How many New Grads from 2009 still don't have jobs?

[ilovenursing2009]

I am curious how many new grads from 2009 still do not have jobs. I graduated in 2009 and it has been.....well a nightmare to find a job. Many new grads have been doing everything they can to get a job with no luck. Many I know work per diem work such as flu shot clinics, wellness clinics and private duty. Many do not want to work in those settings, but have no choice. Getting a hospital job seems to be like winning the lottery!!!

If you are a new grad from 2009 what have you been doing for work? Did you choose another job like retail or have you been working flu shot clinics?

Thanks for your input!

[work&play]

hi work&play didu graduatewitharn or lpn andweredo u live in nyc---thanks

My roommate is the unemployed. Well, I now have two. They both graduated from a great RN program. They're now working at the school where I work as an occupational therapist. I'm trying to get them in the hospital where I work in the eves.

Anyway, hr told me that if I trian them, they would hire them. LOL!

[RNDreamer]

I wonder how many 2008 grads are still looking.

[RNJRA, BSN, RN]

I graduated in December 2009. I just now (with in the last week) got a new grad position in a hospital. It was very frustrating trying to find a job. I tried applying for retail but wasn't able to get a position because I was over qualified. I also tried to get a tech job but again I was over qualified. I feel very lucky to have gotten this job. While it isn't the area I wanted it will valuable experience.

Don't give up. I know it is very frustrating but something will open up. I was definitely shocked when I graduated to discover how hard it would be to find a job. I knew it wouldn't be that easy but was not expecting it to take 8 months.

I feel very very fortunate.

[RN-Ella]

can you message me the info on the nurse recruiter please?

[lkmrn123]

Nursing - Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare

We just hired 6 new grads (ICU/Burn Care) at the local community hospital in Memphis. The hospital above just built a BRAND new $340-million, 610,000-square-foot children's hospital.

Barnes Jewish Hospital St Louis Missouri Washington University Physicians Specialists Surgeons MO - Barnes-Jewish Hospital

Another large metro area

If you are looking for ob positions try Military hospitals.

Hang in there, getting a job is always very difficult, go to the job sites that give you good advice on resumes, interview skills, etc. Believe when I tell you, landing a job in nursing has always been a task, why do you think I went back to school/got more debt than my home is worth? They were always raising the bar for requirements, wanting this or that credential. This same situation happened when I graduated in 1984, my first nursing job was part-time nights in ob/mother baby, worked my 1 yr (as required by the hosp) then med/surg/, took telemetry class, then moved to step-down, finally to ICU, took over 6 yrs to get to that point. I have never been wooed with a bonus, or had several offers on the table to pick and choose from.

I have been leery of the "nursing shortage" from the beginning. You know how I got my current job (listed as 1 yr nursing experience when I had over 24 with advanced education in the field from Duke University? I had to befriend the HR lady, talk with her, tell her how hard it was for me to land the job. She made a few calls, got my resume in the right hands and Poof! I got a call. No easy road even for the very experienced.......Don't just rely on the internet, show up at the HR department, and oh yes racial discrimination still occurs, still there...Wooten vs Smith & Nephew

[lkmrn123]

Nurses

Mollen Immunization Clinics is seeking full time and part time Registered Nurses RN or Licensed Practical / Vocational Nurses LPN / LVN for seasonal flu shot clinics throughout the area. Our clinics are 7 days a week from September through November or early December. We have morning, mid-day, afternoon and all day clinics available. We will be operating some retail clinic locations across the country everyday of the week. Retirees and New Graduates are welcome! If you are interested in any PT or FT Seasonal positions with us please apply. Flu Shots | Swine Flu | Vaccinations By Mollen Immunization Clinics

Although the Feds take FOREVER to hire you....still apply, apply, apply......USAJOBS - The Federal Government's Official Jobs Site

[JenniferSews]

All you young new grads, news flash it has always been difficult (to some extent) to get your "ideal" job. You may have to work in an area of nursing that you do not desire, but if you are really a nurse at heart you can find a great deal of satisfaction and great work experience taking a less desirable job.

Sorry but paying your dues is not working 6 months or so in LTC or rehab. Paying your dues is working many, many years, in many many different roles

OB/GYN/Newborn, Case Management workers' comp/HIV/AIDS/Med/Surg/Telemetry/ICU/CCU/MICU/Home Health/ER/ Rehab/ Traveler/Ortho/ENT/GU/Stroke unit/PRN at large teaching hospitals/Renal Dialysis/CCU step-down/Camp/Prison (federal and county jail)/Occ Health/Public Health Officer/Research/Flu shot clinic)/review medical records for law firms.

I have advanced education (BSN, MA, Post Master's, national certification), began my career as Diploma grad, and raised two characters to have character.

