no hope for nurses without experience??

Nurses Job Hunt

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I finally understand why nursing school recommends nurse tech jobs during the program....

NO ONE hires new grads without any experience...

What am I going to do?? :crying2:

Where do I begin? :sniff:

Specializes in ICU, ED, PICC.

KATRN78, I feel your pain. I think we graduated at the same time... Luckily I was able to move back with my parents and don't have to support myself with a full time job. I do keep a part time job though. I hate it when people ask me about my nursing career because I feel so bitter about it yet I want to be optimistic.

You should try looking at volunteering with the American Red Cross, their hours are very open and lenient, you put in what you want to put in. I just helped a lot at their flu clinics. Now I'm starting to volunteer with a free clinic that is in my area. If you can fit in at least 5 hours a week, any free clinic would be happy about that. The good volunteer programs actually appreciate your help, unlike hospital volunteer programs which are packed full and don't appreciate what you do.

I'm getting burnt out applying to jobs though and I'm wondering what I have been doing wrong. I've applied all over and I've even applied out of state, but I can only stretch my search so far and only fill out so many applications. But I try not to dwell on how crappy this is. I hate to be a grump because of my lack of nursing career. I'm trying to enjoy this time in my life instead of spending it stressing all the time.

All I gotta say is ugh.

::EDIT::

Oh and one thing I despise hearing is people saying, "what? There's no jobs for nurses? I thought there was a shortage." Yeahhh, nope, not true.

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Yeah, I hate when people say that too. Or how about "Oh, that can't be! _________ Hospital is ALWAYS hiring! You should apply there!" and when I say "Yeah, they only want people with experience" they give me a look that says they do not believe me.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Warning* This is a vent.

Not being able to find ANY RN job just makes you feel like crap. I am also tired of hearing about ALL of those Nursing Jobs clueless people talk about. I have literally applied to 120 positions, in every state, for either experience "preferred" or no experience necessary. I have applied to *every* new grad residency I have come across. I have heard nothing. I got to the point where I would re-read my cover letter/resume thinking I had a misspelling or put a curse word (j/k) in there that would prevent HR from contacting me! I am tired, depressed and feeling relatively worthless. Oh, and any day now my loans should roll in. Good times. If I was getting calls/interviews I would think maybe it's something I'm doing/saying, etc., but, I don't even get called to screw anything up!!! Negative rant over* Puts smiley face back on.

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Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

Just keep applying for positions in all areas of nursing. Long term care, skilled rehab, acute care, etc. Something will open up eventually, it will just take time. Ask anyone you know in a hospital to give you a recommendation. Deliver your resume in person. Make sure you have an excellent resume and cover letter than highlights your clinical experience. Check hospital websites for new positions frequently. Many large hospitals only select applicants that apply first. It takes persistence to get hired in this market. Good luck!

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Specializes in ICU, ED, PICC.

Handing a resume in person doesn't help all the time because most hospitals turn you away and tell you to apply online. I've been pretty aggressive at some places and I still get rejected. I can tell when a nurse manager decided to hire someone else and is ignoring me. At least I've had 2 official interviews. I've been trying the networking thing, but that just seems to be getting me nowhere unfortunately. I think I just have bad luck or bad timing or something... I have no idea what it is

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@tokmom

I read your reply to smhs and we are on the same boat I've been job hunting for months but no replies from the employers.Do you have any advice or suggestions?thanks.Have a good day!

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Specializes in Case management.

I am having the same problem. Just continue applying. Do not give up. There are so many openings for experienced RNs. When are they going to start training us (new grads) to fill the openings. Something has to be done by the hospitals and colleges to move up the experienced nurses and employ ned grads. I understand huge number of new grads are entering the job hunt at the end of every semester. More colleges has the Rn program now than before. I hope they are not importing RNs from abroad. That would be an insult.

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Specializes in ICU, ED, PICC.

I believe that most hospitals in CA have stopped taking foreign nurses. I've even seen it explicitly stated in some job postings.

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I had just about given up after 11 months looking without success. I applied to a clinic where a friend of a friend worked and finally got in. I only have volunteer experience on my resume I haven't worked in 20 yrs so if I can get hired you can too. Just keep trying! :hug:

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Specializes in Emergency/Trauma.

i know you're tired of hearing it, but keep applying. in the 5 weeks after i passed nclex (january 20th), i applied to 118 positions. i called and emailed nurse managers to the point that i was concerned about receiving restraining orders.

i was eventually hired for pre-op and recovery in an outpatient women's surgical center and started on march 1st. after i get my acls, i will be able to circulate and administer conscious sedation (fentanyl and versed). this will hopefully be enough experience to get into a hospital soon... keep your chins up everyone!

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Specializes in Operating Room.

All I can say is read this story of how someone scored her dream job:

https://allnurses.com/success-stories-nursing/i-got-job-532817.html

I am waiting for a job offer, all because I read that post. I will be posting with my own success story soon (*crossing fingers*).

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no matter how much i want to deny it...I think experience really matters...many of my friends with just their ADN got job right out of the program because they had nurse tech or CNA experience...whereas many of my friends with their BSN and no experience are currently unemployed....so this shows that yes experience does matter...but how much??

New grads have to gain experience somehow but if no one is willing to offer this to us, how can we take off the "new grad" tag?? its very frustrating and depressing... :sniff:

Many of the hospitals in WA offer residency to new grads with or without experience...so you are competing with those who do have experience even if they dont have their BSN...the result: "no job for those without experience"

I continued straight to the BSN program right after ADN program instead of finding a job becuase I am a strong believer in higher education...I wanted to go through one more year of education to gain the best knowledge possible for my patients...but it seems like this might have been a bad move in this economy...many of my peers in the BSN program also feel this way...:no:

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