I have no idea what to do

LadyJoce · Sep 22, 2010

Actually i've been looking on various websites, on government jobs, i have my resume posted up on different nursing job finder thingy's. i've tried correctional facilities havent gotten a response back. and i did my externship at a pediatric medical day care and they told me the'd hire me yet havent gotten back to me and i call and left msgs cuz noone answers the phone and have gotten nothing in return. but i mean its not just me i know literally tons of other new grads we're all stuck in the same situation. and oh i saw jobs in california but i di dnt know they did like same day licenses i'll try there. and i applied to an indian reserve no answer. but i really cant be involved too much in military and governemt/political activities even if it does supply me with a job it is against my religious basis and i'd rather be poor than do that. and i've applied to various facilities such as the ones in dc where they hire new grads, and the postings are still up but they call saying the positions are already filled they just haven't taken the postings down yet. i just think when the country threw everyone in that nursing scare, everyone went to nursing school, now there's too many. BTW. i'm scared of arizona and some southern states. i'm hispanic and from what i see and hear on the news, i dont feel like getting pulled over just because i'm hispanic. the east coast is safer in that aspect.... no offense. so texas, AZ, and NM are like some of the last places i'll be looking.

rags · Sep 22, 2010

Many small hospitals (150 bed or less) in Wyoming are always hiring and offer relocation assistance. They will let you apply for license after a job offer as well. I also saw an ad just yesterday that was offer $10,000 sign on bonus and relo assistance in (in as they stated it) "Majestic" North Dakota. Cheyenne Regional Medical Center had an ad right next to that one.

Good luck to all of you looking.

rags

LadyJoce · Sep 22, 2010

Oh and i havent even gotten an interview. like i'll get a call saying no, or an email. but i have yet to actually meet someone in person..... bayada nurses was the only people who were nice enough to call and be polite about telling me they want a year of clinical experience first. but they were awesome.

dj973 · Sep 22, 2010

First of all don't give up. You can pull yourself out of this hole. You just need to be flexible and consider other options. I've been in your shoes.

As far as your loans go, call you lenders and let them know what is going on. Some lenders will offer you an economical hardship deferrence. I did this myself with my student loans in 2002. I had just graduated from college with a liberal arts degree and was waiting tables in the middle of a recession. The lenders told me that they are always willing to work with you so long as you keep them in the loop on your financial situation. They just don't want you to default.

As far as job go you may want to consider Texas or the South since you are bilingual. There is a need for bilingual nurses here. The recession has hit us hard but I know many GN nurses who have been hired.

You may also want to consider looking into the Nursing Educatoin Loan Repayment program. It is a federal program that will repay up to 80% of your student loans for three years of service at a underserved hospital. You continue to earn your regular paycheck and the government deposits a monthly payment into your account for your student loans every month. You don't necessarily have to work out in a small town or in an inner city hospital either. If the hospital serves a large number of medicaid patients then it qualifies. I was able to continue to work at my hospital which is located in a large city because we are a charity hospital. Here is the web address:

http://www.hrsa.gov/loanscholarships/repayment/nursing/

Hang in there. Don't despair. Keep your options open and don't give up. Good luck!

Bec717 · Sep 22, 2010

Medical University of South Carolina

Roper St. Franics- Charleston SC

VA Hospital Charleston SC

Cobweb · Sep 22, 2010

Be sure to concentrate on towns that DON'T have a school of nursing.

Any federal facility will, I believe, take a license from any state. I know the VA does.

Don't just apply online. Go in and see people face to face.

Read a book called, "What Color Is My Parachute?" and follow his advice--it's never failed me.

If you can't get a job in nursing, you might consider applying as a translator for a health care facility. I know a gal here in town who makes a pretty good living that way.

All new grads tend to apply at the same places. Try thinking out of the box for places where they need nurses but everybody might not know about it...schools, Head Start, city and county jails, insurance companies, the airport, nannies for rich people, etc etc. Hope that helps!

crissyensey · Sep 22, 2010

Texas still has a good market for nurses.

