Job search FRUSTRATING (and I'm not a new grad)

[sl4shd0t]

I haven't worked since last summer, and have recently started applying....everywhere. Four years experience in the healthcare field, and two of those as a nurse on an acute med/surg floor. I felt my resume was good, I have ICU experience, in-patient dialysis and did my preceptorship in oncology back when I was in school.

It's really discouraging! How long is the economy going to be like this?! I went to a job fair and got a lot of "sorry, but you need experience in this specialty." I'm willing to go into any specialty, and when I was in school a lot of recruiters would say "get some med/surg experience first." Well, now I'm experienced and it's "You need experience in this specialty." ***!!!

I have an interview with a nursing home on Thursday and the DON didn't seem too pleased that my only LTC experience is as a CNA. In my previous job I was always overloaded with patients, had a team under me to supervise, dealt with catastrophic illnesses, vents, post-op's, did conscious sedation, in-patient dialysis. I'm so upset that this isn't even seen as impressive in this tough economy.

I miss the days when they used to kiss our butts and offer huge bonuses. Used to be able to just walk into a facility, talk to someone and get a job.

Just needed to vent. Any thoughts or idea's would be helpful too.

[aawilwcb]

It will turn around, hand in there, a nursing degree is never a waist.

[Kabin]

I've heard the local mortuary/funeral business is 10 to 15% down since last year. Fewer snow birds, geriatric population moving away, etc.

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

Lots of jobs advertised at Banner Health care-there are quite a few hospitals in Phx. Good Sam has a good reputation.

[Hoozdo, ADN]

Try applying for the Abrazo flexpool or the Banner Professional Registry. I have found these are the only two jobs that will call you back quickly after you apply.

The regular Banner recruiters take forever to call you - could be a month or more. The same goes for Abrazo - I have a few jobs that are currently "under manager review" for more than a month.

The job market is REALLY TOUGH, even for experienced nurses.

[siren1]

I do see that banner has a ton of RN jobs posted now. I am not sure but i think this is a change from a last month. Does anyone know if banner is now hiring new grads? I had given up looking in arizona and am taking a job here where I live. I have wanted to relocate to phoenix for the last two years and have been waiting to finish nursing school. I have been very dissapointed with the job market. I think i will try and contact banner next week and see if they will be hiring new grads or perhaps I should just wait and do six months to a year here.

Dave Wheeler

[Hoozdo, ADN]

I do see that banner has a ton of RN jobs posted now. I am not sure but i think this is a change from a last month. Does anyone know if banner is now hiring new grads?

Go through every single job, and if it doesn't say "unable to accept new grads", then apply. Once you fill out an application, it is very easy to apply for other jobs at Banner. Just a few clicks. Doesn't hurt to try!