I graduated in May this year and received my license in June. I was so excited feeling like I was beginning an entirely new journey. My excitment is gone now and all that remains is utter frustration!!
I can't even count how many positions I have put in for. Out of all of them, only two have even been forwarded for manager review. None have resulted in even a phone call or email let alone an interview (I haven't even gotten confirmation emails from one hospital stating that they've received my applications)! Most of the time I'm told that the hospital is considering other candidates, but sometimes I'm told I'm not qualified. I am very good about reading the qualifications so that I don't apply for a position that I'm not qualified for. It seems as though hospitals are looking for mainly experienced nurses, which I understand (it isn't like I'm applying for highly specialized areas... I WANT med/surg to begin with).
Some (not many... three that I can think of right now... from a graduating class of 144) of my friends from RN school have already gotten positions because they either had CNA experience (understandable) or they (their words) "knew someone".
I'm getting so frustrated with the red tape and not even getting any responses back from these places that I'm on the verge of working at Lowe's and calling it good for a while... I do NOT want to do that, but my husband recently retired from the military and we only have TWO full paychecks left before we lose half our pay... we have a mortgage, car payments... all the normal bills. Neither of us even qualifies for unemployment, so I have NO idea what we're going to do here.
I've revamped my resume and I'm picking up a letter of recommendation from a prof tomorrow. I will also be going directly into human resource departments at two of the hospitals that I have applied at to drop off my resume and ask which positions I AM qualified for. Is there anything else I should do??? Would volunteering at a local hospital help? I'll obviously get NO nursing experience from that, but I can't think of anything else to do.
Our instructors did talk about the shortage in school, but they didn't try to sugar coat the economy and the effects that might have on us finding jobs, but I had no idea that the shortage is only in experienced areas.
If anyone has any tips or advice, I welcome it!
FYI... I live in southern Georgia but I am licensed in Florida (more hospitals... I thought it would provide more opportunities for me since we only have one local hospital up here), and I can't even apply for a Georgia endorsement until I have worked in FL for three months (GA state law).
I will keep everyone updated if I do or don't get the position. I was recently reading something on the "Eden Alternative". It is basically a training/certification for nursing homes/ltc facilities by this company whose motto is to see ltc/snf as "places created for the care of human beings" rather than a place to dump the ill and elderly. Not many nursing homes have been through this program. I don't know if it is because of the cost or because it might not be well known. I found Eden Alternative's website a breath of fresh air.
NJFek-I am hesitant to work with 30+ patients as well. It makes me very nervous knowing that I can't really be assessing patients because I am so busy and preoccupied with doing med pass and a million other things that aides typically do in the hospital (CBG, VS etc). Like you, I was caring for four patients during my preceptorship my last semester of school independently and this kept me very busy for the whole shift (8/12 hours). I feel like getting to know the system is half the battle. I define "getting to know the system" as knowing when things happen, where things are, how to document, getting to know the residents etc. I am so nervous about this job that I am not even sure I want it but will be forced to take it. I do not mean to complain but I feel like I am in a desperate situation. I have been so anxious about being an unemployed new grad that I haven't slept well in months. I keep praying. I know God has a plan. As the Good Book says "He who has begun a good work in you will bring it to fulfillment." :redbeathe
LMoon~ I've been reminding myself lately that I know God has a plan for me... I just wish He would let me in on it! LOL I feel as though I am forced to take it as well. I guess all we can do at this point is pray... best wishes!
LMoon~ I've been reminding myself lately that I know God has a plan for me... I just wish He would let me in on it! LOL I feel as though I am forced to take it as well. I guess all we can do at this point is pray... best wishes!
Have you called the nurse recruiter to follow up on the resume/letter that you
I have followed up with some of the places, but others that said they would hold on to my resume but were not hiring, I haven't called or followed up with them. One of the hospitals told me that I could check the status of my applications online. I told her that for three of the apps I had no status at all when I checked. All she would say is to keep checking, but that it probably means I didn't get the position. I called a recruiter that distributed my resume to local hospitals and all he said was that if the places wanted to hire me they would call... so he basically just did what I've been doing all along (and I drove an hour to meet with him for him to do what I've done...). I don't have any idea where to go from here...
Specializes in PCU, Stepdown ICU, Home Health Case Management, ED.
to the poster who was debating whether or not to take the job 60 miles away, i would like to suggest you take it. i was one of the dredded may 09 grads. the only job i could find in a hospital was about 70 miles from me! i took it. i have not regretted it yet. i am now a year in, and i have all that valuable experience. you can always get a closer job once you become an experienced rn. the drive for me is almost an hour and a half, sucks in bad weather and on my way home (i work nights), but in another year i will start looking at closer hospitals. by then, two years should look pretty decent to recruiters.
I got the job!!!! It will be on a subacute floor on days. This kind of scares me but I need to swallow that fear and dive in deep! I have a few weeks off before I start. It is only about 20 minutes from me.
i have followed up with some of the places, but others that said they would hold on to my resume but were not hiring, i haven't called or followed up with them. one of the hospitals told me that i could check the status of my applications online. i told her that for three of the apps i had no status at all when i checked. all she would say is to keep checking, but that it probably means i didn't get the position. i called a recruiter that distributed my resume to local hospitals and all he said was that if the places wanted to hire me they would call... so he basically just did what i've been doing all along (and i drove an hour to meet with him for him to do what i've done...). i don't have any idea where to go from here...
then i would call again and keep calling until you get an interview.
as far as the other place goes, i would contact the hospitals recruiter directly, not some go between person and call them as many times as it takes. it just takes a lot of initiative to get these people to take notice of you. good luck.
LMoonRN
52 Posts
I will keep everyone updated if I do or don't get the position. I was recently reading something on the "Eden Alternative". It is basically a training/certification for nursing homes/ltc facilities by this company whose motto is to see ltc/snf as "places created for the care of human beings" rather than a place to dump the ill and elderly. Not many nursing homes have been through this program. I don't know if it is because of the cost or because it might not be well known. I found Eden Alternative's website a breath of fresh air.
NJFek-I am hesitant to work with 30+ patients as well. It makes me very nervous knowing that I can't really be assessing patients because I am so busy and preoccupied with doing med pass and a million other things that aides typically do in the hospital (CBG, VS etc). Like you, I was caring for four patients during my preceptorship my last semester of school independently and this kept me very busy for the whole shift (8/12 hours). I feel like getting to know the system is half the battle. I define "getting to know the system" as knowing when things happen, where things are, how to document, getting to know the residents etc. I am so nervous about this job that I am not even sure I want it but will be forced to take it. I do not mean to complain but I feel like I am in a desperate situation. I have been so anxious about being an unemployed new grad that I haven't slept well in months. I keep praying. I know God has a plan. As the Good Book says "He who has begun a good work in you will bring it to fulfillment." :redbeathe