Kialya, ASN · Sep 22, 2010

When I was in your shoes, I applied for multiple jobs without any success. The ONLY company that would hire me was a temp agency. I too had no experience, and in fact, since I had given birth 1 month before I graduated, I did not go looking for work until a year after I graduated because I was busy raising my new son. Add to that, I moved from the state where I graduated (Georgia) to Phoenix Arizona. So I had no contacts whatsoever and no experience and (it seemed to others because of the year off) no motivation to work. I graduated top of my class, honors etc.

My first temp job was at a psyc hospital (I was terrified lol). They liked me so much that they asked me back. Fast forward 2 + years later I am now the weekend supervisor and it's all because I looked at temp agencies as a way to get my foot in the door. Once you get in the door at a facility and can prove you are a strong worker, you will get job opportunities. Look at creative ways to get your foot in the door. Others have posted really creative ways to put yourself out there. Be persistent and keep trying!

Trubie, LPN · Sep 22, 2010

Come to TEXAS. HOUSTON to be exact. We always need nurses of any licensure...problem is if you don't like your job there is 15 other ones wanting you and kinda makes it a little bad when you know that you can quit and go to where the "GRASS IS GREENER" if ya know what I mean! I don't, but I know alot of nurses that do!

Ummm, nope!!! Houston new grad here and I had a HORRIBLE time finding a job. I finally found one working in LTC outside of town.

BrookeeLou_RN · Sep 22, 2010

I think what new grads do not realize is to get a job now you might have to apply to 200 places or more. And yes, networking is great, online, in person whatever...Do not listen to other new grads, as they can not get a job easily and then be negative. As I have been a manager for many years and did the hiring, your resume is what speaks for you till you get an interview. i would love for you to post it without identifying items. If you are not even getting any interview I think that is where you problem is to start with. You have no experience but you did clinicals...play up your love for pt care, did you intern anywhere..that is experience..it is all how you word it.

I recently got out of management and to find a job, I answered any ad I might consider, got many no responses, got No, thanks letter, or we already filled that position. I got good number of interviews, some I knew right off I would never get an offer..boss was new or I had more education and experience than boss..they always assume you are after their job. Some I never even heard from, but I kept looking outside the box and accepted a position I really like. I have 22 + yrs experience so it is just how things fail, other times I moved and got first job I applied for still in recession. Also are you doing cover letters, you must but do not look to college or traditional books for how to do it. Healthcare is not like another business, they make rules as they go, change rules and tell no one. Until you start to truly understand what they want, ask someone who has had several jobs..or someone who does hiring, managers not recruiters!!

Is there any chance you could volunteer somewhere in health care for like 3 mos, that would be experience even though you are not using your license. Hospice accepts volunteers which would let you visit patients and learn what is like outside a hospital, or get a specialty online, wound care comes to mind you can get a basic certificate for around $1000, next test is Feb but online stuff you do at your own pace, it is actually 40 hr of credit like program, and they have a 3 part payment available. that would make you stand out from other new grads! Just putting on your cover letter that you have enrolled will help. Have you tried nursing homes, I have lived in many states and most hire new grads and would chomp at the bit to get BSN new grad. I am not saying stay there forever unless you like it but good place to start. maybe take a basic coding class, anything to give you an edge. I also know many places will hire ASN nurses before BSN because there is a belief they get more clinical time and are more hands-on and most RN's have Associate Degrees. You can get nursing journals at library. Even apply if they say they need experience unless it is something obvious that you must know, email applications are time consuming but free, Fax or mail to actual office whenever possible. Also try cold calling by going thru phone books and just emailing resumes and specific cover letter to a facility or agency, buy a roll of stamps and decent paper from supply store and you can save receipts to take off taxes. Does your college offer any job placement? How old are you? And do you have any type of work experience? Working at McDonald's translates into work experience as you have good people skills, can mange your time, work efficiently, you know how to handle customers(patients) who are upset, angry, "challenging".

ZenaBethune · Sep 22, 2010

that is sad , but it is the times we are living in. travel jobs are down too!

