I have no idea what to do

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I graduated in May from nursing school. I took loans out to go through because everyone kept telling me it'll pay itself out once i graduate. SO I have my BSN, my state license, and surprise! no job. neither does about 30 of my classmates, i'm looking in ohter states (i'm in NJ) i'm looking everywhere, even in PR (where my family lives) and there is nothing. So now i have loan payments that start in december, and no job. ANd i've applied to non-nursing jobs to. there is nothing. Can anyone help?

Specializes in geriatrics.

Hi. If you are willing and able to relocate, do so. Just take anything. As a mature student and a new grad myself, I got very lucky through a friend I met here, and have a job waiting for me. Which I am relocating for. I also have huge loans, so spending months and months looking was not an option. Similarly, I know of a few friends who recently graduated and got jobs, but they also relocated for the jobs. It is very distressing for everyone, and the way things look, it will be at least a year and a half before mass hiring starts again anywhere. So that means being persistent, networking, and making some tough choices sometimes.

After I got this job, I had an offer in another Province (I am in Canada), but in most big cities around the country, there are few jobs, even for experienced nurses right now. That means we have to take what there is, and eventually, the situation will improve.

For all of you who are searching, I wish you well. I know this is a very difficult time.

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Specializes in OR 35 years; crosstrained ER/ICU/PACU.

When my husband's company transferred him to NC from NY I signed on with a traveler position. I found a job on my own, 5 minutes from our house, but I still get notices from them for job openings. Also try looking into Nursefinders. They wanted to put me in a position here right away, but I had the "luxury" of being able to wait till an OR position opened up. As an RN with 32 yrs experience,the past 28 in an OR, I didn't want to do just anything. We weren't financially strapped, so I could afford to wait & really lucked out with a great job now. My point is that these companies are great at getting you into a job if you are willing to travel, and take a job on a unit you may not have wanted right away, but if you need a job, you take it. You'll get some experience, & move on when something else you may like more becomes available. Good luck!:nurse:

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Specializes in ICU, PICU, School Nursing, Case Mgt.
When my husband's company transferred him to NC from NY I signed on with a traveler position. I found a job on my own, 5 minutes from our house, but I still get notices from them for job openings. Also try looking into Nursefinders. They wanted to put me in a position here right away, but I had the "luxury" of being able to wait till an OR position opened up. As an RN with 32 yrs experience,the past 28 in an OR, I didn't want to do just anything. We weren't financially strapped, so I could afford to wait & really lucked out with a great job now. My point is that these companies are great at getting you into a job if you are willing to travel, and take a job on a unit you may not have wanted right away, but if you need a job, you take it. You'll get some experience, & move on when something else you may like more becomes available. Good luck!:nurse:

Right, but the problem is NO ONE IS HIRING NEW GRADS...not the same.

And virtually all of the travel companies require 1 full year of experience.

So, back to the drawing board.

s

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Specializes in ICU of all kinds, CVICU, Cath Lab, ER..

Three pages ago I suggested Halifax Health in Daytona (look up phone number) because as much as I am against it, they hire GN's without experience and the part I don't like is they place them into critical care areas with some slight preceptorship remaining .....get your one or two year's experience and then travel or apply elsewhere. Any travel company that takes unexperienced is just begging for a problem.

Sorry about your loss, Moore, but ...... you've heard the argument.

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Specializes in ICU, PICU, School Nursing, Case Mgt.
Three pages ago I suggested Halifax Health in Daytona (look up phone number) because as much as I am against it, they hire GN's without experience and the part I don't like is they place them into critical care areas with some slight preceptorship remaining .....get your one or two year's experience and then travel or apply elsewhere. Any travel company that takes unexperienced is just begging for a problem.

Sorry about your loss, Moore, but ...... you've heard the argument.

Yow, I don't know if it's worth losing that brand new shining RN license.....this is a tragedy waiting to happen.

s

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ICU, ER, Peds ER-CPEN.

