How is 2010 treating new RN graduates?

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I will be graduating from nursing school shortly. I was curious if the job market for RNs who want to work in hospitals (not LTC facilities :)) has improved in 2010. Someone told me to find an area where not a lot of wealthy or middle-class Caucasian people (i.e., of Western/Northern European descent) with college degrees and trust-funds live and compete for jobs and reolcate there, and I'll probably find something. So I did just that. And guess what happened?!?!: all of the other hypercompetitive, hotly ambitious, overeducated Caucasian job-seekers with resources and money and degrees did the same exact thing! Ygads! Sheesh! I just can't seem to get ahead. I feel like Charlie Brown in the Peanuts episode where Lucy pulls away the football. ARRRGGGHHHH!!! :clown: All self-referential, self-depricating jokes aside, how does 2010 look for you new graduate RNs? I know the West Coast from San Diego to Seattle is saturated, especially California. Any "decent" areas opening up? 2008 and 2009 were horrible years for new nurses. Is there light at the end of the proverbial tunnel in 2010-2011 or does it still look like crap?

i graduated on dec 12th, and had a job offer before i graduated. it was the only job that i had actually applied for (i had tried to apply at another hospital, but it was too late, and the site wouldn't let me)started on jan 2nd, this year. i wish you well in your endeavour. take advantage of your last semester clinicals. get to know the managers on different floors, especially the one you really are interested in and talk to them face to face. also make use of your instructors to put in a good word for you with managers that they may know personally.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Operating Room.

I also graduated in December 2009 and was licensed in January 2010, applied for 100s of RN positions all over southern CA and after 4 months landed a new grad RN job in my local ICU... I LOVE my job!! :redbeathe It definitely helps to know someone who works at the facility you are applying to, that's how I got my interview. If you are a new grad looking for work I highly recommend using every "connection" you have in every facility and be open to working in whatever type of nursing you can find a job in.. just start getting experience. It turned out I knew at least 4 or 5 RNs at each of the local hospitals and I made phone calls to them asking for advice and if they would let me know if anything was opening up... and that's exactly how I found my job! I am definitely blessed! :yeah:

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Folks, a lot of these posts are depressing...

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Specializes in LTC/SNF, Psych, Primary Care and Triage.
It sounds like a mixed bag for sure. The RN who wishes he/she had gone to culinary school: my father was a chef and it's a horrible career (lousy pay, long, long hours, restaurant DRAMA). Chin up: something will open up for you. New Mexico is looking for RNs. The pay here is decent from what I've been told. The following areas I'm sure are still saturated and aren't hiring:

San Francisco/San Diego/L.A.

Austin/Dallas

Portland (Ore.)/Vancouver, WA/Seattle

Minneapolis

Chicago

Denver/Boulder

Thank you! Thank you for the information about the places that are saturated with applications. I will consider New Mexico. I have no problem relocating to anywhere in the country for ANY RN position in any area of nursing.

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Providence hospitals in Alaska is hiring too guys. I love it up there but the winters are brutal

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Specializes in Pediatrics, OB/GYN.

to the OP...don't be so quick to rule out nursing homes. You very well might end up gladly taking a position in one. I don't think people truly know how bad it is out there....

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I graduated May 2009, put in resumes monthly for nurse extern position. Got repeatedly rejected and learned all 8 hospitals put a freeze on hiring new grads. They want atleast 1 year of experience. They wouldn't return my calls, and some recruiters wouldn't even answer their phones. The OH-BON was very, very slow in sending my authorization to test. I passed NCLEX March 2010 (I had applied in October 2009). Since passing I sent 250 online resumes, walked into a few HR offices, called 40 places and heard nothing except rejection or that they aren't hiring.

I was unable to get a job at K-Mart, Target, and hospital and LTC jobs (surg-tech, CNA) repeatedly, for being "overqualified".

I got smart and left out my college education from my resume- and finally was offered a job at a Dollar Store, which I've been working at. God bless them, their job allowed me to keep my house and not move back in with my parents and move away from my fiance.

About 4 months after getting licensed (now) I got a call, where some Skilled Rehab nurses got their year-of-experience and left for hospital jobs, leaving immediate openings. I got an interview and the HR loved me and offered me the job the same week of the interview. I finally start as a nurse this week. :yeah:

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Specializes in Med-Surg, ICU.

Thanks guys! I don't feel so badly now, I will press on! :w00t:

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Specializes in Hospice.
Thanks guys! I don't feel so badly now, I will press on! :w00t:

Definately. I think for the most part people should be encouraged. I got offered another interview today for an icu which i turned down since i have already accepted my job and i had zero connections with that hospital. I really think the market is picking up. Just keep plugging away!

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Specializes in Med/Surg and ANCC RN-BC.

I graduated in march and I just landed my first job as a new grad. I am working at a level one trauma hospital here in colorado. I was hired on to the neuro floor (not neuro ICU). It wasn't my ideal floor to work on, but it was at a hospital and not a LTC. Some of my classmates work at my hospital and others are at other places. Most classmates though are at LTC.

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Specializes in Utilization Management; Case Management.

can you guys post where you are workin, areas you're loacted in etc. I mean everyone will be applying then. But some of you seem to be having luck so give up the info! :hug:

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Specializes in LTC, Acute care.
can you guys post where you are workin, areas you're loacted in etc. I mean everyone will be applying then. But some of you seem to be having luck so give up the info! :hug:

Virginia-Hampton Roads area.

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