500,000 lpn's are out of jobs in this nation ! (deleted out of the profession over the past 20years)

medical assistants or techs are the new thing for the medical profession facilities and doctors offices to hire now days......'unskilled cheap labor, $10 bucks an hour, 3 days on the job training for our local hospital, no license to loose!'

a veterinarian tech is required to take a two year program to take care of an animal.

but in this country, to take care of a human, requires only 3 days on the job training or a six months course to be a m.a, or a two week course to be a cna.

just today, i spoke with the lt gov office about just what is happening to nurses not being able to find jobs in our country.

the nurses in my location went on strike for; retirement benefits, $3 raise and for the hospital to improved infection control at the hospital..

they never did get their jobs back, those 425 r.n.s were also wanting a union which all "corporate for profit hospitals "do not want. they have been dispersed elsewhere , lost their homes i presume, and maybe never went back to nursing......the hospital paid out $2 million a year for travel nurses salaries, to fill their postions, over the following 4 years, now , that hospital , hire techs to assist the r.n. and or on" call list" of nurses, student r.n.'s . the r.n.s staff to patient ratio has increased with these techs who can perform urinary catherizations, and sterile dressings changes, i am told that they learned it in 3 days......and "are doing what the lpn did in the hospital, without the training or license".

i called the state board about it. i asked how can a hospital hire someone "off the street or from the laundry " and train them in 3 days to work the work of a nurse. i said , i went through a hospital program , worked for free one weekend a month, lived in the dorm , rotated through all departments, we had 12 instructors, went year around to school. took the state board exam , passed it missing 13 questions out of 600....been licensed and i can't get a job, at this hospital as a lpn.

she told me from the michigan board of nursing office, "we license only individuals and then we regulate that profession", we do not license hospitals, if they want to hire some one from off of the street to do a nurses job and its in their policy to do so, then they can , since we do not require a hospital to hire only licensed people!"

("oh so that is how they have been getting away with this.....they don't make a hospital hire licensed r.n.s cuz they don't require them to !")

so, that is why things are the way they are. and the ama and big corporate hospitals and nursing homes and assisted living facilities do just that.....so they can make a profit period.

this must be how , unlicensed people are giving medications in assisted living facilities and group homes ? our states do not require a r.n. or lpn to administer medications!

hmmmm

they do not even want them really to be licensed cna's because then they have a license to loose.

r.n.'s are getting very scared about having to work with techs and have them under her license and 'are leaving nursing...they are over worked, and do not have the time to train an off the street person nursing courses ! they do not like the responsibility and its just plainly too much to handle when they are working with so many acutely ill patients. '

unfortunately, our profession has not looked out for us on this, in a union or not. so, many things have slipped through the cracks in the past 20 years as have seen our profession slowly been down graded , down sized, to the point at which it is now........

in 1996, while, working a 12hr shift in a sub-acute respiratory unit, a internist was working late and came up to the desk, and spoke to the staff! their were two bsn's , two r.n.s and one lpn.

he said, "he belonged to the ama, the largest lobby in washington, and when all of the doctors own the hospitals and the insurance companies, you nurses can go get your ph.d's if you want to, but if we own the hospital , and we want to pay you $12 an hr. for your ph.d, then you will either take the $12 bucks an hour or be without a job'!

the older r.n. turned in her resignation the next day, and went to work for a large outpatient clinic, she said she would not work for that hospital who had that type of agenda going with its doctors.....a bsn quit nursing six months later, the lpn was downsized, as the hospital turned corporate, and hired in her place , are techs. !

so, this profession has been "hookwinked"

and those of us who have been around to see the changes made across this nation, also of foreign nurses being imported in droves and given jobs, over american citizens. and seen healthcare go down the tubes,in doctors offices, the m.a.s calling themselves nurses, m.a.s doing the histories on patients, doctors don't know nothing about you til he/she reads it. my doctor told me that first day, a m.a. doing the work of nurses in triage, lab results, call back with prescriptions etc.......teaching, and probably still receiving on the job training!~ making a low wage and patients getting no real professional care. well we know the doctor can't handle all of the patients ,when they are seeing 40-60 a day each. making $$135- $350 a per patient.

