Frustrated RN Seeking Work

Nurses Job Hunt

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I'm an RN, and worked in a medical spa for 9 months in Texas prior to moving to SoCal. It took me 6 months to have my license transferred here, and now that I have my license I'm STILL unemployed. I've lived here for 7 months now and I have literally applied at every place that I can. I'm beginning to wonder if maybe this is a sign I'm not suppose to be a nurse? I don't have acute care experience so I'm unable to work at a hospital unless I get accepted for a new grad position, but all of the local new grads take those spots quickly as they have done clinical rotations there and/or have a foot in the door. I don't know anyone out here, so me having a foot in the door is out of the question. I have my BLS but that is my only certification. I wasn't required to have anything else at my old place of employment. I've researched classes and can't afford to take ACLS or PALS which is a requirement for a lot of jobs. Am I the only one struggling out here? Did anyone else go through anything similar and find a silver lining? Just seeking advice.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Many areas are seeing a surplus of nurses. SoCal, based on some of the anecdotes here, is one of those areas. Are you only applying for jobs in hospitals? You may need to broaden your search beyond acute care facilities and look into other settings. Also, are you sure you qualify for new grad programs? In my area, the only people eligible for them are those who have been a nurse for less than a year. With 9 months in TX and 7 months in CA, you're beyond that one year that many would still consider a nurse a new grad.

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Well, I am from Southern California and it took all of my new grad buddies up to a year to find work, with ACLSs, PALS, Pharm for EKG, NIH Stroke Scale, MAB, and every other piece of paper that we all desperately got in the hopes to stand out, plus a bunch of useless nursing association memberships.

It is tough here and very hard to break into hospitals without acute care experience. Try to get ANY experience: home health, skilled nursing facilities, even short-term gigs from Craigslist. As for acute care, look into long-term acute care (LTAC) facilities. They might consider you. It is hard work but it still is acute care. I work in an LTAC and see nurses move to major hospitals at about 18 months.

Join Southern California new grad RN communities on Facebook. I got some good leads from there and at least you will see how everyone else is struggling.

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Thanks for your reply! Sorry for the delayed response. I have applied all over. Clinics, SNF, Hospice, Home Health, Hospitals. You name it. I've had a couple interviews since my post but still no luck. However, I am being considered as a new graduate even with my 9 months experience in TX. I have no experience here in CA as of yet. I do have another interview tomorrow for an Occupational Health Nurse at a hospital. Fingers crossed!!! :)

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Well, I am from Southern California and it took all of my new grad buddies up to a year to find work, with ACLSs, PALS, Pharm for EKG, NIH Stroke Scale, MAB, and every other piece of paper that we all desperately got in the hopes to stand out, plus a bunch of useless nursing association memberships.

It is tough here and very hard to break into hospitals without acute care experience. Try to get ANY experience: home health, skilled nursing facilities, even short-term gigs from Craigslist. As for acute care, look into long-term acute care (LTAC) facilities. They might consider you. It is hard work but it still is acute care. I work in an LTAC and see nurses move to major hospitals at about 18 months.

Join Southern California new grad RN communities on Facebook. I got some good leads from there and at least you will see how everyone else is struggling.

Thanks for the advice! I didn't think of joining groups on Facebook. Also, It's hard to get certificates in anything such ACLS/NIH etc. when they cost money and I'm unemployed lol Bleh. But like I said above, I have an interview tomorrow so here's hoping ;)

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Specializes in Ambulatory care.

Good luck in your Job Search. I'm in NYC and it took me almost a year to get my first job. It also took close to 500 applications both in person, online, email, volunteering at hospitals and places of interest to me. Are you on linkedIn? If not i strongly suggest it. recruiters look there too. There's definetly no shortage of nurses, me and my classmates were hustling to try to get some nursing experience anything.

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Good luck in your job search. I'm in NYC and it took me almost a year to get my first job. It also took close to 500 applications both in person, online, email, volunteering at hospitals and places of interest to me. Are you on linkedIn? If not i strongly suggest it. recruiters look there too. There's definetly no shortage of nurses, me and my classmates were hustling to try to get some nursing experience anything.

Thank you so much! It's seriously been so crazy. I just keep trucking along somehow. I know my path will take me somewhere eventually. :) At least that's what I keep telling myself.

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Specializes in PICU.

Don't give up, keep faith. I was in your same position a couple of days ago, but stumbled across this article that helped tremendously. https://allnurses.com/nursing-job-search/how-i-got-689384.html. In short, it says to email the nurse managers of the units in hospitals you really want a job at. Explain to them why you want the job, how you would be a great fit, highlight your credentials and work history, and attach your resume. After being told by HR that I wasn't selected for an interview for a certain position, I emailed the nurse manager. She responded the next day telling me that she had contacted HR for my application, and that they would be contacting me shortly. Look where I would have been had I never emailed the manager. :up:

Also, could you tell me more about your job working at the Medspa in Texas? I'm interested in becoming a FNP to one day open up my own cosmetic center.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
Well, I am from Southern California and it took all of my new grad buddies up to a year to find work, with ACLSs, PALS, Pharm for EKG, NIH Stroke Scale, MAB, and every other piece of paper that we all desperately got in the hopes to stand out, plus a bunch of useless nursing association memberships.

Certifications without experience are meaningless.

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