Interview after interview..

With all these budget cuts, its MERELY impossible in California to get a job without having a "connection". Frustrating thing?? a lot of hospitals are short nurses but won't hire "new grads"... even with almost a year under my belt of home health (because that was the only job I could get)., it's still not considered experience. SMH. frustrating but what are ya going to do. I just had a interview for a NICU position (where my heart lies) and I'm fighting who knows how many individuals for ONE position. Interview went well, and just crossing fingers for that call back. Any of you with the same issues? HANG IN THERE!!

Yes, you sound a lot like me and my first year out of nursing school, (graduated Dec. 2010). I passed boards 2 wks after pinning and got my first job as an RN Feb. 2011 with PSA ( pediatric home health private duty) because no one else was giving me a chance. I kept applying everywhere while I was working there bc after two months I realized at that point I wasn't going to really gain any more experience than I already had so I applied, interviewed, and was offered a position for Peds doctors office. Its actually the largest ambulatory care provider for kids in our state and I :redbeathe working there. For a docs office we do a good bit of nursing skills, which I'm glad about. I work there PRN but its more like almost full time lol. They can't afford to pay benefits so I'm working PRN but really I can get up to about 32 hours a week. Even though I love it I still know I need to get that beloved hospital job experience so that I can be the most well rounded and marketable nurse as possible. I would love to try NICU or peds inpatient but I haven't reached that year mark yet to be eligible.

I have an interview for Renal Med/Surg floor tomorrow in the same hospital organization as the peds office I work for. The ONLY reason I was able to land this interview was during nursing orientation for the peds job I went to back in April a classmate of mine was there as well doing orientation for her new job on the med surg floor. We talked about both having hard time finding jobs in our hometown (35 mins away) and how we had to branch out and look at some nearby city hospitals for experience. We were both LPNS previously and both had more than a year experience working as LPNS in nursing homes and we realized that didn't account for much of anything. My classmate promised to talk to her nurse manager and let her know a classmate of hers was interested in a position as well (ME). Needless to say we are now both done with our orientations/probationary periods in our departments and her boss gave me a call the other week and did a telephone interview with me. She said there were dozens of others interested in the position(PT 7a/7p 3 12's q pay period.) and she had to tally up everyones scores to see who would get sit down interviews. YIKES ! A few days past the telephone interview she called to say she wanted me to come in for a sit down!

I don't know if I'll get the job or not but I do know that I wouldn't have even landed the interview more than likely if I didn't have a friend giving me a good reference and if I wasn't already working as an RN in the same hospital system.

Its HARD out here. You have to network if your resume' isn't chocked full of glowing experience. Even some experienced nurses need to know someone in order to get where they want to be. I even paid out of pocket to become PALS certified, not even needing it for my job, so that I could add it on my resume'

Good luck and God Bless us ALL!!!!

BTW I plan to stay at the peds office even if I get the med surg job bc I love the job, kids, and my coworkers and they were the first to give me a shot at gaining clinical RN experience.

ETA: I also applied for flu shot clinic this flu season. It works out well if you have time outside of your regular job and its good for extra cash espeically before the holiday season. Plus its something to add on your resume'.:)

How about leaving California? I got my dream job in the NICU by...leaving California. It's almost been a year and in one more year I can move right on back with experience and have no prob getting a job. I highly recommend looking outside the state. Just a thought...

Hi everyone.My name is Ivan and I am from Europe.From a small country called Serbia to be precise.Is there anyone who could tell me what are my chances of finding a job in the US considering this ongoing crisis and the fact that even you guys,the Americans,have enough of your own problems.To be honest i do have a job but the salary is a little less than 500USD.And yeah,I am a registered male nurse back in my homeland.

jpeters84,

where exactly did you move to after CA? jw.

JPeters, where did you move?? I have been looking too.

Ivanhoe, it's honestly really hard.

I got my job in Boise and I thought I was going there to just get my two years experience but now I love the hospital and city so much I plan on staying. The pay isn't awesome but everything is so cheap that you can live very comfortably on the salary. My unit alone hired 8 new grads this summer (we're the largest unit in the hospital) and the hospital hires new grads throughout the year. There are spots in the country that are hiring new grads you just have to do your research and be open and flexible enough to move. And when you apply to out of state jobs you have to be very enthusiastic about the area even if you aren't initially. Otherwise they might now want to take a chance on you. I hope you expand your horizons beyond California...Good luck!!

Thanks rosannaRN.Maybe I should be aiming for Canada instead?They have this so called live-in caregiver program.You might heard of it.The salary compared to other professions is miserable but at least I don't have to bother with finding a decent place to live in.Are caregivers wanted in the US and how well are they paid?And most important am I qualified to work as a caregiver both in US and Canada?I know I am asking a lot of questions but answers are always welcomed :).

P.S. How are immigrant workers treated by their employers and other colleagues regardless of job they're doing?

I've heard about lots of complaints from immigrants working as caregivers in Canada.They often end up underpaid and mistreated by their employer.

Can't say if this is true but it does raise a few eyebrows.

@janfrn I really appreciate your arguments but what are my alternatives?I don't see any.To work for like 500USD a month here in Serbia?It is almost three times less than prevailing minimum wage in Canada.For truth's sake this comparison means nothing unless one's acquainted with living costs in Canada(and i am not).Which brings us to my next question-would I be able(I am a very saving person)to save some money after a year or two as caregiver. If not this option is basically useless for me.Agencies and lawyers are not required in the process of finding a job.Family of an elderly person can hire you directly and without intermediaries.All they have to provide is a positive Labour Market opinion from Service Canada.That piece of paper along with written contract is one of the pathways to Canada.The rest is nothing but bureaucracy unless my visa officer is in a bad mood :).

OP, I am in the same situation but in Boston. Started in private duty nursing since no where else was hiring and now 11 months later I am no closer to getting a job in the hospital. It's experience but so few recognize it as so. I had a phone interview this past week and after explaining my typical day she asked if "maintenance work" correctly described what I did. I was appalled, I know it's not acute care nursing but give me a little credit!

We have to land something eventually, I just keep applying and hoping it's my lucky day! :) Hope you get that NICU position, it would give me some hope.

@ janfrn Thanks again.Your comments were very helpful(the same refers to you dudette10:)).I am now begining to take Norway into serious consideration.I could work there as a personal care attendant.The pay is approx. 3000EUR(tax free).They have an excellent health care system.I don't need a visa which saves me a lot of time.The process of diploma authorization as they call it is easy and goes smoothly and best of all don't have to take any additional exams.After two years I can apply for licensure exam so I can work as a male nurse.They are of course paid better(cca. 5000EUR).The country is in relatively high demand for both attendants and nurses.A lot of my countymen are already working there.There is only one problem.Language.But I'll get into it eventually.A colleague of mine is leaving for Norway in a few months so I'll have all the infos needed.First-hand.Even though I was very enthusiatic about Canada(I really like the country)you guys pretty much talked me out of it.At least for now:).