Hey yall. I want to start a support thread for us unemployed New Grads in California. I've recently lost a lot of my hope and optimism for finding a New Grad position. I graduated in May with my BSN and I've applied for about over 100 positions at this point and I've gotten one interview. The rejection and lack of options has taken a toll on me. I literally made an Excel spreadsheet of almost every New Grad program with information/dates/links in the state PLUS almost every hospital in the state with links to their job listings that I check multiple times a week with notes from their HR dept about if they hire New Grads. Part of what makes it worst is when "outsiders", I know they mean well, mention oh why don't you apply at this hospital or be a traveler or there's a shortage you'll get a job soon, etc. You just want to scream I realized the best way to get through this is with the support of those in your shoes. Although we are in competition with each other we can help each other through the tears, hissy fits, and psychotic laughter.
I'm not saying we all need to meet in groups in our own areas (it's nice it comes about). But I want this to be a place for us to vent and support each other. If you're like me and you're so depressed that your mom gave you one of your Christmas presents early (It was a Tweety Bird robe) to try and cheer you up then please come and I have a virtual box of Kleenex and a pat on the back for you.
One thing I learned in nursing school is that icebreakers can really do good sometimes so you're welcome to use the following to introduce yourself.
Hello my name is kenderella89 and I'm an unemployed New Grad.
License type: BSN
Time out of school: 8 months
# of positions applied to date: a little over 100
Dream RN position: NICU however I would love to start in Med Surg as well
Hospital experience: No but I have over 300 volunteer hours and I worked for the California Dept. of Public Health for 3 years
Where do you live: The Sacramento area although I just moved from the bay area
What are you doing now: Volunteering at a daycare trying to get a hospital volunteer position as well
Favorite color: Purple
How you cope with unemployment: I bake. A LOT. My friends' and family's waistlines hate me.
I have heard of people going back to school for their MSN so that they are no longer "old" new grads.
Not every employer will see these students as being "new" grads again either. Many employers will determine a new grad by how long they have been licensed. So if that's the only reason a person is going back to school, they're taking a rather expensive gamble IMO.
Try to look at smaller, non-hospital locations. The surgery center where I was charge hired a couple of new grads that had been unemployed for months. It gave them the skills they needed and a good knowledge base. The first job may not be what you want, but its a start in the right direction.
Hello, I am an unemployed (as a nurse) not so new grad RN.
I had a question that I'm hoping someone on this site can help me with.
I can't seem to find the facebook California new grad page any more. Does anyone else visit this page? Can anyone shed some light on this? It was a good place to get a heads up on jobs that accept new grad applicants that I might not have thought to check for.
This is my first post to this thread, so I'll introduce myself, also.
Degree type: MS Nursing
Time out of school: almost 3 years (MS 6/2011, RN 6/2009)
# positions applied to: I have no idea at this point
Dream RN position: I'm really not sure, but probably an infusion center or bone marrow transplant unit
Hospital experience: None outside of school
Where do you live: San Francisco
What are you doing now: working as a bartender, still applying for RN and tech, MA or NA jobs I'm eligible for
Favorite color: Red
How do you cope with unemployment: I've stopped telling people I'm a RN, it helps because I don't have to defend my inability to get a job as often. I try to stay engaged with nursing by reading articles in the field, and I signed up to get news from medscape. Also looking for volunteer positions.
I'm wondering where that facebook group disappeared to as well...i thought it was just acting up for me.
Yes, it seems to have disappeared. There is a new one, I am sure it is not affiliated with the old one. There is also a generic new grad page, not specific to CA.
The rejection and lack of options has taken a toll on me. I literally made an Excel spreadsheet of almost every New Grad program with information/dates/links in the state PLUS almost every hospital in the state with links to their job listings that I check multiple times a week with notes from their HR dept about if they hire New Grads. Part of what makes it worst is when "outsiders", I know they mean well, mention oh why don't you apply at this hospital or be a traveler or there's a shortage you'll get a job soon, etc. You just want to scream 
I realized the best way to get through this is with the support of those in your shoes. Although we are in competition with each other we can help each other through the tears, hissy fits, and psychotic laughter.
plinytheRN
73 Posts
Hello my name is PlinytheRN, I am an unemployed new grad RN
License type: BSN
Time out of school: 3 months
Dream RN position: ICU
Hospital Experience: had an internship on a med/surg floor, over 300 hours
where do you live: northern CA
what are you doing now: nothing now, no income, just applying to jobs all day long
Favorite color: yellow
How you cope with unemployment: exercise, meditation
Just keep thinking happy thoughts and persevere!