Fought the good fight...

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After over two years of searching, I am giving up searching for a decent nursing job. I cannot feel guilty about it. I've interned, volunteered, sent out a thousand apps. I was a great student. I've done my extra certifications, saw a career counselor, pounded the pavement. I'm so tired of explaining this to people who asks, I already feel like some kind of reject. I'm mad at myself for watching my classmates get positions and resenting them for it. I'm just tired. Tried to apply to UTA today for online bsn today and they said I cannot do it because I don't have a job. That's it. I'm done. Hurts me too much to keep this up.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

I'm really sorry for your situation, cincin.

I can imagine very well what it must be like... and then keep hearing all of the false platitudes from people who just don't get it, especially other nurses.

I won't offer you any false encouragement or the like. I'll just wish for you to find peace and to find gainful employment in some manner or other.

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Specializes in PICU, NICU, L&D, Public Health, Hospice.
After over two years of searching, I am giving up searching for a decent nursing job. I cannot feel guilty about it. I've interned, volunteered, sent out a thousand apps. I was a great student. I've done my extra certifications, saw a career counselor, pounded the pavement. I'm so tired of explaining this to people who ask, I already feel like some kind of reject. I'm mad at myself for watching my classmates get positions and resenting them for it. I'm just tired. Tried to apply to UTA today for online bsn today and they said I cannot do it because I don't have a job. That's it. I'm done. Hurts me too much to keep this up.

Are you in a position to relocate? Would I be wrong to think that you might be in Cincinnati? My guess is that the market there is pretty depressed.

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I agree with the post above...if you're able to relocate, definitely consider it. I live in San Antonio and there's a lot of RN jobs out here. My hospital just hired a batch of new grads for ER.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
After over two years of searching, I am giving up searching for a decent nursing job. I cannot feel guilty about it. I've interned, volunteered, sent out a thousand apps. I was a great student. I've done my extra certifications, saw a career counselor, pounded the pavement. I'm so tired of explaining this to people who ask, I already feel like some kind of reject. I'm mad at myself for watching my classmates get positions and resenting them for it. I'm just tired. Tried to apply to UTA today for online bsn today and they said I cannot do it because I don't have a job. That's it. I'm done. Hurts me too much to keep this up.

If you really do want to get your BSN, try applying to the University of Wisconsin's online program. All of it, with the exception of one clinical, is online. It's not some fly-by-night

school; it's been around since the early 1900s.

I'm sorry you are having such a hard time finding a job. I'm not going to ask you if you did "this" or "that." I believe you when you say you've done everything. I know how tight it is in my area. If you have a job, you keep it, because there isn't another job just around the corner.

Good luck. I hope you have success in whatever you try next.

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I am soooo sorry to hear this.

I understand you have given up.. I won't try to change your decision.

But.... I love the idea of relocation. Even to just achieve that magical one year of experience number.

Better than throwing away your years of education.

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I feel your pain.... I have 22 years of LPN experience which means nothing to no one. Every where I've submitted an application for employment desires "Experience", or at least "1 year Med-Surg", great...but I can't get it if they don't hire me. I have never felt so depressed about nursing ever...If I was still applying as an LPN I would have a job tomorrow. Sometimes I feel is't my age, but who will admit to that? No one. I do not have the option of relocating as I care for my aged father and help with the grandchildren. I would never dream of moving away from my family at this point in my life. It saddens me that employers fail to see what a mature nurse has to offer. Had I known it was going to be this tough gaining employment as an RN I would never have wasted my time nor my money for the degree. I wish you the best of luck. And as the others have stated, if you have the ability to relocate to an area that IS experiencing a shortage of New Grads I would highly recommend it, as the last I seen the shortage is not expected to hit until 2020 and for me that is too late :(

After over two years of searching, I am giving up searching for a decent nursing job. I cannot feel guilty about it. I've interned, volunteered, sent out a thousand apps. I was a great student. I've done my extra certifications, saw a career counselor, pounded the pavement. I'm so tired of explaining this to people who ask, I already feel like some kind of reject. I'm mad at myself for watching my classmates get positions and resenting them for it. I'm just tired. Tried to apply to UTA today for online bsn today and they said I cannot do it because I don't have a job. That's it. I'm done. Hurts me too much to keep this up.
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After over two years of searching, I am giving up searching for a decent nursing job. I cannot feel guilty about it. I've interned, volunteered, sent out a thousand apps. I was a great student. I've done my extra certifications, saw a career counselor, pounded the pavement. I'm so tired of explaining this to people who ask, I already feel like some kind of reject. I'm mad at myself for watching my classmates get positions and resenting them for it. I'm just tired. Tried to apply to UTA today for online bsn today and they said I cannot do it because I don't have a job. That's it. I'm done. Hurts me too much to keep this up.

Afternoon, Cincin1:

Oh, do I know how you feel - lost my job in June of 2009, and JUST got back in to the workforce as an on-call CNA (as in 3 1/2 weeks of employment). Took me 2 years, 8 months & 20 days to find a just barely part-time $9.00/hr. job, and you wouldn't BELIEVE how grateful I am to have that.

Like others have recommended, if your circumstances allow for it look at the possibility of relocating - not to SoCal (job market's picking up for entry-level, but new grad LVN/RNs are still having a tough time of it) but I hear San Antonio & Dallas/Ft. Worth might be good places to look (I've got kinfolk in both areas). Failing that you might want to look at HOW you've been approaching your job hunt; there might be something in your technique that can be "tweaked" to help the process along.

In any case - rest assured you are most decidedly not a failure, nor are you alone in this. No shortage of people here (and elsewhere) that are in exactly the same boat you're in - let's face it, job hunting right now just plain sucks. Feel free to PM me if you want to brainstorm; or just post on what you've been doing so far & we can all toss out ideas & see if we can get you on track.

----- Dave

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Specializes in Hospice / Psych / RNAC.

Wow...I fell your pain. Many moons ago I was in the same situation. It was actually only 6 months but I could feel it. I live in Hawaii and there are not that many opportunites. So I moved from an outer island to the main island. I took a CNA position with a home health agency and worked for a year doing that. After that I applied everywhere and suddenly I was getting interviews. I never actually said I was a CNA because I was a licensed RN. I was hired at the first place I applied. The big difference is that I already had my BSN.

Also, there are multiple online BSN programs that are certified...why stop at one? Have you thought about opening up your own business? What about a life coach or a plethora of many other things that RNs can do instead of working in a hospital. Have you considered opening up your home for the adult foster care programs that are in every state? I mean you only need a CNA cert for that and can have up to 3 patients in your home at the medicaid rate of $2,500 a month or find a private pay which is charged more (personally I think it's unfair but that's another story). The foster care homes are for elderly and disabled as well. Why not open up your own nursing agency that over sees these types of homes? Start small and who knows what will happen.

It seems such a waste to throw all of your education away...I certainly wish the best for you. Realize...you are not alone.

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Two groups seem to have it rough these days. New grads and those with fifteen or more years experience. Both are expensive.

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Many more like you OP.

Thousands.

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Specializes in LTC and School Health.

:hug: So Sorry.

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