I have never had to work so hard for a job in my entire life?

2011NursingStudent · Jul 26, 2008

Where are you located? What did you do before nursing?

Mijourney · Jul 27, 2008

Crazystudent, I'm sorry you're having a rough time of things. Are you or can you relocate to find the job of your choice? I'm not sure of what's going on either but I know that many hospitals across the U.S. are saying they're having a hard time because of low reimbursement rates by health plans.

What type of nursing are you wanting to do? It may be that you'll need to start out with med-surg on the night shift and then work your way to where you want to go. Hang in there and don't lose hope.

MelodyRNurse · Jul 28, 2008

I was a waitress, and worked in customer service before nursing. I was an LPN for over a year in a LTC facility. I am planning on relocating, but within a reasonable distance from my family because I am a single parent and know I will have to work weekends. I want to stay somewhere between Philly and Baltimore, but not work in town if possible. I want to start off in Med-surg and then move to ER. I am willing to start off on evenings, but nights are kind of impossible for me. I think I am going to apply to some other jobs that are a little out of my comfort zone and see how things go from there. I appreciate the support and thanks for allowing me to complain .

jjjoy, LPN · Jul 30, 2008

Two suggestions if you haven't already tried them...

go in to the hospital in person, ready to interview (they may just blow you off again, but then again, they may call a nurse manager right then and there for an interview)

try to get in direct contact with nurse managers, either by asking friends/acquaintances to give you contacts or just by cold calling (be polite!) and asking about job availability and informational interviews (if they aren't hiring). again, you may be blown off, but you just may get lucky as well.

Just submitting applications on-line and waiting for a call back often won't get you far. Good luck!!

Crystal2dish · Aug 16, 2008

This is crazy!!! I go to school for four years to obtain skills and become a marketable professional and I can't get a job!! I mean what my heading says, I have never had this much difficulty getting a job in my entire life and I have worked at a lot of jobs because I move a lot. I am now stuck in a nursing home job that I hate most of the time. I thought that by going to school for a profession like nursing would make it easier to find a job. What is going on? When I was in nursing school I used to look online, in the paper, and at the nursing websites to get an idea of what was out there, and there were a ton of careers. Now there is nothing in the paper for RN's. There is a bunch of agency jobs online and the hospital websites have a ton of positions posted, but no one will call me and they blow me off when I call them. I am starting to think there is something wrong with me, with my resume, or with where I went to school that is causing employers to overlook me.

Just a thought, but having had the experience of single parenthood and having friends with same lifestyle, I will recommend that you search for job that best fits your needs for regular, possibly flex hours, great wages, and is close to family friendly amenities. If you take a job because it is close to family but is a job that you disdain, you are shorting yourself and your child-ren of a happy parent. The best case scenarios for professional single parents that I knew were always made possible by relocating for a promising position. The job interview can include questions from you regarding family issues, childcare, schools, etc.. You will bring your job home with you whether you intend to or not, something to think about when deciding to accept a position that is not what you really want. Single parenting is hard enough, why not accept a job that gives something back, enriches your life, and makes you smile?

:nurse:

WildcatFanRN, BSN, RN · Aug 19, 2008

This is crazy!!! I go to school for four years to obtain skills and become a marketable professional and I can't get a job!! I mean what my heading says, I have never had this much difficulty getting a job in my entire life and I have worked at a lot of jobs because I move a lot. I am now stuck in a nursing home job that I hate most of the time. I thought that by going to school for a profession like nursing would make it easier to find a job. What is going on? When I was in nursing school I used to look online, in the paper, and at the nursing websites to get an idea of what was out there, and there were a ton of careers. Now there is nothing in the paper for RN's. There is a bunch of agency jobs online and the hospital websites have a ton of positions posted, but no one will call me and they blow me off when I call them. I am starting to think there is something wrong with me, with my resume, or with where I went to school that is causing employers to overlook me.

I fully understand what your going through as I'm going through the exact same problem. All I can say is to keep looking. We shall find the job we want, just can't give up even though its tempting to do so.....believe me. :banghead:

parrot07 · Aug 19, 2008

i am in the same boat....this is getting to be crazy. i really don't think i can do anymore...

i did all hospitals in my areas online applications

mailed my resume to attn of each nurse recruiter

personally dropped off resume

and i have been calling often

here is what they tell me: they either want experienced nurses or they tell me they have filled their new grad quota. the most important thing was to be a gn or already work at a hospital to get your foot in the door.

i thought by passing the boards fast i would beat everyone,,,not the case i should have been a gn.

its so frustrating. so now i am going on interviews that are not the jobs that i want..but i am gonna have to settle i guess......

WildcatFanRN, BSN, RN · Aug 20, 2008

i am in the same boat....this is getting to be crazy. i really don't think i can do anymore...
i did all hospitals in my areas online applications
mailed my resume to attn of each nurse recruiter
personally dropped off resume
and i have been calling often
here is what they tell me: they either want experienced nurses or they tell me they have filled their new grad quota. the most important thing was to be a gn or already work at a hospital to get your foot in the door.
i thought by passing the boards fast i would beat everyone,,,not the case i should have been a gn.
its so frustrating. so now i am going on interviews that are not the jobs that i want..but i am gonna have to settle i guess......

i so hate to have to "settle" for anything. to me it makes for an unhappy nurse who absolutely hates going to work. but unfortunately sometimes we have to do what we have to do in order to get bills paid.

MelodyRNurse · Aug 21, 2008

I absolutely cannot wait for that perfect job to come along as much as I would love to. I have to work and will have to take what I can get until something else comes along. It is sad and maybe its for a reason, maybe I am supposed to be is somewhere completely different then I thought. I think I will keep my mind open to some other areas that may be good experiences for when I finally do get where I want to be.

Lots of luck to the rest of you in a similar position and thanks to all the rest for taking your time out to help.

parrot07 · Aug 21, 2008

crazystudent- yes i know what u mean...we have to just start working and getting experience one way or the other. today i went on an interview for home health care and tomorrow i am going on an interview for mentally challenged residents. both jobs are not where i thought i would be... at all. but right now the hospitals don't want new grads. so maybe this is how its supposed to happen for me.

it does upset me a little to hear that one of my friends just got accepted at a great hospital as a gn...(no prev experience) who has not taken boards. why would a hospital choose to higher a gn over an rn????? i dont get it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :eek:

Crystal2dish · Aug 21, 2008

crazystudent- yes i know what u mean...we have to just start working and getting experience one way or the other. today i went on an interview for home health care and tomorrow i am going on an interview for mentally challenged residents. both jobs are not where i thought i would be... at all. but right now the hospitals don't want new grads. so maybe this is how its supposed to happen for me.
it does upset me a little to hear that one of my friends just got accepted at a great hospital as a gn...(no prev experience) who has not taken boards. why would a hospital choose to higher a gn over an rn????? i dont get it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

my guess would be so they can grow her they way they want her. or maybe because she was cute and smiled and giggled... :no:

plus maybe because gn's work for less until they become rn's.

anyone? :typing