You have think outside the box, I know for a fact that prisons are ALWAYS in need of nurses. Is it a picnic working in a jail or prison, no but you gain great experience in your assessment and communication skills. Camps are in need of nurses. Public hospitals/clinics are in need of nurses. You may not have all the glitz and glory, all the new nice equipment but you will gain a great deal and be able to practice your trade. Have you tried VA facilities? They are often very glad to train you and are always in need of nurses.

So I would not get all worked up over not finding a job you may have to move, you may have to take a "less desirable" position, you may have to work nights/12 hours/Weekends/holidays (all of them), part-time, contract or some other avenue. If you want a job be willing to do "anything" within the scope of your state board. Yes this economy is rough, but believe me it has been rough for a while. You may have great expectations, but the reality of it is that Nursing is a very hard career choice, if you really enjoy helping people in need of health care you will always have difficult patients, screwball bosses, bad working hours/conditions, etc, not all the same time but the nature of the business working with humans you will always have some issue to deal with.

I have tried to find positions that fit my life style at the time (days shift for kids/WE option for school) PRN to keep my skills up to date. Don't give up, this profession is difficult but very rewarding. Keep applying, keep looking, keep your faith that things will improve.....................

After so many months of this I'm still boggled why people come and post such unhelpful and judgemental things to new grads. Many ARE willing to do "anything" and still can't find a single paying RN job. Do you really believe people are choosing to work as waitresses and at Target instead of the less interesting nursing jobs? And Mollen's clinics? Really!? Having had many friends who have tried it I promise you it is not a reliable source of income even in flu season, and no employer considers it as "nursing experience" when you are searching for nursing job.

[lilyteen]

I had to reply to this post. I qualify as a new grad also. I was offered a so-called coveted new grad residency at a teaching hospital. When the hiring manager informed me sternly that she "owned" me for the next two years - one for MY teaching and then the following year for me to teach a new grad - I was speechless. She told me I had to work nights, weekends, holidays, rotating shifts, and don't even think about calling in sick. After this drill, I respectfully bowed out of the offer. The next offer I received was for part-time work (which is what I wanted only) at a SNF. I went through all the new hiring process - background check, paperwork, license verification, drug screens, even got my new RN time card and badge! The last thing I needed was my schedule. I was supposedly hired to work only 24 hours per week - 3 shifts during the week and every other weekend. My first 2 week schedule included 6 days on/1 day off and 48 hours total for each week! I was so distraught I called HR and declined the job simply because I was hired as p/t but immediately got f/t after hire. I know I may sound like a baby, but I am not a new grad who does not have a life and I am not willing to sell my soul to some manager or allow myself to be hired under false pretenses. I've been working contract as a RN for months part-time and love what I am doing.

[Blackheartednurse]

I graduated on May 2009.I recently found a job as a home health nurse.I enjoy being a home health nurse and would like to continue working as one and also I would like to work in a hospital part time (for an insurace and skills)

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

As I read these posts, I feel for every one of you. Because nursing school (and nursing in general) is hard work. Whether you are a new or an old grad, the fact is, we have all dedicated time, energy, and money to a career that we all desire, and there are not enough jobs of any kind right now.

While I know things will improve, for me, and others like me, nursing is my second, and my last career. Meaning: I put everything on hold, took out loans, went hungry sometimes, and said, "It will pay off" throughout this 5 (yes 5) year run of school. I will take anything, but even volunteer jobs are hard to get, and they require a time commitment of 6 months to a year that I cannot give. When a job comes up, I am taking it, wherever it is. So I decded to take a 3 month course (Crisis Prevention) while I search.

And no....more school is not an option really. I owe 30,000 at 36 years old and counting. I'm sure many people are in this situation, which is very frightening. So I don't think it's a question of new grads being picky, or unrealistic. We are all just caught in an unfortunate situation right now.

The more perplexing question is: What happens in 2 years, when they start crying for RN's again, and many of us are rusty? Because all of the experienced nurses also started out as a new grad. I didn't go to school to hang an expensive piece of paper on the wall, that's for sure. Somehow, intend to use it.

Just take anything even remotely related to nursing for now, I say.

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

I feel for the jobless new grads. I graduated in May 2008, and it took 10 months to find my first job.

My godmother's youngest daughter got her BSN in June. She found a job by signing up with the Oblates, an order of nuns. She's not going to be a nun, but they run a free clinic in Camden, NJ. They're giving her room, board, health insurance, and a small stipend in exchange for 1 year of service at the clinic.

[milobust]

I had the best luck with hospitaljobsonline.com and literally went through each Texas (you can specify your state) hospital (almost 400) on the list until I found specific jobs for new grads (very few hospitals had slots). Paid off for me but it took a good month and a LOT of applications! Good luck.