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.
Specializes in School Nursing, Public Health Nurse.
I totally agree. It's all that time invested in applications and then you get a quick rejection. That's what gets me. Question after question and essay to 50 character limits
I think my quickest rejection is somewhere around 24-hours. But I'd say that only 90% of the jobs I've applied for have even had the courtesy of sending me a rejection, so I was probably tossed out much sooner than 24-hours, I just don't know about it!
Specializes in School Nursing, Public Health Nurse.
I'm starting to see more stories on the news about the nursing shortage. I'm waiting for the story about the unemployed nursing graduates. I should call 60 minutes.
I love this thread, this is exactly what I needed.
Hello my name is emmymaeeRN and I’m an unemployed New Grad.
License type: BSN
Time out of school: 7 months
# of positions applied to date: 81
Dream RN position: Anything Cardiac/Tele-related. Emergency nursing would be amazing!
Hospital experience: Worked for two years as a CNA on a cardiac/telemetry unit. I loved it!
Where do you live: Inland Empire, but willing to relocate anywhere in Southern CA
What are you doing now: Not a whole lot No car! Huge mistake to not have a car in Southern CA. I just moved here from VA; had no idea the market would be this difficult.
Favorite color: Yellow
How you cope with unemployment: I play the guitar and ukulele and spend time with my dog. I also have an incredibly supportive boyfriend who keeps me thinking positively! He's also an RN at UCSD. He is having trouble finding me a job, even with his inside connection. Just goes to show how terrible the market is right now.
Hi everyone! I found this thread because of my new friend, Coriander :)
Thanks Kenderella89 for setting it up! I was wondering what new grads do while applying for new grad positions. Maybe you guys can help answer some of the questions I've been eager to ask...
1) How long can you work as an RN until you DON'T qualify as NEW GRAD anymore? And is it according to the # of hours you worked as an RN or just the # of months?
2) What kind of jobs do people work while looking/applying for new grad positions?
3) Are RNs allowed to apply for CNA or LVN jobs too? Or does it depend on the facility?
I'm soooooo broke right now and haven't worked in the last 2 years because my nursing program did not allow. I could use any job right about now. Hehe.
Hello my name is christine19 and I’m an unemployed New Grad.
License type: RN-BSN
Time out of school: 1.5 months
# of positions applied to date: a little over 50
Dream RN position: ED, but anything involving cardiac will be ideal
Hospital experience: No, but I have worked at a chiropractic office for the past 2 years
Where do you live: San Diego
What are you doing now: Applying for anything and everything :)
Favorite color: Red
How you cope with unemployment: With the holidays approaching, it's been difficult. But I'm hopeful. My nursing professor e-mailed us the latest statistics from a survey conducted by AACN stating "In terms of the job prospects, the employment rate at graduation was 57% for BSN students, with the employment rate at 4-6 months after graduation rising to 88%." Hopefully, I will be a part of that statistic!
Specializes in School Nursing, Public Health Nurse.
Welcome christine19! Lots of SD grads!
I think I can answer your questions:
1) From what I've heard 6 months to a year, depending on the facility, is when you are considered having enough expereince to where you aren't a new grad anymore. I'm guessing that's based off a full-time position.
2) Well I've been looking for any and everything but usually it's a CNA position
3) Yes you can. I kmow I've been looking to getting my CNA license but I heard it's easier to get a CNA job while still in school because it's harder once you are an RN. Hospitals will be weary to hire you because of a liability that you may try to work within the scope of an RN and/or they know it's hard for us to get jobs and we will quit the second an RN job opens. However, I heard the VA is pretty good at hiring RN's as CNA's.
I've been trying to volunteer but I keep running in to the RN issue. Such like Sutter won't let me volunteer anywhere else but the library, Kaiser hasn't contacted me back, and UC Davis takes 4 months before contacting you. I have also been trying to get any job. I'm lucky I have unemployment because I worked for the state for 3 years before losing my job when I graduated since it was a student position. But it's still not enough
Specializes in Hospice & Palliative Care, Oncology, M/S.
Happy you found this group, Christine19.
1) How long can you work as an RN until you DON'T qualify as NEW GRAD anymore? And is it according to the # of hours you worked as an RN or just the # of months?
I have heard 6 months, and I have heard 1 year. Consider both of those at least 60 hrs per 2 weeks. Stanford has a policy where they won't even consider your application if you've worked at all as an RN.
2) What kind of jobs do people work while looking/applying for new grad positions?
Oh, you mean job hunting isn't a job!?!? (kidding). I'm a nursing assistant right now.
3) Are RNs allowed to apply for CNA or LVN jobs too? Or does it depend on the facility?
Like it was mentioned earlier, some facilities shy away from RN's because of the liability issue. Also, they know you're looking for work elsewhere already.
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.
No car! Huge mistake to not have a car in Southern CA. I just moved here from VA; had no idea the market would be this difficult.
bbaileyRN
75 Posts
Now that's brutal!
P.S.: I'm BBaileyRN and I’m an unemployed New Grad.
License type: BSN
Time out of school: 7 months
# of positions applied to date: TOO MANY
Dream RN position: ER
Hospital experience: Worked as a nurse tech in the ED
Where do you live: NorCal
What are you doing now: Working part-time at Express
Favorite color: Red
How you cope with unemployment: Just don't think about it. I've been blessed with THE most supportive boyfriend who completely takes care of me :)