Has this economy enabled you to become the type of nurse your heart is set on?

mustlovepoodles, RN · Apr 24, 2010

Sorry things haven't worked out the way you thought they would. But you're not a "loser who couldn't even get a hospital job." You are a new grad with little experience who couldn't get a hospital job because they're looking for experience. If you were HR and you had 40 applications from new grads and a nurse walked in with 16 years experience in the NICU, who would you hire? It's a no-brainer. Of course they're going to hire the experienced nurse. It's not personal, it's good sense.

That said, you are getting good experience now in home health. Don't discount what you're doing. I can guarantee you that the parents of your little patients are VERY glad you're there to normalize their life (my son has a nurse we couldn't live without!) The economy will change, all us old boomers are going to retire(3 years & counting...) and you'l be set to step into our place. If you want to inprove your chances for hire, start acquiring CEUs. There are plenty of seminars you can attend that will broaden your practical education and make you more employable.

Working in the hospital isn't all it's cracked up to be. The hours are long. Often the floors are understaffed for acuity. It can be an exhausting and thankless job. I've been a nurse 32+ years, 25 years on night shift in the hospital. My feet are ruined, I suffer from depression & anxiety, and I have a sleep disorder brought on by, duh, shift work. I left the bedside 10 years ago to pursue peds telephone triage, which was a great match with my extensive peds experience. Three years ago I switched to school nursing and it's a match made in heaven. I will never ever work in a hospital again! I am every bit the professional nurse in a school setting and my practice matters. When I consider what I do for my diabetic kids, my multi-disabled kids, my autsitic kids, my kids with transplants and sickle cell, I KNOW that I am doing important work. If anything, my self esteem has improved because I no longer feel beaten down.

Chin up. Be proud of what you're doing. Fifty years from now, you won't care that you didn't work in a hospital. No one will care what kind of car you drive or how much money you made. But you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you were important in the life of a child. :nurse:

Jules A, MSN · Apr 24, 2010

I have read so many horror stories about new graduates working for a hospital- quitting, getting fired or just having a tough time or even experienced hires having trouble in this market..I have not got the chance to even get my feet wet..

First many, many congratulations on getting your second nursing job your experience is adding up and will benefit you in the future as you apply for other positions. :up:

Unfortunately at this point in time, as has always been in most other professions, new graduates now have to start wherever they can get employment and while it might be disappointing I don't find it unreasonable. I agree that things are tight in many areas but feel that students who applied early have had a better chance of finding hospital positions and disagree that the economy has had much effect on people "quitting, getting fired or just having a tough time as a new grad". That happens every year because new grads have different levels of competence and expectations, imo. FWIW on my unit we have several new grad that started in the past 9 months and lots of opportunities for overtime so we aren't hurting yet. Hang in there and be happy for your accomplishments.

dortheadix · Apr 24, 2010

I always function under the assumption that if I encounter more than one person/group that seem 'angry' or 'unhappy' then maybe-just maybe-the problem isn't them but me! What is your focus when you interview? And how do you project that? Next interview remain positive and upbeat throughout the interview process. The fact that you made it to a peer interview tells me the manager and HR felt you were indeed qualified. More and more facilities utilize the peer interview to ensure you are a good fit with coworkers. Cohesiveness between coworkers always makes for a much more positive and productive work environment. In some places participants in a peer interviews do have the power of veto but for the most part you are scored based an a series of questions. And most of these questions will be related to personality and work habits rather than your qualifications. Remember-by the time you get to the peer interview you have been deemed qualified! And during the peer interview you may discover they are are not a good fit for you. Sounds like you will eventually find your place. Good luck!

P.S. Volunteering is always a great way to get connected with positive people and do some valuable networking. You yourself said you were happiest wen helping others. And who couldn't use help in this economy?

meandmymen · Apr 24, 2010

I know exactly what you're going through and it is so frustrating . I too graduated in May 2008 while taking care of my first son. It was stressful but at the same time I so happy and excited when I finally graduated because I felt that nursing was (and still is) my calling. I passed boards in July 2008 and then got a job in the Emergency Room. I later felt that it was too much for a new grad so 6 months later I got a job in an ICU stepdown floor. When I got this job I found out I was pregnant with my second son. I later had to quit due to horrible preceptors (me and two other people were sharing one preceptor who happened to graduated the same time I did, and another one who was never there to teach, grrr), dealing with a whole floor of people with VRE and Acinobacter, a high risk pregnancy, and driving to work 3 hours a day while working 14 hour days, not to mention never seeing my son.

Fast forward a year, I have sent out 14 applications for jobs since January, had 3 interviews, and no job yet . While I enjoy staying at home and raising my two boys, I really need to get back to work because 1) nursing is a changing field and it's hard to catch up once you get behind and 2)my husband has been wanting to go back to school since 2007 and can't because he has a job where he is constantly working for little pay. 3) We are currently living in a two bedroom 1000 sq ft house with 4 people and it's getting smaller by the day!

All I can do is pray and hope that things get better for us, this economy is horrible for everyone but especially on those just starting out!