and they tell us they can't afford to pay us $15 an hour nor $12 for that matter they put an add in for a m.a they can pay $8 an hour.......so that doctor that night knew what he was saying knew what the ama's plans were for our nursing profession and they are doin it to us too aren';t they! well somebody wants a yacht awfully bad, now don't they! my neighborhood dentist has a different color bmw 3 days a week that he works , sitting next to the building.....!

no this profession really has now had anyone protecting us, our education or our job security and they didn't want us in union either, while medical doctors residence are in union's, secretaries are in unions, but not nurses, no no, just belong to a nurses association .......that is all you have a right to as a nurse.

and the ones who are heads or administrators nursing associations , are not even nurses sometimes, and there fore are not really any protection or do they have any loyalties to us, and to our profession.

if, i were you i would call the executive branch of your state and let them all know what has happened to you.........or copy what you wrote to us in this blog and send it in writing to all of them, put your name address etc. and tell them you wish for them to look into it and to reply to you in writing , their findings and suggestions.

my brother , a retired state police officer, said , he never heard of such a thing in men's professions. " " if they train people to be a nurse, lpn/rn/bsn,and do not then hire them , then why train them, for it."

when ross perot was running for president, he said, if the college you go to does not train you for a job when you get out (he was speaking about those getting a liberal arts degree),

then sue the college! yah right, who has that kind of money eh?

these are really bad times and all of these changes that were made by administration , government and boards of nursing, that we did not know they were doing or why they were doing it but they did .....

we are now seeing the result of how they profited and will continue to profit in training nurses who can't get job's...the school got your money the state board got your money and now you are in debt and will pay alot of interest back to them.....

they created debt for you to work it all off now in sense~ you allowed it yes, you took the loans yes, but with the understanding that you could get a better paying job because of it and could therefore pay it off..you got decieved! so far there is no law that covers deception! remember that! anyone can lie to you not be prosecuted even your own government........sales people and politicians are noted for it, as recruiters, marketers etc.

so, they increased the desire for woman /men to be nurses, telling you there is shortage, but they created it themselves , by hiring unskilled labor with a few r.n.'s over them. so they can make all of the money , from the insurance companies and the college's can jack the price of an education up, and then not guarantee you a job to pay off the loan.....

this is how what used to be a woman's profession has been treated in our country.

and if your a man in our profession, you will become the charge nurse or administrator and be paid more than a woman. and of course, you again a woman must feed the ego of the male and always glorify him as being better suited for that job than yourself.....even though he may be incompetent....you will always help make him more competent because that is what we woman do ...

meantime, our profession may have been upgraded, by getting our bsn, ms. or ph.d, but there is no hospital that wants to pay you for what you know , when they can train an off the street kid to do the same work, who's license will never be in jeopardy because they don't have one....they do not want licensed lpn/rn's in hospitals, at least a minimum of them they take away the profits of the ceo bonus's!

its different in other departments other than nursing in a hospital.

in order to run a rehab unit, they have to hire, licensed physical, ot therapist's, or in a x-ray department they have to have registered x-ray tech or echogram tech or ultrasound tech or ekg tech, or vascular tech, but as far as a nurse goes......all they need is one per @10 - 15 , to 36- 105 in a nursing home patients with an aide working under them....

hospitals are all run by doctors now or owned by them and they could care less about us, unless they need us in specialty units.......

doctors tell patients all of the time, you can't stay in a hospital more than one or two days ,post-op,because the longer you stay in the more likelihood of some mistake happening or they will be more likely to get mrsa . they know the nurses are are over worked, understaffed they set it up that way , and they know that they are hiring unskilled nurses aides to give patient care now......they sure don't want the patient knowing that they, got a unskilled person doing their catherization or dressing change on them while they are hospitalized.

they already know they get terrible care, their lights aren't answered, they are treated with hot shot unprofessional speaking people.