VA hospitals might a good route, they require a nursing license in any state, not particularly the one you end up working in, my dad is constantly trying to get me to apply for positions that are open in MI but I prefer palm trees over snow drifts lol

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Geriatric Psych, Med/Surg.

swsrn and all of you new grads out there, will you please at least look unto the service? (again, i am not a recruiter!!!) to me the air force is the best. you will get a job as an officer going in. google around and found out about the pay rates, etc., go down to the recruiter's office and ask questions (this does not mean you are signing up, it means you are getting needed information to make an informed decision!). they assist with you student loans, you get sign on bonuses (and i don't mean a hundred dollars, i mean thousands), a roof over your head (you get to live on or off base in an apartment or a unit home if you are a family), shop and travel at discounts and travel around the world (no, you probably won't end up in the sand....). for heavens sake at least check it out or your research on employment is incomplete ~ i'd try navy next and last army or marines. they have hospitals and clinics on the basis that need to be staffed, you get bonuses to sign on again after three or four years (more money than the first bonus and increase in rank upon test completion). twenty years and you're out with a pention and you pick and choose another position if you want to and you are hads and shoulders above anyone else applying because you have a service background. they train you for whatever field of nursing you are going into ~ psych, maternity (yup, lots of babies born on bases, med/surg icu, etc.). at least check it out so you won't be sorry you didn't later, there are many advantages to it. disadvantage ~ no overtime as you are on a salary so you may work 50 hrs. a week for the same check and yes, there is always a chance you are sent overseas, it can't be ruled out but at least check it out. good luck.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
DISADVANTAGE ~ NO OVERTIME AS YOU ARE ON A SALARY SO YOU MAY WORK 50 HRS. A WEEK FOR THE SAME CHECK AND YES, THERE IS ALWAYS A CHANCE YOU ARE SENT OVERSEAS, IT CAN'T BE RULED OUT BUT AT LEAST CHECK IT OUT. GOOD LUCK.

And, well, it would be working for the military. In wartime. I imagine therein lies people's hesitation.

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Specializes in Home health was tops, 2nd was L&D.

I think the original poster made it clear it was against her religious beliefs. Military is great for those who want that sort of thing, many new grads are single moms and have kids. So it obviously is not for everyone. You made the suggestion..let them take it from there.

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Specializes in LTC, CPR instructor, First aid instructor..
Three pages ago I suggested Halifax Health in Daytona (look up phone number) because as much as I am against it, they hire GN's without experience and the part I don't like is they place them into critical care areas with some slight preceptorship remaining .....
This happened to me at my local hospital when I was a patient in there, and I went into hospice care from having a horrible experience in there with both the head nurse and the GN.
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Specializes in ICU, PICU, School Nursing, Case Mgt.
swsrn and all of you new grads out there, will you please at least look unto the service? (again, i am not a recruiter!!!) to me the air force is the best. you will get a job as an officer going in.

dear juliannc99

i have to chuckle...i have a job...i am a rn case manager for major insurance companies...so, i don't know how you came to believe that i am unemployed.

be that as it may, i really, really believe in the military...my son in law is special forces (green beret/lifer!) and my daughter was in the army as well. she is no longer in, however, she went in with a master's degree and they rolled out the red carpet for her. she was in psy ops at ft bragg...that's how she and her husband met.

she is considered a veteran and has all of the bene's...her husband makes a lot of money...of course, it is hazardous pay--but he makes way more than registered nurses do, for example.

so, i am with you in regard to pushing the military----there is one other draw back----i am way beyond the cut off for enlisting :) but i would if i could.

good luck to all

sws

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hang in there sooner or later something will open up Try the nursing homes. planned parenthood .department of health .insurance cos, pharmacy cos., dr. offices, agencies, dialysis clinics, dept. of social services, Assisted Living facilities,Hospice agencies etc.....I'll send positive wishes your way ....I am an LPN and juggeling a few part time positions myself . It took several months for those resumes to really circulate, your first job may not be your permanent one but it will get your feet wet and helps on a resume. Good Luck

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