I just need some moral support...

Nurses General Nursing

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I am a new grad. Can't find a job. I have applied to about 130 jobs in the last few months. There is nothing wrong with me I have a 3.8, tons of clinical experience, have ACLS, hard working...yada yada yada. I am starting to get the hint that no one wants me because I have a ADN and not a BSN. I was told that yesterday by a major hospital. Just happens to be the one I will do anything to work at.:crying2:

I am getting very depressed. I don't even want to bother anymore. I can't believe that I worked so hard and it was for nothing because no hospital wants an ADN. (I would go to a LTC, but hospitals dont count that as experience.) Is my degree really worthless? All the turn downs are making me feel worthless. I can't even get an interview. What am going to do? If I do get more then 6 months experience working as a RN I can't apply to new grad programs and if I dont work for more then 6-12 months they are telling me I will have to take a refresher course ($3,000).

I am about to give up because I feel so worthless and realizing I may have to go back to school and once again put off my dreams so I can get a piece of paper that demands some respect. :crying2:

Specializes in Nurse Scientist-Research.

There are some areas of the country that still hire new grads, even into specialties. I would be willing to bet that the hospitals tell you the BSN is preferred, but it's just a line they use because you are an ADN, if you had a BSN, they would probably say, "we prefer experience, or the college on the other end of town".

To the person who states they moved twice to get a job and is still looking, I am stunned. I think if you find an area of the country that is not having as much trouble (good signals would be lower unemployment rate, more stable home prices) you will find an area that is still hiring new grads. My unit has hired new grads all year and have more coming in January. It is not as easy as it was 3-4 years ago, it will get better.

Some areas of the country that are hiring are not known for their strong employee protections (not big union areas), but you can have a job, make better money than if you were a tech, and move back to your home area once you have that all important 2 years experience (and the economy is feeling better). I understand that is not an option for some people, evaluate if it is worth waiting several years in your original area not working (at least as a nurse).

Once more I must preach my belief about the state of nursing in America. There has never been a nursing shortage in America, there has merely been a shortage of nurses willing to work in current conditions. Right now, there are many more previously not working (or working PRN only) nurses that are more than willing to work. Many are doing this because their spouses are currently unemployed. Who do you think an employer would rather hire? An experienced nurse who hasn't worked for a couple of years or has worked part-time or PRN versus a new grad who will require intensive training for 3-6 months before they are even allowed to take their own assignment?

And to the OP, I feel for you and the rest of you struggling to get your first job. I would have been so defeated if this had been happening to me at that stage. I had $11 in the bank the week I started my first nursing job. I had to borrow money to pay for lunch in the cafeteria while I was on hospital orientation.

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Sorry, I forgot to state that my first move was for the only job I was offered. We moved to tiny rural town. Loved it, but they didn't love me being a totally new grad, even though they knew. They got rid of me before my orientation was done stating, "that if I didn't get it by now, I never would." This hospital has had 5 new grads in past decade, hello...how am i supposed to measure up to an experienced RN without more experience, like at least a year? Devastated me. So, kids and I picked up and moved closer to a northern ca city along major highway near a family member and a hospital with a new grad program that was just opening up. I made it through first round only to be told during second round that I did not qualify because I had experience. So, get this, I don't have enough experience to be hired as staff nurse and I have too much experience to get into a new grad program! Just Lovely! I am lucky I do not drink or smoke because these past months I sure would've been. And the longer it takes me to find a real job, the worse it looks to employers! I have done a few immunization clinics till they ran out of vaccine, and I am now looking into secretarial/retail anything. Still volunteering too. But can't pay my $60,000 in loans, now that's scary. Yes it was a private well respected BSN college. ARRRGGG I am sure it will happen. My nursing friends who stayed in Bay Area are having same problem, nothing available, nothing no LTC, SNF's, hospitals, clinics, public health, nothing.....we are good at searching too. Totally sucks. you know I never expected to be handed ajob on a gold platter, I really do not mind working for what I want, but I refuse to move my children again....they are finally happy in school and have friends. We just have to make this work.

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Specializes in med-surg.

OK I am also way out of this loop!! I live in Arkansas and the hospitals I know of hire new grads all day long. I have trainned at least 3 new grads myself this year and would have had more if they would come!! I live in a rual area and have never heard of a nurse that couldn't get a job right out of school!! I am also an ADN nurse and here there a very few BSN's. I see adds in the paper every week asking for new grads. Where do you guys live that this is happening? :eek:

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Specializes in Mostly geri :).

