I can not believe the state of things right now. I have been looking for a job since April and have handed easily well over 150 applications. All I have to show for this all effort is one interview at Mass Eye and Ear for an OR position. This was with the Director of nursing who told me she really wanted to hire me be there weren't any openings at all.
I have tryed just about every trick in the book to get into HR to talk to someone ANYONE about open positions. I did the "I was just in the neighborhood on my way to see a friend and figured I'd stop in and say hello." I've called, emailed and worn my shoes down to ashes on the pavement.
I've applied in other states such as Maine, RI, CT, NH, VT, NY, NC, MY, NJ, PA and haven't gotten one phone call back.
I've tryed Temp agencies, Rehabs, Hospitals, Home care, community health and just about any other setting you can think of. Nothing, zilch nada.
I feel like all this is really starting to wear on me. I'm tired of hearing "oh just wait and it will pick up", "Don't be so negative" or "Oh, they're hiring in my area." I'm tired of being told to have hope in a situation where no hope exists.
I wake up every day in aches and pains. I have massive headaches and lately just filling out even three applications has me feeling exhausted afterwards. I am beyond the point of "well, what's the point?!?". Searching has become more of a ritual than it anything that gives me hope of for the future. I long since gave up looking for New Grad positions and just apply for the experienced one.
Well, there's supposed to be a shortage, right? Doing the math there can't possibly be enough experienced nurses around to fill all these open positions.
As far as the shortage goes, I feel like that is just one big lie. I don't think there ever really was a shortage to begin with and this was all one big hoax to tie up all the excess labor training for a new field for a few years. Overall, there probably was a slight shortage and they put out this big call for nurse grads just to flood the market and drive wages down.
My marriage has reached the point where the relationship is beyond strained. My wife and I are now in couples counseling and considering divorce because she now feels tired of the whole nursing school thing and this massive let down at the end. I really can't blame her for being angry about it and I wouldn't want to be in her position either.
I feel your pain! I searched for an entire year and some 300 applications and moved 500 miles before I got my first RN job. You will find one. The trick is to not give up hope and no marriage is worth losing over a job. At this point, get any job to keep you sane! I worked in a restaurant for a year after school before getting my current job.
Another thought--- it's not you. It's the economy. There are tons of other new grads who are not finding jobs. Just don't give up hope and work on your marriage. Good luck to you.
God to I relate to what your writing. I graduated May of 2009. I dress up day after day to pound the pavement and nothing. 3 interviews at SNFs who decided to go with ..... yes you guessed it... someone with experience. I'm at a loss. What do I do? Sadly I am in Cali, the bay area actually and its dismal. Thinking of hiting up the malls for retails jobs. I'm trying to stay somewhat positive but I hardly ever smile and it truly feels like groundhogs day. Please let this economy turn around soon!
I'm so glad I'm not crazy! I am lucky. I finished an LPN program at the start of September, took the NCLEX and had my license a month later. I have been looking for a job since graduation, about 2 months, all the while my friends telling me "everyone's hiring, and they're paying a lot." So, I didn't think I would have a problem finding a job. I applied for every open position and every LTC, with positions or not. No one called me back, at all. Through a friend's relative, I found a job at a clinic making much less than I expected I would, but it's a full time time, so I am super happy to have it. I don't know why this myth of a nursing shortage is being perpetuated. Good luck to everyone!
Sorry about your relationship difficulties but I am with you on the job hunt. I am so tired of sending resumes. I think I've sent 30+ resumes out, including the places I've had clinical rotations and nothing. I finally got my first interview earlier this week since graduating May 2009 and not a word back since. I'm no longer animated, excited. I am tired of begging and explaining how I can be an asset to your facility. I think they like to see how long they can make you dance for the carrot...
I've hit my max and am stopping and thinking about other options. I wish all of you well in your hunt
I'm sorry to hear of your troubles. Here in the other side of the world, things also seem quite bleak. The hospital I worked for managed to ween potentially 100+ new graduate positions down to 40.
OP, are you from mass too? I take it you are as you applied to mass eye and ear. I am feeling your pain and I know it does not help to know you arent in this alone, but you arent. It is awful, same situation as you. I cant offer you hope, because I have none left. I can however tell you a way I have been trying to get my name out there. I go onto craigslist to the resume sections and post what I want in a job(when really i would take just about anything!). I have gotten a few interviews off of that- ones that werent publicised, and may have a job, just waiting for my cori to come back. This job is also something i never would have applied to because I havent had any experience in this type of setting and didnt even think of it. My ad is up there right now if you go and check the resume section to give you an idea- dont come across many nursing resumes so you would be able to find it if you wanted to take a look What area are you in? Are you a LPN or RN? Maybe I can help you out with ads I come across if you give me your email. But if you havent done the craigslist thing, Id say try it, it cant hurt! And check out the medical/health jobs to - there are some ones on there I dont see on any of the job listings websites- search all boston. Its the least I could do for a fellow new grad at their witts end. I really wish you the best of luck and hope you find work soon!
I'm going through nearly the same thing. I actually grew up and went to nursing school in Boston but moved to New Orleans after graduation because my boyfriend is going to med school at Tulane (and I thought that there couldn't be a job market any worse than Boston). It's hard to believe that I'm reaching the 6-months post graduation mark without any end in sight to the dark hole of new-grad-RN-unemployment. I feel out of control of my future because I'm relying on these faceless HR people, who reject my application within thirty seconds of submission, to allow me to get started in my career.
Recently, I've started considering moving back home for a year if I could find a position (and then moving back to NOLA after I get my 1-year-experience). The idea of being 1500 miles away from my BF is heartbreaking. But I don't know how long I should wait for something to happen so that I can start my career. I know the market in Boston is non-existent, but I'm beginning to think that I might have a better shot because I did all my clinicals in Boston, and also have some connections in the hospitals in Boston.
I'm so confused. and depressed. and angry. :angthts:
I'm beginning to resent everyone I see in scrubs.
And now I just shut down when someone dares tell me about the "nursing shortage."
Please don't resent the people you see in scrubs. They are not the ones that mislead you. In the past 10 years right here on this site I read a thousand post that said the same thing, "the nursing shortage is a hoax". "There are more than enough nurses to fill all the slots but no one will work under the conditions present in most hospitals today." The same people that perpetuated the hoax are the ones that will eventually hire you and work you to death because they know you are to scared of the bad job market to quit. This tight labor market was caused by huge numbers of people that flooded into health care because it was the only place you could get jobs.
I can totally hear you. Have you tried and applied to the state prison? I know couple of them are still hiring RNs. You can drive straight to the state prison and fill out the application. They'll call you for an interview within a month.
and depressed. 
and angry. :angthts:
masry123
116 Posts
I'm so sorry. keep looking around. at least there will be paycheck coming!!!:loveya: