It's NOT fair!!!!

Nurses General Nursing

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How on earth am I supposed to get nursing experience if NO ONE will hire a "new grad"?! There are so many job positions supposedly available....but they won't even consider me! It's NOT FAIR!!!!:mad: I can't even get my application/resume past HR. The longer I wait, the more I forget! 3 years of school....over 20K of student loans... and I'm decorating cakes to try to earn a little money! COME ON!!!! There has got to be someone, somewhere willing to hire a new grad RN - one who did great in school, who received multiple compliments throughout clinical training, and who even received a Leadership Award at pinning ceremony!

I'm getting so discouraged. :crying2:

Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

I agree with MBARNRN. There are nursing jobs in Texas

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I just wonder why I always see posts suggesting to try LTC. I think that the market has tightened everywhere.

I know that in my area LTCs do not hire new grads, well, with the exception of one place I am aware of where your license is pretty much going to be burned. You have to have an "in" to work for LTC now as well. The first place people look when hospital jobs are scarce is LTC. Well, that's been for two years now. So they are full. There is little upward movement into hospitals so not much turnaround. Hospitals in my area only hire NGs that have real firm connections (Family are MDs, relatives/friends of the DON, city political connection). Other than that, now most require 1.6-2.0 years acute care experience for a Nurse Clinician I, or a Staff Nurse I position. So, if you went into LTC just to get your "experience" you are there to stay. Just a few years back hospitals in my area let you get your feet wet in LTC, and then move up to acute care. That is now of the past.

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yeah new grad jobs here in upstate NY...sorry moving isn't an option. Good luck to you.

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There is a job for every person. Just keep on trying. You may try to check out any Long term acute care hospitals in your area. They generally have greater needs and less applicants. Lifecare, Select Specialty and Kindred are 3 of the national chains and there are many smaller chains. Do some research and you may be working before you know it.

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This is true of any field right now -- my fiancee graduated law school the year before last, worst possible time, and its been a fight to get a job. When he needed one, he sat down every morning until night for three months, sent out mailings, writing samples, etc on resume paper, spending $$ on boxes of that and postage, and went on four or five interviews, got an offer, and now he has the job he loves.

Any person in almost any field right now - lawyers, mortgage industry professionals, Healthcare workers, accounting, Human Resources, Construction, etc etc is facing a tight labor market.

People need to understand its not just nursing, and there's no logical reason why anybody graduating now should feel entitled to a job after x amount of resumes being sent - it takes time and perserverence, there are more employees than jobs right now.

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Specializes in learning on an ortho floor.

LTC is still hiring "new Grads." in my area......??????? Nashua, NH.....yeah...they are.....;)

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Specializes in OR Hearts 10.
Until nurses on this forum start to post otherwise, I will continue to say the same thing to New Grads with your problem.... Move to Texas! :up:

Even here (northeast TX) it's getting harding to find work as a new grad. In my area there are 5 nursing schools within a 40 mile radius and 2 hospitals. The next town over is approx 60 miles away but have 3-5 nursing schools. We hired 8 new grads in Dec, all externs already working for the hospital and that was only 8 of the 16 externs.

I still finds tons of people that do not believe that new grads can't find jobs.............

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Specializes in geriatrics.

As posters have suggested, you may need to consider looking outside your immediate locale for work. Cities are too saturated everywhere. Myself, and a couple of friends left a big city for jobs elsewhere. Months later, people I went to school with who were intent on staying in the big city are still unemployed, with the mentality "its not fair". Meanwhile, a couple of us who decided to leave are working, AND making better pay.

Life is about sacrifices. On another note, I have a friend who has 12 years of hotel mgmt experience. It took her 3 months to land another job. She was baffled, because this has never been the case before. So, unfortunately, this happens in every field. However, do not lose hope. You will get a job somewhere. It just may not be ideal.

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Specializes in OB.
haha! Unfortunately moving right now is not an option. My husband has a stable job here in Las Vegas...and unless I find something far better than what he's got - we're stuck here.

