I can't find a job!

Nurse Kyles, BSN, RN · Feb 20, 2012

Hi! I also graduated in December from an ADN program. What part of the country are you in? Are you willing to consider different types of facilities besides hospitals? I would have preferred to get hired at a hospital; however, I had no prior medical experience. Most of my classmates that got jobs in the two hospitals in town were already employed there as CNAs. I landed a job in a nursing home on their short term rehabilitation unit. I started 3 days after passing my NCLEX-RN. I am surprised how much I like it. The average length of stay is 3 weeks. There are many fresh surgicals etc, and it is actually quite interesting. During my internship at one of the hospitals I noticed that many people worked for a year or so at a nursing home, and then were hired on at the hospital. ( I got this information from reading the new employee bios in the break rooms :) )So I guess my suggestion is to start applying to other nursing facilities. Whether or not it is the ideal of where you would like to work, it is a start on the journey of your (hopefully) long nursing career.

MN-Nurse, ASN, RN · Feb 20, 2012

I have applied to ten different hospitals and have probably applied to close to 70-80 positions.

Expand your search to LTC and home health.

Mandychelle79, ASN, RN · Feb 20, 2012

I graduated in May, took until Septemeber to finally get a position.

BostonTerrierLover, BSN, RN · Feb 21, 2012

Okay, This always worked for me, but it takes a little creativity. Don't be afraid to sell yourself, you are a Vitally Important Educated Person in a TEMPORARILY challenging economy. You said you were awarded an honor upon graduation, so it is obvious you are very intelligent, goal driven, and totally deserving of THE JOB YOU WANT.

1. This is just advice, you can chunk it by the way side, DO WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU!!!!

2. MOST IMPORTANT- Don't settle (WITHIN REASON) if you want to be a Pediatric Cardiology Nurse (Example), don't go accept a LTC night position that is going to wear you down and burn you out! Home is where the heart is.

3. Make copies of your Resume. NAMES ARE IMPORTANT. Learn the NAMES of the key players that will decide on your hiring. Choose a day Mon-Fri, Fridays are usually the best day to approach a Nurse Supervisor, just before or after lunch. Don't back away or cower if they immediately shut you down by "Sorry, no open positions right now. . ." You are in control, on the unit you want, the spotlight is on you! Immediately tell them why you are interested in their unit, and that you wanted to introduce your self. Hand a copy of the resume anyway. OFFERING TO VOLUNTEER W/O PAY TO ACCESS YOUR SKILLs IS A HUGE PLUS-although I have never seen anyone actually have to do it!

The key here is FACIAL and PERSONALITY recognition. Learn there names, make sure they know you, THANK THEM REGUARDLESS OF HOW THEY ACT/ EVEN IF IT FEELS LIKE THEY BLOWING YOU OFF---->I did this to a girl one time as ER Coordinator because I was busy. She handed me a Resume that I pocketed to my wallet, and the next Monday, my Administrator told me he was moving one of my nurses to holding unit, and I would need to hire for one position in/out of facility, and IT REQUIRED ME TO POST IN NEWSPAPER, BUT CAN YOU GUESS WHAT HAPPENED?

I already had a nurse that proved herself by not just leaving a faceless resume in the stack of applicants down in HR, I KNEW THIS GIRL, because she made an effort to look me up by name, find me, and pursue what she wanted. I felt like I "Knew her" as far as I had met her, knew her face, basic personality, and that is worth more than any Coverletter or Resume the others had-though they were a MUST, and just in case I would forget our encounter-she sent me a thank-you card. I thought, even though I blew her off, she was kind and thoughtful enough to thank me for my time?

4. FOLLOW-UP

The "Thank-You" card is a wonderful way to do this, and it makes A HUGE IMPRESSION. Send one to anyone at the facility who aided in your application process, you never know who holds what Clout with Who. Plus remember name recognition-it's one more chance to do this.

5. LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

This is a dying art that has made many a hirings possible. This is a person who is going out on a ledge to say, "You should hire this person." Get them from past employers, the edge is priceless, and it gives them perspective on who you are.

Just having "REFERRALs AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST." will not cut it any more-know they ARE going to call your referrals, so have them prepared. Ask your referalls permission to list them.

6. DO NOT GIVE UP. You have come so far, against so many obstacles to get where you are now, Nursing School has to be one of the most challenging experiences in the life of human beings, and you accomplished it!!! When you are down, remember how much you have achieved!!!!! You will have a great career, and this economic dip is temporary!!!!

GOD BLESS AND BEST OF LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Feb 21, 2012

