My RN New Grad is losing hope need suggestions

Nurses General Nursing

Published

My girlfriend graduated from Nursing School in TN this past May, and Passed her NCLEX in July on the first try. Since then shes been applying to jobs like crazy. She has sent out over 80 resumes to positions in 6 states. She has also applied to multiple positions at hospitals she really likes. All she gets in return are HR reps with attitudes and unresponsive Nurse Managers. Last night her best friend from her program called her and she got a job at the Hospital my girl was hoping for. She is sweet, caring and serious about her profession. Her resume has been reviewed and approved by nurse practiioner family members and other professionals. She has a 3.4 GPA and good references.

I just want to see her happy again and she is soooo defeated right now it is painful to watch. Even though I would prefer to have her here in mid-east Tennessee I would be ecstatic if she got a job in Timbucktoo!! So my questions are, What is the best way to get into Physician Offices? Will working in a non hospital RN position effect her ability to get the jobs she wants? When applying to out of area positions (3 - 14 hrs away) is she being looked over for not being local? Should she concentrate on her local area? Also, is this the norm right now?

Shes so upset I don't want to talk about these suggestions with her untill I get some feedback. THANKS!!

0 Votes

Give her a hug for me. There is a lot of unemployed nurses right now along with other professions and it hurts.

Just support her because she is going to feel defeated. She has to continue to keep sending out resumes to all job postings and she will eventually find something. Remind her to keep dressing nice for interviews and be positive in all interactions with potential employers as if they were the first ones she has spoken to.

0 Votes
Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

Is this by any chance your girlfriend?

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/cant-get-any-619703.html

If not, encourage your gf to read that thread. Might help her feel better, as in "I'm not alone."

0 Votes
Specializes in ICU.

Maybe she will need to start out working in a rehab facility or an LTAC (Long term acute care) for a year. Very similar work to an entry level Med Surg position. Hospitals are cutting positions like crazy due to the economic downturn.

0 Votes
Specializes in Med Surg.

Hopefully, something will open up very soon. Did she apply to the hospital where she did her clinicals? There, she's a familiar face and might stand a better chance at a position. Sad to say, but a lot of places actually treat you as though you should graduate from college with already 2-3 years of experience under your belt. Assure her that she is not alone. A friend of mine graduated and went directly into Erlanger in Tennessee. I don't know if she has tried there but he had no nursing experience at all and they hired him in the ER there. Just a thought.....

0 Votes
Specializes in CC, MS, ED, Clinical Research.

The important thing is to be supportive. You're a great guy for caring. Nursing jobs take longer than they used to and she's lucky to have you. Have her call a doctor's office that she's interested in working for and ask the secretary where the jobs are posted. Good Luck to you both.

0 Votes
Specializes in PACU, pre/postoperative, ortho.

Just keep pluggin' away.... Encourage her to apply even to positions she may think require more experience. I'm a new graduate too and applied to a position yesterday that preferred cardiac or ICU experience but got a call today! You never know...

0 Votes

Congrats on your g/f passing her NCLEX! I'm sure eventually she will get the position that she really wants. In the meantime, she should be able to get a job in a LTC facility with no problem, they are always looking for nurses and cna's. From personal experience about working in a physician's office, most employers don't want to pay RN salaries so they hire LPN's or med techs to fill those office nurse positions. Good luck to your girlfriend, tell her to hang in there and don't get discouraged, things will work out. :)

0 Votes
Maybe she will need to start out working in a rehab facility or an LTAC (Long term acute care) for a year. Very similar work to an entry level Med Surg position. Hospitals are cutting positions like crazy due to the economic downturn.

I am with Libbyliberal, she may need to go to a rehab or nursing home type setting. Physician offices are not easy to get esp as a new grad. My first job was at a rehab hosp and it gave me tons of good experience. At this point she needs to apply for med surg, nursing homes, rehabs, psych nursing, etc. and continue to apply till somethings happens. Sometimes you gotta take a job you don't enjoy so that you can obtain your "dream job" in the future.

Is she open to moving out of state?

0 Votes
Specializes in none.

Things are bad all over. I live in what is called, "God's Waiting Room"Ocean County, NJ. There are hundreds of jobs, But Geriatric. She would loose her assessment skills very quickly here. But it is still a job.

0 Votes
Specializes in Critical Care.

What about the nurse practioners in the family. Do any of them have a heads up about job openings? Do they have any contacts in their network that they can mention your new RN grad and try to help her get a job working where they are such as doctors office or hospital system thru their various contacts from now or the past etc!

Family and friends in the healthcare system can make a difference in getting a job by having the ear of the manager and knowing first about any upcoming job openings! They can sing praises about her to people that have the ability to hire!

It hasn't been that long since she graduated and passed boards! Congrats! Not everyone can pass boards on the first try!

0 Votes

Thanks ALL!!! This has been helpful, especially info on Rehab facilities! Thanks for the support this is a great site. She is willing to move out of state....in response to whomever asked. Thanks!

0 Votes
+ Add a Comment