My testimony for the new grads!

Nurses Job Hunt

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First off, no matter what your situation is, HANG IN THERE!:up:

Warning! My posts tend to be long, but I'll make this as short as possible.

I'll tell ya'll my nursing story. Maybe it'll give a little piece of hope to someone out there who is thinking about giving up. This website surely has kept me goin. :)

Well, I am a new grad myself. Graduated with my ASN in dec '11. Took me 5 months to finally find a job. So no matter how bad the economy is, keep sending those applications anywhere you can, and you will eventually find a position. In the meantime, I decided to go back to school and will be receiving my BSN this coming dec. :grad:

Here's my soap box: I went to nursing school with the notion that I was going to work L&D only (always wanted to). God must have got a good laugh at that. While in clinicals I absolutely knew that I didn't want to spend a day, working med-surg. It just not for me. (Kudos to all the nurses who do and love it!) Well guess what, after 5 months of being jobless after graduation, I applied to every job I could and began my career on a post-op unit working nights. While I was excited to have a job, I wasn't excited about the type of unit. I ended up becoming depressed & stressed because I would have to leave my family/friends to go work at a place I hated to be. I cried on my way to work every shift. I even contemplated quitting nursing all together. Thank goodness for my awesome co-workers!

I felt like the wrath of my job started taking over my life. Always thinking about the next time I had to go, and I couldn't fully enjoy my time off. So when I heard there was an open position for postpartum, I decided to talk to my boss about transferring after only 4 months. Luckily my boss was awesome and let me apply and interview, even though I didn't get the job due to some changes the hospital was making.

In the meantime, I applied for an L&D position at another facility, got an interview, but was told they took more experienced nurses due to lack of preceptors for newbies. Oh well, God was telling me He has another plan for me. And after how "stressful" the l&d nurses portrayed it to be, it kind of turned me off about working in that department. Well, I heard about another opening for postpartum and jumped at it. Finally got the position and will be starting tomorrow!!! :yeah: Super Excited

My point: No matter what your situation is, you will get where you want to be. Just have some patience, God has a plan for you! As much as I hated and despised working med-surg, I have learned so much and I'm so greatful for the experience (Never thought I'd say that :eek:). Nursing school does not prepare you for half of what you're gonna do in the real world of nursing. You have to find your niche :redpinkhe

Can't find a job? Keep looking! Even if you have to move.

Don't like your current job? Look for a new one and be persistant.

Good luck to all you new grads out there! Don't give up. You're life is going exactly how God planned it, remember He has perfect timing!

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I am happy it worked out for you. I am really discouraged right now and can't seem to find where I belong. I am searching for a new job at the moment, and feeling hopeless.

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Thank you so much for this post. It means a lot to me as a new grad!!!:redbeathe

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Specializes in none.

I havent even decided on what school i want to attend and i am already stressing!! Im worried about enrolling, getting the $33,000 loan(from american career college) if i attend that school), graduating and then not finding a job to pay back my loan!! All together it;s really stressfull!! I am even thinking about not doing the lvn program at all:(

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Specializes in none.

What school did you graduate from?

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MJB2010 - The great thing about nursing is that there is so much you can do. You just have to find what you like best, and that will definitely take some time. Keep looking and do a self-assessment of what type of work environment you would like best. In the mean time, keep gaining as much experience as you can where ever you can. You will eventually get where you want.

LRC RN - your welcome! and good luck to you! :)

Skeptical1 - Don't let anything stop you from accomplishing your goal! If you really want it, go for i!t And no matter what, you will find a way to pay off your loan. I attended the ASN program at a private 2 year college. Because I'm always curious, why the lvn program instead of RN?

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Specializes in none.

I guess because the lvn program would be much faster. Or even if i start off with my cna and work my way up to lvn. I think i would have a better chance at getting a job when i am finished with my lvn due to the experience i will be getting once i get my cna

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I always encourage others to work their way into an RN program (if it's feasable) instead of LPN/LVN only because it takes almost the same amount of time and money. Working your way up from CNA to LVN to RN will take a lot of time, and you might become burnt out with school. Plus, a lot of places are beginning to hire RNs only, and are fading away from LVNs. That's just my opinion though. I hope everything works out for you!

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Hi Skeptical,

$33,000 for LVN? If that is true that is extremely to much. I wouldn't do that if I were you.., jmo

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I am glad to read this story. I also have not even started the program, although I have finished my pre-req for ADN and BSN. I see so many stories about nurses with more experience getting the better position. I sometimes battle with myself about going this nursing route or stop to become a teacher. I feel confused sometimes but I will keep pushing for nursing, its where my heart is. I know God has a plan for me as well, even if its not what i think right now! #determined to be a nurse:nurse:

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

please do not use text-speak or non-standard abbreviations in your posts. if you would not put it in a patient's chart, it should not be in your posts either. this is a professional nursing network; we do not charge members by the letter and the terms of service are clear on the use of proper english spelling, grammar and punctuation. [if you've forgotten these terms, your agreement to which were part of your registration here, please refresh your memory here: (https://allnurses.com/terms-info.html)] your posts are important and may be enormously helpful to others. why not be a role model for strong, respectful nursing behaviour?

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Thank you so much for sharing your story w/ us. It couldn't have come in a better time especially w/ my current situation. Your post reminded me to try to stay positive and let God's plan enfold but at times I can't help to feel discouraged b/c while I seem idle looking for a job, all my counterparts are working and off orientation working independently as a nurse. *sigh* my time will surely come

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