Awww I'm sorry. Heres some things you may not realize about LTC: some patients require most of the same skilled care in hospitals, depends on where you go. Families are extremely greatful for the care you give their loved ones during their last days here. LTC tends to have great perks and a less strict dress code. They have far more flexible scheduling. I've seen pt's as young as 25 in LTC. I know you have your heart set on a hospital, but LTC may surprise you.

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don't give up, ilove, hang in there. it's gonna happen (& when it does, i will be looking for your post entitled, "I GOT A JOB!!!") you and your skills are valuable. it's just crappy out there right now. don't get down on yourself. i hope your phone is ringing right now...:heartbeat

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OK I am also way out of this loop!! I live in Arkansas and the hospitals I know of hire new grads all day long. I have trainned at least 3 new grads myself this year and would have had more if they would come!! I live in a rual area and have never heard of a nurse that couldn't get a job right out of school!! I am also an ADN nurse and here there a very few BSN's. I see adds in the paper every week asking for new grads. Where do you guys live that this is happening? :eek:

I live in CA and recently moved from HI. Both states are having major problems. I know new grads in OR and WA too that are in the same boat. Reading all the posts on allnurses a hospital like yours is very very rare.

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Awww I'm sorry. Heres some things you may not realize about LTC: some patients require most of the same skilled care in hospitals, depends on where you go. Families are extremely greatful for the care you give their loved ones during their last days here. LTC tends to have great perks and a less strict dress code. They have far more flexible scheduling. I've seen pt's as young as 25 in LTC. I know you have your heart set on a hospital, but LTC may surprise you.

I would love to do LTC, but they are telling me the same thing. I spoke to a hiring nurse at a LTC and basically the RN only does paperwork while all the LVN's do all the physical work (except IV's). I don't want to do that, but that doesn't matter they want a year experience! The hospitals will not consider LTC or SNF work as experience.

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I also live in Arkansas and my hospital has several RN openings right now, as do most of the hospitals in my area. We have several agency nurses right now because we can't find enough RN's for full-time employment. I graduated with my BSN in May '09 and have been working there ever since. We actually graduated 35 BSN students in my class at a local university and 100% have been employed full-time since graduation. It's a rural area, but it's a new hospital and the staff are great! They don't really differentiate between BSN and ADN graduates. I would consider moving for a year to get the experience. As it's a small hospital, we cross-train to all areas. I've been back and forth between ER, OB, and Med/Surg and have learned so much!

Good luck to you and I hope things work out.

Becky

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Flight.

wow ... i AM out of the loop...

i wish you the best of luck..

if you wanna move to the midwest. i can give you a job~~~

:cool:

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Thank you ILove for starting this thread. Although no job yet, here in rural Calif, everybodies support and offers are much appreciated. If I was childless, I'd move again in a heartbeat. But that would mean moving three times in one year, and that is too much to ask of my preteens (and their father passed away unexpectedly 5/08), so I can't move them to a brand new place again, I just can't. Or I'd take you up on those offers because I am not totally unpacked yet from the last move!

Staying vigilant. It'll happen, It has to!

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Specializes in PICU now, Peds and med-surg in the past.

Keep your head up! I know it's hard. First off, I don't think that you having a ADN is the real reason you can't find a job. Yes, there are some hospitals that like those fancy letters and favor those nurses. I am a diploma grad (going for my BSN or MSN eventually) and I work with nurses from all sorts of programs. Heck, I make more money than several of those BSNs! I am a charge nurse on my floor and come to by many of the BSN nurses for help and advice. NO NURSE IS LESS OF A NURSE BECAUSE OF HOW THEY GOT THEIR LICENSE, WE ALL TOOK THE SAME NCLEX! (Not yelling, just emphasizing) When it comes to floor care I can care for someone as well as a BSN prepared nurse so forget about the letters. Of course, for some types of positions outside of floor care you may need to consider a BSN later on. Just keep trying and be proud of your education and your license, you worked hard!

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Specializes in LTC/Skilled Care/Rehab.

I have a BSN and can't find a job either. There are tons of jobs listings posted....they are all for experienced nurses though. I don't understand why a hospital would have the same job posted for 6+ months. Isn't a new grad better than nothing? I guess not! It is depressing but I try to be positive. I have kids and a hubby with a job so I can't move. I would totally consider it if I was single and not a mom. Good luck! I hope you get a job soon!

btw, I have started looking for seasonal retail jobs....better than nothing!

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