New Grad, No Job experience, How to find a job.

Nurses New Nurse

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Specializes in L&D.

A friend has graduated. Cannot find a job. All job postings has as a requirement "at least one year's experience".

Has anyone got suggestions what I tell this eager young lady who wants desperatley to work?

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Specializes in Legal, Ortho, Rehab.

Would your friend be willing to move? She may need to stick out her first year in a rural area (it appears they always need nurses).

Good luck!

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Specializes in L&D.

Thank you for your reply. I will suggest that. Maybe she will need that little seed planted. She is young and living with her parent at the moment. Not sure how open she is to moving. But you're right, that may be her only option.

Her father is pushing her to take"any" job eg. working in a nursing home just to get started, and in his opinion, "have something to offer" as experience and earn at least something instead of sitting at home becoming frustrated. She is reluctant to do this. I have no idea what the solution is. They are asking me if I have any "influence" where I work. I do not. Except maybe speaking to HR and asking some questions.

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It's also very difficult to get a job at a nursing home. And even with a year of experience at a nursing home, hospitals still consider that person inexperienced because they would still need the full new grad hospital orientation anyway.

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Would your friend be willing to move? She may need to stick out her first year in a rural area (it appears they always need nurses).

Good luck!

Ntyeshade,

Sorry to jump in on the thread but i wanted to ask; I too am a new grad licensed with no experience that cannot seem to find a job in my area (California). I noticed your reply in reference to having to move to get some new grad experience and i would be more than willing to relocate. would really appreciate any information you have on areas that might still be hiring new grads in this horrible ecomomy???

thank you so much in advance

Charles

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Specializes in Legal, Ortho, Rehab.

Sorry for the long pause to reply!

Well after driving cross country, I noticed signs in areas like Boone, MO. I'd check out the Midwest. Also, I've seen nursing magazines with ads that welcome new grads in places like SD, ND, AL. It's worth a shot.

Good luck in your search!

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She may have to take whatever she can get. I would suggest that she apply EVERYWHERE in the area. Even if it isn't an ideal specialty, there is something to be learned and transferable skills that will help her later. Aside from larger hospitals (which I couldn't get into either) there are the nursing homes, psych (I have 2 friends who ended up in psych and learned they love it), LTACs, some home health co. will hire new grads too. There is also community health, like the local health dept. or specialty doctor offices.

I'm not sure about her nursing school, but I found mine to be a bit misleading. The lectures of how we can do anything we want aren't really true until we have a few yrs. under our belts. I took a position that wasn't my first choice and I have learned a LOT. There is a lot of stress involved, but I am still glad I took it. I prob. put in 50 apps, I was applying at hospitals 1 1/2 hr. from my home, which is crazy in hind sight. Good luck to her!

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I am having the same dilemma. Despite graduating from the best nursing school in my state with a great GPA, I still have no prior hospital experience beside clinical rotations in school. I have probably put out at least 50 apps since I graduated in May and have had 1 interview (for a job I did not get). Ot os very discouraging and frustrating at times. I know I want to work in a hospital, and I cannot relocate to a rural area. I applied to a lot of positions, however I have heard from one recruiter that this may backfire on me as I may appear as if "I just want a job and I dont care what area it's in". Theres not much else I can do. Im planning to get ACLS certified, and have even applied to volunteer (however even that required a year of experience so Im not sure Ill be able to do that either!). I guess Ill just keep applying, and praying that I get a job soon.

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Hi Everyone..I am also having a hard time finding a job. I'm from NY and i got my license in January. I've been applying since then and every where says at least one year of experience. I only have my clinical experience from school. How am i supposed to ever get 1 year of experience if no one will hire me??? At this point i'm willing to take anything to get the experience. It's just been so hard and discouraging. Any more suggestions???

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I have been looking into volunteering at different places. The health department has volunteer opportunities specifically for RNs - doing RN tasks, so it is hands on RN experience. I have also applied at Immunization Clinics to give flu shots. It is temporary work, but something to do that I can use my license. Otherwise, Im not sure what else we can do to gain RN experience. Im too qualified to PCT, not qualified enough to RN :crying2:

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Specializes in Med-Surg, ER.

There are plenty of new grad job in St. Louis, if you're willing to relocate.

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I live in NY also and can't find a job :-(

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