its not a profession i would go into now.........its going to stay this way for along time too.

it would take a miracle to see us nurses, given more jobs, or more per hour, or the respect we had years ago....

you know that even in privately owned nursing homes, it's all about them saving costs on wages and making more profit for the owner or the d.o.n. or the administrator or the social worker's wages. while the "frontline' worker, is made to "produce on the production line of human healthcare!" don't talk to your patients......push the pills and get out!

not me , i love my job and i love the patients i work with , they are like my family , my grandma or grandpa.....and i am not a dang robot! i get the job done safely and just on time!

while lovin my patients and my work......

also, you are not getting a job, because your now to "them" too qualified and cost them too much ! and if you can get a job as a d.o.n. you'll be hounded to keep the cost down or you won't get a bonus at the end of the year......and don't care too much about your staff or your patients, only on a p.r. way.....cuz no attachments to them is better .......money is their top priority.

i hope you can find something, to pay off that bsn debt.......

its very sad that you had to find out the hard way......

if your single and can re-locate, that might be the best way to get it paid off. if your not than my heart goes out to you......

you might try 13 week contracts 3 times a year , it would mean being away from your family , but you could make a good dent in that loan with that kind of travel nursing money!

do the "tax advantage" plans with any travel nurse job if you can...study those plans and there are some that are owned by r.n.'s , they won't hurt yah, but if you get mixed up with one of those agencies, that talk to yah like a "head hunter or a car salesman' watch out for them!

they know how to scam yah good....get yah 2500 miles from home, put yah up in dump and not pay yah right.......i 've got those horror stories too.....

or start your own travel agency franchise or own home care business.

also, if i were younger, i would have joined the "medical core",and worked for the federal government hospitals. they have state of the arc p.a.s and doc's and pharmacies.

i worked in an indian hospital.everyone was so skilled and professional and just a wonderful bunch of people to work with..there is some obtacles in that type of job, not to say its perfect.

but, our inservice director went from hiring in as a lpn-r.n.-bsn-m.a to a ph.d. all paid for by the federal government, also she has been there 25 yrs and will have a big whoppin retirement i am sure.

you can apply anywhere in the world once your in the system, they are very close , very proud and very bonded professionally, and they get to continue their work not thinking of the money all of the time but love to help people , they have compassion flowing towards the patient all of the time.......

i think that the federal government hospitals are the best place to start and i am sure there are openings there.....somewhere.....the compassion to care and to serve will be ehanced , unlike private hospitals who think only about the bottom line $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

the federal government medical core is still into putting the patient first, and your job first!

my thoughts and prayers go out to you.....and i just hope you read through the negative statements or the whistle blowing statements i made and get to the suggestions that might help you solve your problem right now...

it's like trying to take you under my wings and trying to help you at the same time saying things that many nurses are aware of but can't speak about or they would loose their jobs.

i am not working right now...so i can and i know through life experiences what i too was not seeing or denied what i heard and saw and now i can put those pieces of the puzzle together and see the entire picture.. i know i"ll be "run down by the big shot nurses for my statements" but i am at an age where i don't have to take it from them and i don't care what they think of me anymore.

its my life and i'm callin it the way it happened". maybe others have not been so unfortunate as i have been but all of us nurses should have been helping the profession as it was being demolished , and should have helped comfort the wounded .....not gone out and bought another hammer for the demolition team!

so, the cost of health insurance premium's , doctors fees, hospital fees, nursing home fees have all gone up and nurses hourly wage have gone down or stayed the same for 20years!!

it's not right but now you may know why it happened!!!

leave that system and go get a job in federal hospital or vets or teaching hospital too are good.......take care , keep your chin up and once in power help our profession maintain its impact on the care of patients!

LMC621 · Sep 22, 2010

You should look into home health agencies. They hire nurses and CNA's. As a home health nurse you are either assigned to care for patients in their homes or patients in independent and assisted living facilities.

Also, look at employment companies like Express and Spherion, they have healthcare job placement.

Good Luck to you!