Frustration & No RN Job Opportunities

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I am so frustrated with not being able to find a RN position. I live in the philly area... I have applied to every hospital I can think of... I decided to make some calls to follow up on my application status and i get the ususal Nurse Recruiter answer machine stating" Please leave a detail message; your call is important to me and I will return your call asap". also I call HR and they bascially say to wait for someone to contact you." I guess i am just venting... I know that I am not the only RN grad looking and waiting to jumpstart my career. BUT Boy it's frustrating as well.... Any advice?:uhoh3:

I'm still in Nursing school, graduate in Dec 2010, and most of the people in my level are already finding Nursing jobs. I mean, we're getting hired as Techs for now and the floor managers are already talking about what we'll be doing once they hire us as RNs. It's really about who you know. Ask your former instructors if they have any leads or would let you know who to talk to. 100% of the students in our program get jobs within 3 months or so. They might not get the floor they wanted right away, but they still get hired.

Sorry you're having such a hard time. Let me know if you want the names of some of the floor managers or the Nursing recruiters I've been talking to or worked with. ;) They give bonuses for referrals!! Good Luck!

Oh, that's really good that you are getting your foot in the door now while you are still in school. You are being steered in the right direction. I wish that I had done that in school but found out later on that it should have been the way to go. I tell you every day is a learning experience and I can honestly say that I am learning sooooo much about the politics of searching for employment. I just can't wait to actually be able to put it to use. LOL

Thank you for the offer regarding the names of nursing recruiters, nurse managers etc. I would love the information and I am very grateful for the offer. I can send private messages(PM) to you but I think that you have to post at least 15 times before you can send me a private message (PM). Let me know if it is ok to pm you my email or whatever. Thank you again and if there is anything that I can help you with please, do not hesitate to ask. :)

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Specializes in acute care.

I am in NYC, and no, I still haven't heard anything. I called one hospital who told me that New Grads positions are limited and that I would just have to wait and see if I get called back.

Hey NY Dreamer, just curious where in NY you are from. Also, that is crazy that you have volunteered, done an externship and still nothing. I have recently tried volunteering and missed the monthly deadline for my first choice but the other two I called one said I have to come in and fill out an application and the other hospital had the nerve to ask me why I wanted to volunteer and said that if I was seeking employment volunteering was not the way to go. The funny thing was I had not said anything about seeking employment. LOL Times must be hard. Have you heard anything yet?
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Specializes in Tele, ICU, ED, Nurse Instructor,.

I must say I was blessed with the job I have. I worked as a patient care tech on the same floor I am nursing on for approximately two years. The nurse managers know who are students and when they are graduating. They talked to me and offered me a position and I accepted. Now I know I need a change in scenery. I want to travel. I have the years and another degree under my belt to make the change happen. I know some student nurses do not work while in school but sometimes it would help just to work as a PCT at least once or twice a month just to get and keep your foot in the door. I am downing no one. Im just giving my opinion and it is not law.

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hey,

just wondering where you are working in NC? I am from MN, have applied to multiple out-of-state hospitals, since MN will not even look at you if you are new grad, but haven't had much luck. Any info would be great. Thanks!

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Not necessarily. I graduated from a school in Southeast Iowa in May 2009 and I had to move to North Carolina to get a New Grad job (which by the way is a bad market as well). Congratulations for already having a job lined up and in a good unit already. I have friends who are still in LTC from May and are not even looked at for a job in a hospital because they have no acute care experience and one of them is also graduating from a RN to BSN program and still not luck.

I actually now am on my 2nd job (Med/Surg) because the first one (Cardiac), I felt was too acute with too high of a patient-nurse ratio, I felt that as a New Grad I was putting my license on the line every day. This second one is still a high patient-nurse ratio but their acuity is not as high (no cardiac drips, no insulin drips, etc...).

Good luck to those still looking! I hope you find something soon.

hey,

just wondering where you are working in NC? I am from MN, have applied to multiple out-of-state hospitals, since MN will not even look at you if you are new grad, but haven't had much luck. Any info would be great. Thanks!

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Specializes in Telemetry.

hmmmm...I NEED A JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:madface::madface::madface::madface:

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Specializes in LTC, PCU, Med/Surg, Hospice, OBGYN.
hey,

just wondering where you are working in NC? I am from MN, have applied to multiple out-of-state hospitals, since MN will not even look at you if you are new grad, but haven't had much luck. Any info would be great. Thanks!

I work for Novant Health. They have multiple sites in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. However, like I said in my original post getting a job as a New Grad here is very difficult as well.

I just started my floor orientation and there was a student who was precepting as well and she was livid when she found out I "took her job!" (She had interviewed for the same position and I got it over her because I, at least, have some experience.) Also, from what I hear from nurse recruiters here is that they don't even look at out-of-staters and hire their own NC New Grads 1st and this year there not enough jobs for everyone. The only reason why I catched a break the first time around was because I lost my home to a flood and moved here. I guess the first hospital felt sorry for me or something.

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Specializes in LTC.

