Nurse Recruitment Agencies?

[SmashRN2]

So, I'm graduating in 2 months from a BSN program (yay!) but now I need to find a job (boo!). I took someone's advice and decided to give monster.com a try, and I've gotten a lot of responses, but they are all from nurse recruitment agencies, and I'm kind of leary of going through one to find employment. I'm starting to get nervous though because all of the hospitals I've called are pulling their new grad programs due to the state of the economy. All my instructors keep pounding it into our heads how hard it is going to be to find a job now. While the whole time I was in school all anybody could ever talk about is how lucky we are to be going into nursing because we'd always have job stability, be financially secure, etc. etc. Ok now I am ranting. I was just wondering if someone could tell me more about recruitment agencies. OK THANKS!

[ohgoodnessgracious]

It's worth a try but I think do the best you can looking at hospitals/clinics/nursing homes first and gain employment directly through them. My hospital right now is at a freeze and new job openings have to be approved by the supervisors before they can be opened. Not to mention, we are no longer accepting outside nursing agencies. I can imagine many places doing the same very soon (of course, depending on the locale and the volume of nurses located for that area). But above all else, good luck!! When I reached graduation, I applied for anything and everything. I'd always have the option later to deny a job offer if I ever heard back.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

What part of the country are you in? Is relocation an option?

[SmashRN2]

thanks for the advice, I am in California and plan on applying to anything and everything I can get my hands on. What a perfect time for an economic downfall! Oh well.

[I RN A]

I'm a new grad, got my BSN 3 month ago. I've looked everywhere hospitals, nursing homes, out of California, jails, psych hospitals, agencies. No job yet. I've been offered a job in rural areas out of state with 80 beds hospital. I don't think I can relocate there. Nursing homes tell you you are overqualified they want LVNs, hospitals tell you you are new grad, we have no openings and you are just looking for a job. It is hard very hard. Just need someone who will give you a chance to get your first year of experience and a chance to be a nurse. Good luck! I'm on the same boat as you.

[Magsulfate, BSN, RN]

Sometimes working through a nurse recruitment company is a good thing. They do most of the work for you. They will find a company that is interested in hiring a new grad... Instead of you searching and searching, they will do it. They will set up the interview and everything. The only thing you need to do is email them your resume.

[expo4u]

I posted on monsters.com however, what I get is responses from recruitment for travel jobs. If you know anything about travel jobs you know they don't want new grads.

[SmashRN2]

Ugh, I RN A, that makes my stomach churn!! I quit my job in August and my savings are drying up very quickly. I was dumb and didn't do an internship or anything special when I was in school, so now I feel like I've cheated myself. I think I'm eventually just going to end up taking anything I can get, just to get the experience.

[I RN A]

yeah, i have made the same mistake. I quit my student nurse job in october, since i was graduating in december. never thought it'd be like that. As far as agencies, 99.9% have told me I need 1 year of experience. Tried to get a job as CNA, has been told I'm overqualified. My savings are going away. I have no idea what to do.