And I'm definitely not just applying to hospitals... I'm trying everything!! (Rehab, LTC, home health, etc.)

I know it's a bit of a distance but have you considered Bullhead City (WARMC) or Lake Havasu? It's about 1- 1.5 hr drive from Vegas (depending on how heavy your foot is...) but it's a smaller area which may be less saturated with applicants. You may even be able to group your days and stay there on work days - Bullhead/Laughlin has REALLY cheap rooms!

With a slightly longer commute you may even want to consider Kingman.

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Specializes in ER, Trauma.

This too shall pass. Good luck.

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You've been at this since DEC 2010? try myself who has been at it since May 2010 and others from DEC 2009. The move to Texas advice is a good one, but what cities because what i am hearing out of the major cities is pretty much what you are saying (hundreds of new grads for few positions). Also consider how bad the economy is, it is not a new grad thing, it is a money thing. If people are too poor to go to hospitals, census falls, the hospital then needs less nurses and make less money. Networking seems like the only thing working for most. Get to know people, call managers directly, get your name and face out to the person directly making interview and hiring decisions because when they are so many applicants they only look at a few applications. I tried to going to HR in person several times (just wanted to know if you have the latest version of my resume, just wanted to know the status of my application, is there a way i can speak to the manager directly.......these were my questions in person to HR) and i was assured i would be remembered and passed on to the other round and that didn;t happen.

Craigslist is great and if you can take any job at the facility you want, with the intent to transfer when a nursing job becomes open do it. What kind of nursing degree do you have BSN, AASN, ADN.........? Have you considered going back to school? What are you school professors saying? do they know, anything or anyone who might help? Volunteer where it will help you, and tell everyone you meet, you are a nurse looking for work. Apply to every job you feel you can do the tasks because sometimes you get an interview because everyone who applied is getting one and you can get a job that way. Look into public health, telehealth, out of the way home health and LTCs and keep your eye on your dream specialty and keep bugging people there. Make business cards, write several versions of your resume and have pertinent cover letters.

Based on the rumors in CA, it gonna be a long while before things go back to the way they were, so do everything to standout, also look into get certs, extra training on your own and getting your BLS and ACLS, PALS etc. Most of all Bug the heck out of people because it makes them remember you. Hope this all helps, you will go thru the stages of grief and eventually you will be in acceptance like me. I am glad someone is supporting me, yes my income would mean a great deal to us, which is why i try try and try my hardest every single day.

Look and see if you qualify for unemployment and hook up with your local workforce.

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What others have said - you're not alone.

What I would suggest, and I have no idea who you are / what your situation is, but if you're single, consider travelling and/or getting yourself a job out of town. I know it stinks to move, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do.

This said, also, there *is* the possibility that you are a type of person that is a poor interviewer if you HAVE had interviews. I would suggest, in that case, to go to your college and see if they have a 'how to interview' seminar type thing. I know mine did at the library. They teach simple, yet stupid things such as "how to shake a hand correctly" ... it's a science (NOT KIDDING), how to smile ... always, and how to sit, stand, dress, etc.

You might also need to revamp and make your resume pretty. Many universities also help with this, so ask them! (yes even after graduation).

Finally, stop focusing on the fact that you are a new grad and focus on the fact that you're looking for a good job, eager to excel in your field, and are COMMITTED to working at a place (any place) long term. Stroke their egos, tell them "I've heard so many good things about you and how much your workers love working for a great place, etc etc etc."

And if all else fails, and if you've only been looking for acute care, try to get a job at an LTAC, LTC, or ECF. Sometimes LTACs pay is just as good, and you don't get the super critical patients that you do in hospitals. Plus you get your experience they're looking for, and are able to move to a hospital in the future if you wish.

Finally I know it's frustrating, but look up. You'll find a job in the end and it'll be awesome (and very stressful), so stick it out, and realize all the things school DIDN'T teach you! haha.

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