I know these posts are over a year old, but I thought I would give you all an update. I live 6 miles from Poughkeepsie and this is what I was told not an hour ago by a nurse manager who works at Vassar Hospital. (She knows my husband, who is a frequent patient there as he is dying of end stage liver disease.) I was told that my grades were not good enough and this was why I had never been called for an interview since I graduated in May 2010. My GPA was 3.5. When I repeated that number, the nurse manager said that because there were "so many new grads" that the hospital could "cherry pick" and that now they are only considering baccalaureate prepared nurses (no associate nurses) with GPA's of a minimum of 3.9 but preferably 4.0. The nurse recruiter in HR essentially told me the same thing about 6 weeks ago, without all the gory details. In my entire class of 50 new nursing grads in May 2010, only 1 had a 4.0 and she moved back to Long Island where she came from and got a job in a hospital there. I was told by this same nurse manager that I should try to get a job in a doctor's office (around here, no one uses nurses in MD offices, only medical assistants who get paid between 10-13/hour based on experience). I have to tell all of you that I was absolutely CRUSHED when the nursing manager told me that my grades were not good enough. In addition, I have alot of life experience living in 3rd world countries. They always push that diversity stuff on us in school but when it comes down to it, it doesn't seem to make a difference when it comes to getting a job.

Additionally, I happen to know that Vassar hired at least 2 people from my school who actually FAILED nursing courses and had to repeat. I know this because I tutored one of them and actually helped fight the nursing dept to get her reinstated when her grades were on the cusp of failing, i.e. mid-70's. But she has a job there now and I don't.

Another poster on these boards commented on St. Francis Hospital, i.e. that their doors are closed to outsiders which I have found to be true so far. I have submitted no less than 15 applications for different jobs, even part time, and all I get is computerized responses that they will call me if they find something that fits my qualifications. It is maddening because my husband is in and out of that hospital too and the CNA's in the ER are constantly telling me that St. Francis is desperate for nurses, looking to hire, etc etc ad nauseam. When I tell them how many times I have applied and never heard anything, their jaws drop to the floor. It just goes to show you that people who work in a place have no idea what is going on.

I am sick at heart over all this. I spend alot of my time studying at home, while applying for any other type of job I can find including clerical and getting nowhere fast. I am desperately trying to hold onto the nursing knowledge and obtained in college so that it does not slip away.

It ought to be against the law for community colleges to continue to fill their classes with aspiring nurses, knowing full well that no one will hire them. At least, not in this area.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.
I know these posts are over a year old, but I thought I would give you all an update. I live 6 miles from Poughkeepsie and this is what I was told not an hour ago by a nurse manager who works at Vassar Hospital. (She knows my husband, who is a frequent patient there as he is dying of end stage liver disease.) I was told that my grades were not good enough and this was why I had never been called for an interview since I graduated in May 2010. My GPA was 3.5. When I repeated that number, the nurse manager said that because there were "so many new grads" that the hospital could "cherry pick" and that now they are only considering baccalaureate prepared nurses (no associate nurses) with GPA's of a minimum of 3.9 but preferably 4.0. The nurse recruiter in HR essentially told me the same thing about 6 weeks ago, without all the gory details. In my entire class of 50 new nursing grads in May 2010, only 1 had a 4.0 and she moved back to Long Island where she came from and got a job in a hospital there. I was told by this same nurse manager that I should try to get a job in a doctor's office (around here, no one uses nurses in MD offices, only medical assistants who get paid between 10-13/hour based on experience). I have to tell all of you that I was absolutely CRUSHED when the nursing manager told me that my grades were not good enough. In addition, I have alot of life experience living in 3rd world countries. They always push that diversity stuff on us in school but when it comes down to it, it doesn't seem to make a difference when it comes to getting a job.

Additionally, I happen to know that Vassar hired at least 2 people from my school who actually FAILED nursing courses and had to repeat. I know this because I tutored one of them and actually helped fight the nursing dept to get her reinstated when her grades were on the cusp of failing, i.e. mid-70's. But she has a job there now and I don't.

Another poster on these boards commented on St. Francis Hospital, i.e. that their doors are closed to outsiders which I have found to be true so far. I have submitted no less than 15 applications for different jobs, even part time, and all I get is computerized responses that they will call me if they find something that fits my qualifications. It is maddening because my husband is in and out of that hospital too and the CNA's in the ER are constantly telling me that St. Francis is desperate for nurses, looking to hire, etc etc ad nauseam. When I tell them how many times I have applied and never heard anything, their jaws drop to the floor. It just goes to show you that people who work in a place have no idea what is going on.

I am sick at heart over all this. I spend alot of my time studying at home, while applying for any other type of job I can find including clerical and getting nowhere fast. I am desperately trying to hold onto the nursing knowledge and obtained in college so that it does not slip away.

It ought to be against the law for community colleges to continue to fill their classes with aspiring nurses, knowing full well that no one will hire them. At least, not in this area.

What about Crystal Run healthcare? I know they hire new grads. My friend works at one location and loves it. She is hoping to be able to use some of the CRH experience when she begins applying to acute care settings. And there are multiple sites in OC. Don't give up--I graduated in May and got a job in a hospital. It part time 0.5 but it's A JOB. And I know I am lucky to have one at this time.

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Specializes in LTC, PCU, Med/Surg, Hospice, OBGYN.

hey, if you are still looking for a job even 1 to 2 years later...you will love this video i found on you tube! hillarious! i thought you might need a laugh when things are so frustrating. keep your chin up. it took me a long time to get my first nursing job and i'm happy to say i finally ended up on an obgyn/womens hosp floor and love it! don't give up. keep trying, calling, and e-mailing them nursing managers until they have no choice but to call you back! also, apply even if it says experience required. i got on this floor even though it said l&d experience required and all i had was mainly med/surg, ltc, and home health. so don't be discouraged. enjoy this video for now...

:yeah::lol2::clown::jester:

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