In a bit of trouble and need advice, don't know what to do

[clipper the seal]

I was all excited at the start of the year about starting my graduate year. I was so confident when applying that I only applied for one place and got it. My life was going exactly as planned.

Then I got a letter from the registration board saying there was an error in my application and I would have to resubmit.

The first thing I did was went and told my employer (this is was one week before I was suppose to start), I knew this was really important and my responsibility. When I arrived there I was informed by the receptionist that the person I had to speak to was on a vacation (because taking a vacation one week before 40 new graduates you're meant to be looking after is a smart thing to do) but she said she would send her off an email and I should expect to hear from her by the end of the week (it was monday when I got the letter) but to reapply straight away, which I did.

The weekend came and I heard nothing. It specifically stated in my contract that my contract was conditional upon my registration, so I thought no registration no contract.

During that weekend also my youngest sister (15) was involved in a serious car crash and had to be flown to a major hospital with spinal cord injuries. That monday, when I was suppose to start a week of orientation, I instead went to see her. I was going to ring my employer but they rang first and I told them what was happening and they said I should still be there. So the next day and for the rest of the week I went to orientation.

After orientation week we were meant to start working on the wards but I still had not recieved my registration or heard back from this person I was meant to speak to about it.

On monday I had no idea what to do. Should I go or not go? I went, in full uniform but made it explicitly clear to everyone that I was not registered and there was no way I would be doing any nursing work until I had some offical word what to do.

All the nurses I spoke to about this was fine with it but said to speak to someone higher up. I kept going higher and higher until I eventually had to ring the person that was originally meant to contact me. She freaked out when she discovered I wasn't registered and told me not do anything (which I wasn't) and to sit in a room and wait for her.

I did and she came around and told me the 'seriousness' of the situation. That they had only been a few minutes away from paying everyone for the previous week of orientation but because I wasn't registered, if they had paid me they would have paid an unregistered nurse for work which is illegal and they would have been fined $40,000.

I was told to leave the premises and that I would be contacted later on. That wednesday I had a meeting with the person that was originally meant to contact me, and two others from ocupational health and safety and they made all these allegations about my actions.

That I hadn't informed them that I wasn't registered prior to commencement, which is untrue. And for failure to turn up to the first day of orientation.

I tried to make it clear to them that 1) I did contact them about it one week prior, and 2) since I had no contract with them (no registration no contract) I was under no legal obligation to show up and they should know this.

After the meeting they told me they would think about everything and make a decision. I got a letter in the mail saying that my actions weren't up to their standard and to find work elsewhere.

That was three months ago. And since that time I have had no work. They made it very clear to me that any future employment I would have would not be with them, the biggest health care provider in my town. So I tried the only other hospital, a private hospital, and another smaller hospital about 30 minutes out of town, they both said the same thing. 'We're not hiring at the moment but you can leave your resume with us.' I even tried nursing homes even though I hate nursing homes. And still nothing.

So now I'm starting to be disillusioned. Weren't nurses meant to be in demand? Wasn't I told that no matter where I go I would always find nursing work because everywhere was desperate for nurses?

I thought about doing agency work but I have no car, and I can't buy a car without work. Catch 22.

The worst part about it though is how ashamed and embarrassed I feel. Few of my friends know, and only some of my family. I was the first person in my family to go and graduate from university and now I have to apply for jobs like meat packing because I need money for food and rent. =(

And on a final note, I'm starting to believe the 'nurse shortage' is nothing more then a myth. I saw an add in the paper wanting nurses to work in a private nursing home. I applied and got a letter saying my application wasn't successful. But here's the kicker, a friend of mine works there and they told me that all the nurses were complaining to the union about how understaffed they were so they union took it to management so management put out the add just to please the unions. But do you know how many nurses they hired? 0. Not a single one, they just did it to get the unions off their back.

Sorry for crapping on for so long, but does anyone have any ideas or suggestions as to what I can do?

Thanks.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

I am not understanding....

Are you a student nurse starting his/her graduate year (senior yr) or a graduated nurse with licensure

[clipper the seal]

Sorry I don't know what a licensure is. I finished my three year university Bachelor of Nursing degree last year and am recently registered. That is how it works in Australia. Sorry if I have misposted this.

[JenniferSews]

And on a final note, I'm starting to believe the 'nurse shortage' is nothing more then a myth.

It is a myth. At least here in the US finding a job as a new RN was next to impossible. It took me weeks and I ended up at a nursing home. The best advice for new grads in the US is to lower your standards and consider any job possible. If you check the first year after nursing forum you will find lots of other new graduates in the same situation and some advice. The Aus forum might have advice for you specific to your region. Good luck!

[lbt1995]

Same here. All the glory of the RN in demand days is starting or rather faded off already. I am also a new grad RN at least in US point of view because I did not got my BSN degree here. Believe me, I've tried everythng and now thinking of applying for a non-nursing position to feed my kids.

[itsmejuli]

Well, Clipper, that really does suck. Have you considered moving elsewhere to work?

Its rough getting a job for new LPNs as well as new RNs here in Florida. I got my LPN license in Oct and only now will start working tomorrow. I took a job in an LTC working Sat and Sun 7a-7p, I had no other choice. Good for me that I'm single with grown children. Fortunately, I won't have to look for another job when I graduate RN, this facility will keep me on as an RN.

[SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN]

it sounds like the old saying holds... get-it-in-writing! in your situation op, you were not given the "ok" in writing to show up to work without having your registration, so you should not have showed up for work. if the rep had returned from vacation and asked why, then you could have explained to her that you were not registered and that you were still interested in the position. at that time you could have also asked if it was possible to train at a later date or orient without the registration as an aid. in any case, consider this is a lesson learned.

is it possible that your former employer bad mouthed you to other facilities? in the u.s. that would happen in a heart beat if the facility is in a small area. yes, here it is illegal for an employer to tell other facilities personal information, but it is still possible to break this law without getting caught. within small areas everyone knows just about everyone within a community. so, people working for facilities have ways of spreading the reputation of others (including firings) without being caught in a legal mess. if this is the case for you, then you may need to move out of the area to find another nursing job, and then move back after you have some experience. gl!