<NEW GRAD for a year now, NO JOB!

Nurses Job Hunt

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So I graduated back in january of 2010! I was an LPN since 2007. And I am finding the most difficult time getting a job. It seems like its a matter of luck nowadays because not everyone among my colleagues are getting called for interviews either =( The hospitals are saying they need BSN or a year of experience in so and so field. Which we know we wouldnt be able to attain IF WE DONT GET HIRED FIRST!!!! I really wanna work in a hospital so bad but no one would hire =( HELP! any tips? :crying2:

Yes, agreed, lower your standards. You can't always get what you want. You have to start somewhere. The hospital will like a person who has SOME experience better over a person who has none.

Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.

Yeah, I've been told by many people high up in the hospital world that nurses with BSNs are prefered. And why not? They have a higher level of education.

I'd go for the BSN and work at an LTC.

Actually in my area you can't get into LTC without at least a year of nursing experience. Its not always about lowering your standards. My standards were pretty low - any job with the title of RN. I had to relocate for a job, and not all people have that ability. 75% of my graduating class (June 2010) are still not working in nursing. Most are bartending or working at Starbucks. Those of us that left the state got jobs, but thats about it. It just seems as though some people are unaware of the actual situation out there and seeing the "just take a job in ltc" gets old. I would have done that in a heartbeat to stay in my home state.

OP where are you from? Do you have any friends/family out of state?

So they should go into even more debt and find out there aren't jobs for BSNs either?

*sigh*

SHE said (she being the poster):

"The hospitals are saying they need BSN or a year of experience in so and so field."

just because there are people on this board who can't get jobs even with a BSN doesn't mean it's that way all over the country. new grads are having no trouble at all where i live and people relocate here from other places to work.

Getting into extra debt for a career in nursing is not wise. You probably will not earn enough to ever really experience actual financial gain for all the suffering without you will do, if you are able to support yourself with your nursing salary and at the same time pay off your debt. Lots of things must fall to your favor to allow this to happen. Just read the posts on default, all of you "why don't you just take out a loan" people. You will see.

Now if some can rely on mommy and daddy still ...really? you gotta be at least in your twenties :uhoh3:.

unless she's going to a really, really expensive school - a year of nursing school costs WAY less than a year of UNEMPLOYMENT!

Specializes in icu/er.

im sorry to say that employement options will still be few and far between, esp since the programs are flooded with new students.

Go apply in a LTC or SNF facility. Since you have LPN experience since 2007, you would be a strong candidate. I am assuming that you are presently working in LTC as an LPN so it should be an easy transition. I would hold off on the BSN as it takes alot of money and the "learning/knowledge" that you gain from this degree is minimal (mostly liberal arts and the art of nursing classes).

What you need is experience. 1 year on the floor (med surg experience) is worth more that 50 BSN degrees. BSN is fluff, theory and a few extra sciences. While it helps develop writing skills it does not give you any real skills. The skill of being a nurses comes from practicing your trade. A nursing home will give you experience and structure so that when the hospital job comes you have some of the basics down. Nurse is not an easy trade. A nursing home is not a fun place and trust me you are going to work in LTC as in the hospital.

My advice: Get some experience and for now hold off on the education. You already have 2 years of education, get something out of that before you come back and post I have a BSN and can not get a job.

PS...In NYC the market for nurses in all areas: Hospitals, LTC, sub acute, Home health and clinics is saturated. Too many hospital closing, too many nursing graduate and so many foriegn nurse flocking to the area.

Specializes in Rehab.

I got my BSN in nursing and applied to every single hospital in 3 states and could not get a job as a new grad. I also applied to many many LTC facilities with the same results. Finally after a year and a half of no nursing job, I was offered a position in a rehab hospital. I'm still new, but so far this job is WONDERFUL! I should have applied to rehab much much earlier. I say to focus your attention on rehab, LTC, or doctor offices. You will get to a hospital eventually and you will have some valuable experience behind you!

I work in a home health care and do flu shots when the season hits.I also enrolled in a BSN program last November,I'm still looking for a second hospital job,Recently I almost got a job in the best hospital systems in Chicago because of my home health background (they said they needed at least one year experience of home health care-I only have six months.Dont be picky,apply outside the hospital scene,get all the experience you can.I never planned to work home health care but now I think it is the best thing that happen: I didnt get to practice all the technical skills in the home health care but I really gotten good in admissions,client teaching,certain meds and disease procesess.

omg so many responses within 24 hours! this website is awesome! thanks guys.

I've been working at a LTC setting for almost 4 years now. a year of ventilator, 6 months of wound nursing, and mostly ambulatory!

I thought i have a pretty good background for an LPN .

Now Im working at a psych hospital as a RN. yes it is a hospital but im not fond of psych. Its more of a side track for me. Just anything to say i worked in some type of hospital. Im so torn whether i should get my BSN or stick it out for a while. I dont know, i just feel like I will get the most experience if i worked in a hospital setting. Thats just my opinion.

Im thinking about getting 12- Lead EKG training or TNCC. will that be good in my resume?

I dont know whats happening with the job situation for ASN =(

Get your ACLS. It's not too hard, offered at most facilities, and will provide you with a broad swath of job opportunities from telemetry floors to critical care. Best of luck!:up:

Specializes in None yet but hopefully critical care..

YAY! You got a job! I've heard horror stories of people getting into a mental health job and not being able to get out b/c most places don't consider that "real" nursing skills.Hopefully that won't happen to you. About going back for your BSN, I would see if your employer will pay for it for you so you won't have to get any loans. You can do it part time since you are a nurse now. My friend is doing that and will graduate with her BSN in May of this year. :)

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