New Grad & No one will hire me

U.S.A. New Jersey

Published

I have never applied to so many jobs and not receive a response. Follow up letters and phone calls have been made. references used. what else can I do? I need to start working. Any advice?

I am truly beginning to believe, I just wasted away 30000 dollars and 5 yrs of school for nothing. I was so excited to become a nurse, something I have always wanted and finally had a chance at it. I thought nursing was different than your average positions. nurses are suppose to help each other, teach each other, and grow together, what happened?

NJ nursing shortage? hospitals advertise they will take new nurses on their career sites, but they lie. All they want are experienced nurses. well guess what, when you fall short of staff in the few years the industry is predicting, all their will be are NEW NURSES! TRAIN THE NEW GRADS NOW AND START PREPARING FOR THE RETIREMENT LOSS NOW! I don't understand.

Thanks for letting me vent. :)

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We've been hearing this more and more about the NJ/Philly area and now also the NJ/New York area. :(

Have you applied to LTC facilities, doctor's offices, etc. where you could at least earn a paycheck while you're searching for a hospital that will hire you?

I'm sorry about your stressful situation, but please hang in there!

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Thanks for the encouragement :) I have started to apply to LTC's, offices are not hiring, most are asking for MA's or LPN's. It really is slim pickin's around here..... i'm just waiting to hear, now, from the LTC's.

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I went through the same thing as you - much of it due to the recent hospital closings here in NJ. All of those experienced RNs who were laid off were hired into the other hospitals. I wanted to start out in a hospital, but it seems that they were only hiring those experienced RNs, not the new grads. I finally got a job on a sub-acute unit at a LTC facility. Not what I wanted to do (you will work your buns off!), but it did get me that needed experience on my resume. So apply to LTC, nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living. Get that experience on your resume and then apply to the hospitals. Hang in there and best of luck to you!

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).

Come to NYC. There are plenty of jobs here.

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Specializes in pediatrics, oncology.
Come to NYC. There are plenty of jobs here.

I actually can't tell if this is supposed to be sarcastic or not! I have applied to jobs at 18 hospitals across NY, NJ, CT, and PA, and am beginning to believe there is NO nursing shortage in this area! :(

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Specializes in nicu/m/s/addictions/beh.health.

are you near atlantic city? i've been told that all the spots at atlanticare are being filled by new grads...even er. saving money or saving lives?

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Specializes in Neonatal ICU (Cardiothoracic).
I actually can't tell if this is supposed to be sarcastic or not! I have applied to jobs at 18 hospitals across NY, NJ, CT, and PA, and am beginning to believe there is NO nursing shortage in this area! :(

No sarcasm intended. My unit hired 12-15 new grads last year alone. PICU hired nearly the same number. My advice is to call the recruiter and personally inquire about any open new grad positions. That's what I did, and I was an experienced nurse.

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Specializes in ER.

I would make the phone calls to the nurse recruiters, ask for the names of the managers on Med Surg, Tele... wherever you want to go. Hound them. If it's what you want, they'll really admire the tenacity to go after the job. You can even ask the nurse recruiter when's a good time to come in and meet her/him so that you can get a tour of the hospital. Let the nurse recruiters know at each facility that you're really looking at this particular hospital, that it is very impressive.... etc. Fill them full of what they want to hear - they're the ones who get the resume to the managers.

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I am in the same boat, I have been applying to every hospital up to 1 hour travel time and it looks like I'm gonna have to travel to get experience in the hospital. Keep trying, don't give up, I made up my mind if I don't have a job by next month, I'm gonna go to a rehab facility for a year.

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Specializes in pediatrics, oncology.
No sarcasm intended. My unit hired 12-15 new grads last year alone. PICU hired nearly the same number. My advice is to call the recruiter and personally inquire about any open new grad positions. That's what I did, and I was an experienced nurse.

NYP has told me and some other students in my program that they are not hiring any more new grads this year. They filled all of their open positions with May grads. :(

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Specializes in ER/EHR Trainer.

Saint Barnabas medical center has openings in its many locations. As the second largest employer in the state of NJ you may be able to find a position, but you must apply on line and you must be a pain to get an interview. There are tons of jobs at www.sbhcs.com the list is for the whole system.

You'd better hurry though, they only start new grads a few times per year, August orientation is the 27th, I know they hire in Sept and definately in January-just not sure about the in between.

Good luck

Maisy

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