MauraRN · Apr 24, 2010

I feel for you. I am in the same boat; 2nd career, did LPN first, worked a few years in sub-acute rehab, killed myself doing RN program, working, raising a child. After 100+ applications, I finally got a hospital job; in acute rehab. Big step up in the world, eh? I hate this job with a passion, have always wanted the ED, have ACLS, PALS, TNCC, doing CEN now, but my LPN experience "doesn't count" in the hospital world, and Acute Inpatient Rehab, really is "not acute hospital care" Can you say rock and a hard place? I am close to throwing in the towel, this job is killing me physically, and wiping out my sense of humor and compassion. I have never met so many mean, angry people in one place. It is soul-deadening. Maybe those of us 2nd career "new" nurses have to start re-thinking our value to our new profession. Lots of us can combine our previous professions, i.e., law, teaching, marketing, IT, and our nursing knowledge into a new role. I have the feeling that hospitals either are not aware, or are incapable of being aware of the bargain they are getting with the 2nd career nurse. Does anyone agree with the above?

netglow, ASN, RN · Apr 25, 2010

IMaybe those of us 2nd career "new" nurses have to start re-thinking our value to our new profession. Lots of us can combine our previous professions, i.e., law, teaching, marketing, IT, and our nursing knowledge into a new role. I have the feeling that hospitals either are not aware, or are incapable of being aware of the bargain they are getting with the 2nd career nurse. Does anyone agree with the above?

I do.

PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN · Apr 25, 2010

I do.

It is only of relevance for the mature, hard worker.

The ones who actually are willing to go the extra step for their hospitals.

Face it folks, they have the reins right now and you have to jump through a lot of hoops to stand out. :smokin:

casi, ASN, RN · Apr 25, 2010

Right now the economy simply sucks. Most of the hospitals in my area are only hiring experienced nurses.

As a new grad I've given up on the hospitals and have started applying to all the nursing homes in the area. From what I hear a year of experience is the magic number to get into the hospital setting.

Best of luck!

JenniferSews · Apr 25, 2010

Count me in. I didn't cope, I experienced a major depression. Then I lowered my standards even further (if that was possible, since I only wanted ANY JOB.) I finally landed a job, and now I'm just grateful to have one. It's not the career I wanted or was hoping for all those years on the wait list and doing prereqs for school. But I bloom where I'm planted, for better or for worse.

ETA- don't be put off by all the "it's not them it's you" stuff you'll hear and read here. The job market is totally different than a year ago or 3 and it's not you. It's nearly impossible to find a job as a new grad and plenty have run into bitter HR people. Hang in there and good luck!

Bluekitteh · Apr 25, 2010

I dreamed of working on the Med/Surg floor. I graduated RN school in December 2009 and I can't find a job anywhere. I'm applying for jobs all over the state and even in other states. I send out an average 20 resumes/applications a week. I'm the only one in my class who hasn't gotten a job. People are constantly trying to "help". They ask oh have you applied here? How come you haven't found a job yet, because there are a lot posted on careerbuilder? They say it has to be my resume, but I've had my resume looked over by a state employee who deals with resumes and finding people jobs everyday. They are convinced it is something I am doing wrong. People who aren't looking for a job have no idea what the job market is like. the job market sucks for everyone looking right now. Places have the pick of the litter right now. I'm getting tired of seeing jobs posted with, "1 year experience required" or "3-5 years experience required." I loved doing clinical in the hospital, but I doubt I will ever get a job at a hospital in this economy. :crying2:

mustlovepoodles, RN · Apr 25, 2010

Count me in. I didn't cope, I experienced a major depression. Then I lowered my standards even further (if that was possible, since I only wanted ANY JOB.) I finally landed a job, and now I'm just grateful to have one. It's not the career I wanted or was hoping for all those years on the wait list and doing prereqs for school.
But i bloom where I'm planted...

And that's the key to a satisfying life. You didn't "lower your standards"; you just changed your expectations. Hear the difference? When I graduated in 1974 we were in an economic crisis that was very similar. Anyone remember gas rationing? 15-18% mortgage interest rates? High unemployment? It was very hard to get a job and a lot of nurses had to take less than their dream jobs. That's true today in a whole lot of careers. Why do you think there are so many teachers, music majors, and MBAs in retail? Because they can't get the job they wanted without experience. But the economy will turn around and when it does, you'll be sitting pretty with your nursing experience, albeit in an area you didn't anticipate. In the long run, that experience will hold you in good stead.

It took me about 7 years to find my niche, during which time I did a little of everything. Once I found my field(peds) I have stayed in it 25 years. But I haven't done the same job all that time. No. I have tried several different specialties, all of whick come to bear in my current job--elementary school nurse. There is no way i could have been prepared for this job as a new grad. No sirree. I didn't have the LIFE experience, nor the nursing judgement. But now my head is *stuffed* with peds knowledge and I'm a much better school nurse for it.

You'll see. It will work out in the end. Be patient. You're time is coming. :nurse: