank you for all your kind words of encouragement and trying to help, I really appreciate your kindness.

I'll try to address each of your points,

The reason I left the LTC facility is because I started going to school, and although I would have loved to continue working there during school, the commute was very far and would have left no time for the dedication school required. It was the only place that hired me when I was a new grad LPN and I grabbed it. It is around 2.5 hours in the morning to get there, sometimes I would get up even earlier so that I can get started on my work and 7-3 is never long enough to finish all that needed to be finished. And when it was time to leave, depending on traffic as the only mode of transportation there is a bus, it would take 2-3 hours to get home. Although I loved the facility, the nurses were another story. They are the type who would never want to see another nurse get up and be promoted or move on to something better. If there was another genuine nurse there, I didn't have the pleasure of meeting her. When many of them found out that I was leaving to pursue my RN, they said I didn't need that, that I should just work. Even the RNs were extremely discouraging. The only connections I made were with the CNA's on my floor. They were sweethearts. Anywhere else I go I doubt I would ever find nicer CNA's who listened and helped each other and were cordial and respectful.

I have been applying to ADN positions, even ones that encourage new grads. But I think there is so many of us applying to that one job they find a person and move on. I have not gotten a call back from those.

Those dr.offices and clinics are very new grad friendly, those are the positions that probably get bombarded with individuals like myself. I apply but I don't think they would call me simply because they have so many to chose from.

Thank you so much for your kind words of encouragement. I am happy to know that you are in your dream job, it does give me renewed hope. :] Thank you once again. I will have to go to my school and talk to my adviser who was also my professor. I will try my best to utilize connections from old professors, family, friends, etc. Thank you once again.

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Chiandre: I agree, I completely agree. In NYC it is all about who you know. I have been networking in terms of friends that are working in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, etc. They have all given my resume in and I have yet to hear from the HR. I have also been going to any job fair that I see advertise. I went to a huge healthcare one back in March that I was very hopeful for. I handed my resume and conversed with a lot of recruiters and hoped I made an impression. But I have not heard from any of them. Then I recall that day and I remember just how many nurses were there....a lot.

I have applied to several agencies. I filled out the forms and everything and they do not call me back.

One said he would have something for me by the end of the week, this was in April. He has never gotten to me back and when I called and emailed he never responded.

Several turned me down when they found out I was a new grad.

And my most recent one said that had a position for me in a nursing home that might take me. I filled out forms, gave them everything and am waiting to hear back from them. That was about a month ago. I recently sent an email but no response. I have called but no answer. So that is on my list of to do's, calling them back until I get an answer. >

Thank you for taking the time to reply. I really appreciate it. I will pray. I will try my best to get out of the depressive state I am in and look up instead of down. My husband always tells me everything will be fine and it all happens for a reason. I will trust him and God and hope that something comes along.

Thank you so much

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Hello all! I wanted to update this post with something very uplifting!

I was recently hired and start Oct.20th....and the cherry on top..is that it is my dream job :)

It just happened so suddenly and unexpectedly..I received a call from the office about my resume that I has sent them a few weeks back. They asked for an interview that Friday, I went in and was hired on the spot. It was such a shock that I couldn't speak.

It is an administrative position, a field of nursing that I wanted to go into. I worked bedside nursing as an LPN and knew it wasn't for me; I pursued my RN so more doors would open for me in terms of what I could do as a nurse. I was afraid that would have to work bedside for years before I could make a start into what I really wanted. Now, I don't have that fear any more, I don't have that mentality that I am settling and have to work years unhappily just somewhere...anywhere. I have my first Registered Nurse job and it couldn't be any better...it is exactly what I wanted and I am so thankful.

Yes, I was depressed and feeling hopeless, but after 9 long months of looking for a job, ANY job...I now have one that is my dream position, is something that I know I will enjoy thoroughly, and know that I will be happy to walk into everyday. That was all I could wish for.

Thank you to those who offered me kind words, suggestions, help, encouragement. Thank you to my husband and his unwavering support and faith. He never stopped doubting me and never made me feel like a failure when I felt like that inside for not obtaining a job. There was one out there for me better than all the rest. Now those months do not seem so bad. The waiting was for this and I couldn't be happier.

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Congratulations!!!

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HUGE congrats!!! I know what a wonderful feeling it is! I'm so glad it worked out for you!

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Wow! Wow! Wow! I'm so incredibly happy for you. Your excitement is tangible and it brought a smile to my face. Best of luck!

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Thank you everyone! Its amazing how low you can feel and then how it can all turn around when a simple thing like "You're Hired" is said. It reminds me of the NCLEX, all those thoughts and doubts and what ifs and then you read that one little word, "Pass" and the sky is the limit...lol.

Thank you, thank you everyone

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Congratulation! Good for you! :D

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Congrats! Each day was a just day closer to getting that dream job!! Happy for you!

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