New Grad BSN, RN and cannot find a job!! HELP!

ms_sgr, BSN, NP · Aug 6, 2012

I am experiencing the same problem, but I have applied to almost every hospital in the State of Georgia that was under 3.5 hours. I would say to take the job and to continue to search for employment. Your goal is to obtain any position in nursing before your 1 year anniversy. A lot of new grads start in nursing homes. I believe that this shows that you are not limited to one area even if you are. A lot of applications ask if you have nursing experience, having some experience is better than not having any. Select Specialty is accepting applications for their residency, they are located in Macon.

sydneyw19 · Aug 6, 2012

Thank you for your advice! What would you say are some of the main problems you've experienced while applying for positions? I'm curious to hear from other people having trouble with the job market in GA (or other states). My boyfriend and I have thought of moving to FL. I have family there and have looked into obtaining my license through endorsement in that state but the market seems difficult anywhere.

I am a recent BSN graduate from Athens, GA. I have passed my NCLEX and am desperately seeking an RN position. I have applied to:
Athens Regional Medical Center, St. Mary's Healthcare System, Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Northside Hospital, Emory Healthcare, Gwinnett Medical, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, and several others.
My mom works at a nursing home that I have been given a job offer to, but I have been told this is not a good idea for new grads. I want to eventually specialize in PEDS or OB and have been told this would hurt my chances. I am looking for a hospital position and would like to eventually work at CHOA but I know this might not happen for me at first. In addition, I have worked as a nanny for the past six years, had an externship in L&D and a practicum in NICU but both departments were not hiring. I also volunteered at a camp through Children's Healthcare of Atlanta last month and have had several other experiences to add to my resume. Still, I have had ZERO success landing a job, or even an interview!
I have someone that is in the process of looking through my resume and making changes in order to help me with finding a job, but I am wondering if I should hire a nurse recruiter in the area. I don't know how to go about doing this. Is anyone familiar with this process and if it is beneficial?
I am so frustrated and never thought I would be without a job at this point. Can anyone offer any sound advice at this point??
Thank you!

fposey · Aug 6, 2012

I have heard the market is even worse in FL. I would take the job you have been offered and go from there. At least you will be using some nursing skills and have nursing experience to add to your resume. I am also a new grad and have the same fear as you, I will be stuck in LTC forever if I start there...But the truth is, it's probably better to have SOME rn experience of any kind vs. none. If you really want to stay away from LTC, you could look into flu clinics. I took a job with Mollen Immunization Clinics doing flu shots. There are plenty of shifts still open in GA...although none in the atlanta area right now. Maxim healthcare also does flu clinics and wellness clinics which you could look into to add to your resume and make some money. Theses are obviously temporary solutions but at least it's a start. I know it's a hard time for new grads...we have to stay positive...something will eventually come up.

prettymica, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN, APRN, NP · Aug 7, 2012

Take the LTC job and im sure many more doors will open. Try home health, hospice just anything so you can say that you have some experience under your belt once you apply to more jobs. This is just a bad time for nursing employment.

A&OxNone, MSN, RN · Aug 12, 2012

I currently work for CHOA, and I can tell you that they really want a year of inpatient experience before hiring. I would look at smaller hospitals, or ones that aren't so close to Atlanta. I am from NW Ga, and Floyd Medical Center and Redmond Regional usually do pretty good at hiring new grads, but they are in Rome. Dont give up on peds though! I got my year of experience in and it was no problem landing an interview. Good luck.

SENSUALBLISSINFL, BSN, RN · Aug 15, 2012

I agree, I leave in South Florida and the market here is awful.

I actually posted in another forum about whether I would be better served to get a job as an ophthalmic technician as I continue my schooling to get an BSN or try now. I am not at liberty to spend months unemployed, I need to work and I need health insurance.

It is so tough right now, I never thought this would happen when I first entered the programs....but this is where we are at.

I have a friend doing home health since he graduated in 2009 because he has not gotten a job in a hospital or anywhere, and because he is so protective of his license and going by the book, now even they are not calling him for work.

I wish all of us the best.

dsmithkazk · Aug 16, 2012

They were hiring at Bay Medical Center in Panama City, fl. They hired me as a new grad in the ER last April. I did have experience as a Paramedic, Navy Corpsman and such. But, they hire new hire for many of the other floors. You could come here, get some experience and make yourself competitive in Georgia. I spend 14 months in the ER and now Work in PACU. Just a thought

SENSUALBLISSINFL, BSN, RN · Aug 17, 2012

They were hiring at Bay Medical Center in Panama City, fl. They hired me as a new grad in the ER last April. I did have experience as a Paramedic, Navy Corpsman and such. But, they hire new hire for many of the other floors. You could come here, get some experience and make yourself competitive in Georgia. I spend 14 months in the ER and now Work in PACU. Just a thought

Thank you for the advise. I will keep that in mind.

Pay is another issue. The pay scale is very low here, for what a nurse is responsible for, is ridiculous.

I have signed up a job fair at Cleveland Clinic, never been to one. Let's see how that goes.

ashrn2011 · Aug 23, 2012

I saw a couple of job for youth detention centers in Georgia. Check it out!

SENSUALBLISSINFL, BSN, RN · Aug 23, 2012

Well after the extensive application and submitting of resume, Cleveland not hiring new graduates....what a surprise.

sydneyw19 · Aug 26, 2012

Thanks for all of the advice. I'm in the process of finishing my resume right now and plan to re apply to about 10 hospitals in GA and several in FL and TX. Right now I'm mostly looking at Children's hospitals with a new grad residency or internship program when applying out of state. The market in FL (as well as the pay) is poor. I would love to work at Sacred Heart Children's in Pensacola but I don't expect to get hired. I'm also visiting my sister in Panama City next month and plan to visit some of the small hospitals in the area and handing them my resume. I've been looking into several areas in TX, including Dallas, Austin, Houston, etc. It's a long shot but I'm ready to leave the Athens area.

Sept is supposed to be a hiring month for new grads but idk how easy it will be for me to get an interview. If I don't have a job by the beginning of the year I will start to look into LTC or home health. Right now I am nannying for a family and making some money to hold me over. Hopefully by this time next year I'll be a happily employed RN! I wish the best to everyone struggling like me!