Getting frustrated....

[PatricksRNMommy]

I guess this is more of a vent than anything else. I'm so stressed eith job-hunting and NCLEX studying I think I'm going to have a breakdown....

I finished my Practicum over a month ago and am awaiting my authorization to test from the state board. Our instructers recommended we start looking for jobs as we are eligible to work as GNs until we pass NCLEX. So I perfected my resume and sent it to pretty much every hospital within an hour of my home. Almost every hospital has called me back now... I have started the interveiw process with one... the nurse recruiter told me that I can't go into pediatrics or NICU as a new grad (which broke my heart....) and that the only spots available for GNs were for night shift.... That would mean, I would never see my fiancee (he works during the day) and have a few hours a day with my 3-year old. I would have to sign a contract promising to stay on that unit on that shift for 2 years.... This is a great hospital with a great reputation and the best pay in the area... I did almost all of my clinicals there, but night shift!?!?!? Dont know if I can do it....

Two other hospitals that called said they only start new grads in June/July when nurses usually graduate... I guess I understand that, they only have to do one round of GN orientation, classes, meditech teaching, etc. Another nursing recruiter I spoke to said that they have so many students on scholarship from their hospital graduating that all of their GN spots are filled for this year but "call us when you have some experience and we'd be happy to look at your resume again 6 months down the road."

Some smaller facilities I applied with dont take inexperienced nurses at all. I've applied at prisons, nursing homes. Doctors offices (all I have contacted said they hire MAs and LPNs, but not usually RNs....

I worked my way through school as a waitress, so I don't have the "foot in the door" that alot of new grads that worked as PCTs do. I'm kicking myself now, becuase all of my classmates who worked as PCTs during schools have jobs lined up at their facilities already.

I have always wanted to be a nurse... But I am getting so discouraged. I guess I was under the impression that once I graduated, nursing recruiters would be calling right away. There's not much more I can do at this point. I've filled out applications, sent resumes by e-mail, tried cold-calling HR recruiters (who dont usually answer or call back by the way). I'm out of ideas.... If one more friend/family member/acquaintance/former instructor asks "Did you find a job yet?" I think I might scream.....

Anyone have any ideas for me? Anyone have a similar experience? Please tell me I'm not alone...... :scrying:

Lindsay

[KellNY, RN]

Hate to tell you, but if you want to be picky about what unit you work on (peds, L&D, NICU, etc--and I totally understand your wanted to chose the type of unit--) then you really need to be ready to have to 'do your time' on the night shift. Most units have a list of current night RNs waiting to get their hands on a day spot as soon as it opens. In fact, *all* but 3 of my friends from nursing school were stuck on a night position. The only 3 that weren't were the ones who just went to an interview and basically said "Stick me wherever you need me as long as it's days" because they wanted general med/surg experience. Some med/surg units are so desperate for bodies that they have openings on all shifts. But then you have to question if this is the type of unit you want to work on, yk?

RE: Night shift-how do you figure you'd only have a few hours a day with your 3 yr old? Think of it this way-you'd be working while he slept, and during the hours you'd be working if you were days (7a-3p or 7a-7p) you could sleep. Less than that, even. If you got home at 8am, slept till 2pm, that's 6hrs of sleep, then you have the rest of the day with him.

Yeah, night shift stinks, but it's not the worst thing on Earth. Yeah, it takes you away from your family, but so does days. And evenings. And...you get the picture.

Chill out. Take it one day at a time. Unless you're desperate for money, focus on studying for your NCLEX, then apply. Yes, some places hire GNs, but they usually come with some sort of contract like the one you mentioned. And the last thing you want is to get hired as a GN only to get fired in 2mos when you fail your NCLEX because you were too stressed/busy with orientation and ft work to study and focus on that.

Best of Luck in whatever you decide to do.

[PatricksRNMommy]

Thanks. I recieved a few more calls from hospitals today and got some interveiws set up... One for peds, one for nursery/nicu, and one for psych... (my top three choices). So things are looking up....

After reading your reply, I really thought about it and theres no reason I need to rush to get a job right now. I'm going to focus on NCLEX and getting licensed, keep interveiwing, and stop stressing about it :)

Thanks again

Lindsay