Okay, This always worked for me, but it takes a little creativity. Don't be afraid to sell yourself, you are a Vitally Important Educated Person in a TEMPORARILY challenging economy. You said you were awarded an honor upon graduation, so it is obvious you are very intelligent, goal driven, and totally deserving of THE JOB YOU WANT.
1. This is just advice, you can chunk it by the way side, DO WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU!!!!
2. MOST IMPORTANT- Don't settle (WITHIN REASON) if you want to be a Pediatric Cardiology Nurse (Example), don't go accept a LTC night position that is going to wear you down and burn you out! Home is where the heart is.
3. Make copies of your Resume. NAMES ARE IMPORTANT. Learn the NAMES of the key players that will decide on your hiring. Choose a day Mon-Fri, Fridays are usually the best day to approach a Nurse Supervisor, just before or after lunch. Don't back away or cower if they immediately shut you down by "Sorry, no open positions right now. . ." You are in control, on the unit you want, the spotlight is on you! Immediately tell them why you are interested in their unit, and that you wanted to introduce your self. Hand a copy of the resume anyway. OFFERING TO VOLUNTEER W/O PAY TO ACCESS YOUR SKILLs IS A HUGE PLUS-although I have never seen anyone actually have to do it!
The key here is FACIAL and PERSONALITY recognition. Learn there names, make sure they know you, THANK THEM REGUARDLESS OF HOW THEY ACT/ EVEN IF IT FEELS LIKE THEY BLOWING YOU OFF---->I did this to a girl one time as ER Coordinator because I was busy. She handed me a Resume that I pocketed to my wallet, and the next Monday, my Administrator told me he was moving one of my nurses to holding unit, and I would need to hire for one position in/out of facility, and IT REQUIRED ME TO POST IN NEWSPAPER, BUT CAN YOU GUESS WHAT HAPPENED?
I already had a nurse that proved herself by not just leaving a faceless resume in the stack of applicants down in HR, I KNEW THIS GIRL, because she made an effort to look me up by name, find me, and pursue what she wanted. I felt like I "Knew her" as far as I had met her, knew her face, basic personality, and that is worth more than any Coverletter or Resume the others had-though they were a MUST, and just in case I would forget our encounter-she sent me a thank-you card. I thought, even though I blew her off, she was kind and thoughtful enough to thank me for my time?
4. FOLLOW-UP
The "Thank-You" card is a wonderful way to do this, and it makes A HUGE IMPRESSION. Send one to anyone at the facility who aided in your application process, you never know who holds what Clout with Who. Plus remember name recognition-it's one more chance to do this.
5. LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
This is a dying art that has made many a hirings possible. This is a person who is going out on a ledge to say, "You should hire this person." Get them from past employers, the edge is priceless, and it gives them perspective on who you are.
Just having "REFERRALs AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST." will not cut it any more-know they ARE going to call your referrals, so have them prepared. Ask your referalls permission to list them.
6. DO NOT GIVE UP. You have come so far, against so many obstacles to get where you are now, Nursing School has to be one of the most challenging experiences in the life of human beings, and you accomplished it!!! When you are down, remember how much you have achieved!!!!! You will have a great career, and this economic dip is temporary!!!!
GOD BLESS AND BEST OF LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great advice :yeah:you should post this in the job advice section.

rosiegirl212 · Feb 23, 2012

Your not alone. I graduated in May of 2011 got my license in June and I still haven't found a position. Combination of bad economy and no experience. Remember it costs like 20000+ dollars to train a new grad nurse, so in this economy its hard. I'm not giving up, But it is disouraging. I'm working on getting my BSN in the meantime.

DoGoodThenGo · Feb 23, 2012

What seems to be happening and is becoming quite clear in many areas of this country is that merely having "RN" behind your name isn't going to cut it anymore to land a gig.

New grads with nursing degrees are going to have to start falling into line with other majors; that is learning what skills local employers are seeking and knowing how to market one's self and otherwise going about the "job" of finding employment.

For the time being at least it seems many facilites are moving away from the "warm body" approach to hiring and looking for the right choice to make the investment in time, funds and energy for potential new recruits.

Contrary to what some may think when an employer has any vacancy to fill it's not all about *you* the potential applicant but *them*. In short they have a need and want to know how you intend to satisfy it. So you've got tons of clinical experience and externships up the ya-hoo; but so do many other new grads so it's going to take more than that to close the deal.

Research and making a connection have always been key to any sucessful job search and nursing these days is no exception. Learn about the facility one is applying to; their mission, history, about the unit one wishes to work on. In particular have a great answer to the question "why should I hire you".

DoGoodThenGo · Feb 23, 2012

Your not alone. I graduated in May of 2011 got my license in June and I still haven't found a position. Combination of bad economy and no experience. Remember it costs like 20000+ dollars to train a new grad nurse, so in this economy its hard. I'm not giving up, But it is disouraging. I'm working on getting my BSN in the meantime.

Going by the posts here hospitals and other facilites are hiring new grads, just not in great numbers to deal with the deluge of them that emerge like clockwork every six to twelve months.

Then there is the other factor of so many experienced nurses looking for full and or part-time work especially in high cost of living areas.

Finally the thing no one likes to talk about is that hospitals are staring at a loaded gun that will go off in 2014 as "Obamacare" is fully implemented.

While that plan expands healthcare and in general does some good things it also makes costly mandates upon facilities and offers very little in the way of direct funding to cover what will be an explosion of newly insured persons seeking care.

brooklynRNguy · Feb 24, 2012

I really feel your pain with the job situation, I graduated in January 2011 with an AAS in nursing, and was licensed June 2011. I am in NYC and finding a job as a new grad RN is frustrating and depressing. It seems hopeless and I am at the point of trying out of state. However I am holding my head up as I am a healthcare professorial and so are you, something will come our way, its just a question of when...

rosiegirl212 · Feb 29, 2012

That's how I feel too. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow but one day I'll get an RN job. Just gotta take it day by day for now.

marotierea · Mar 30, 2012

I TOTALLY know EXACTLY where you are coming from!!! I to graduated in December 2011 from a BSN program and was licensed Feb 29th . So basically for an entire month I've applied to all the hospitals in my county, which is palm beach, FL and it is one of the biggest counties in the state. I must have applied to at least 65-80 positions including nursing homes, home health, etc.. and not even ONE interview!!!! I also received a clinical excellence award from my graduating class thinking that will also boost my chances for employment.

I agree that it is very depressing but know that you are not the only one going through this difficult time and hopefully something will work out for all of us soon.