New grad, No Job

Neener_RNBSN · Mar 30, 2010

I went through the EXACT SAME THING! I graduated with a BSN in May 2009 and became an RN in August 2009. Since before I graduated, I applied to dozens and dozens of jobs--hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, doctor's offices...you name it, I applied to it! Even with a BS, everywhere told me they wanted at least 1 or 2 years of experience. I thought I could find a job at a nursing home easily--yeah right! The nursing homes I applied to were either not hiring or looking for experience. I was beginning to feel desperate and worried that I would forget everything I learned in school by the time I found a job. I went to visit my college's career center in October to talk to a career counselor. She advised me to "think outside the box." Nursing jobs are terribly hard to come by these days for new grads, so she gave me the following suggestions:

-ANY job will do...even if you only work there once a month, at least you're doing SOMETHING with your license.

-If you're willing to relocate, certain areas of the country are hiring new grads. I live in the Philly area, so getting a job around here is a nightmare. I was told that there are lots of jobs down South.

-Try applying at healthcare clinics or rehab facilities

-Look into the health clinics at some drugstores like CVS or Walgreens

-Apply for government health agencies (like your state's health department). I hear the application process is long, but the pay is competitive

-What about one-time type jobs, like giving immunizations? It's SOMETHING to put on your resume

-Look into the Red Cross--I think they only take volunteers, but it looks better on your resume than nothing!

-See if you can shadow a nurse. No, it's not paid, but it will keep you fresh, and you'll learn some useful things.

She advised me to ALWAYS THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX. If the economy turns around in several months or a year from now, potential employers will hire the nurse who made use of their license (even if in a small way), NOT the person who did nothing since graduation.

Finally, I was hired for a pool position by a small nursing home at the end of December and I started working in January 2010. So it basically took me 8 months to get a job. I was thrilled to learn that they pay their pool nurses $30/hr. The downside: I only work PRN. They call me when someone requests off or calls out. It can vary from several times a week to once a month. I am trying to look at the bright side because at least I have something to put on my resume--it's a step to getting a better job, and I AM getting nursing experience (though it's not full-time). It's not where I had imagined being right now, but it's something. Keep trying! It will work out. And don't worry about forgetting all the stuff you learned in school, trust me, your job will give you orientation time and it all comes flooding right back! Plus, most of the learning we do is on the job, not in school.

GOOD LUCK! Someday we'll both have our dream jobs.

cicatrixx15 · Mar 31, 2010

I don't understand. I thought there was a whole nursing shortage?? Why is it so hard to get a job after graduation? I start nursing school in the fall for my BSN. I hope I don't have this problem. I live in Georgia. Neener, how do you know there are more jobs in the south? Is there somewhere I can find this info? My husband's in the army so we'll be moving around a lot.

misplaced1 · Mar 31, 2010

There is no nursing shortage there WAS a shortage of nurses that want to work as nurses because its a stressful job but now it seems like in most places there is a shortage of jobs

SWS RN, ASN, RN · Mar 31, 2010

Guys, there IS NO nursing shortage anymore!!!!

Investigate some of the other posts...this is being addressed over and over again on this forum.

I live in South Florida and the job market is VERY tight. It is almost non existant for new grads. I have a new grad RN friend who graduated in June of 09, he is actively looking weekly and has yet to find anything-he also has EMT experience.

I also have a good friend with 12 years of ICU and Tele experience, it took her 10 months to find something. She just got hired but pounded the pavement.

I also know around here there are very few LPNs working in hospitals, the ones that are have been there for years. None of the hospitals are hiring LPNs. The LTC facilities still are as are the doctors offices.

When the former poster said that there are jobs in the south, I know she was not referring to Florida. At least Martin, Palm Beach and Broward Counties. Not sure about Dade, but I never see any postings for jobs in Miami like there used to be about 6 years ago and before. The Dade hospitals used to actively recruit in WPB in the papers and through agencies. Not any more.

Hospitals are cutting staff...expanding pt-Rn ratios (even in some of the ICUs) and nurses who would have either cut back to part time or retired are staying. Between cost cutting and the economy it has become a real problem.

I really wish that the media would stop perpetuating the myth that nursing is recession proof! And stop opening nursing schools! When I went to school 17 years ago, there was only one RN program in PB County. Now they are all over the place! I know of 4 right off the top of my head...they are turning nurses out faster than the attrition rate. Enter the staffing cut backs into the equation and it's not hard to do the math.

Not sure what the answer is, especially with the new health care reform-maybe that will open more doors.

(or maybe more positions that nurses fill will be given to lay people with OTJ training. I can also see that happening...its a potientially dire situation)

s

NeverTooLate8 · Mar 31, 2010

Hello everyone,
I am a new LVN grad and I am having the hardest time trying to find a job. Most, if not all jobs that I have applied for want either 1 or 2 years of experience working as a LVN, but how am I supposed to get experience without getting hired?? I send my resume anyways hoping that they will call me but its been about 7 months since I graduated and 3 months since I received my license and still no luck. I fear I will lose much of my knowledge before I am hired. Someone please help!!!!!

Sadly, you are far from alone. At least half of my graduating class (May 09) still don't have jobs. I think it's gonna be awhile.

Neener_RNBSN · Mar 31, 2010

You're right, SWS RN, I wasn't referring to Florida when I said I'd heard there were jobs in the South. I was told by a man who comes into the restaurant where I work--I believe he is from Georgia? He has family who are RNs there and knows someone in the HR department of a hospital. I don't know how reliable this information is, though, so don't quote me! :) I was also speaking with a career counselor over the weekend at the college I graduated from. She said I'd find more jobs if I was "willing to relocate," but she didn't have time to go into any detail. I just want to clarify that what I heard was through word of mouth, not from any research I did on my own. I'd love a great job, but I'm just not ready to relocate yet so I'm waiting it out!

I also totally agree with you SWS RN about the media perpetuating that "recession-proof" garbage! More and more people are choosing nursing as their major in this tough economy, and it hasn't been getting any better. Many hospitals near me have hiring freezes and one huge hospital recently laid off hundreds of nurses! Most of the people I graduated with are STILL looking for jobs, and we have Bachelor's degrees. The only ones who are working in hospitals are the ones who got their foot in the door by working as aides while still in school. I really wish I had worked as an aide, but when I started school nursing jobs were plentiful and I was told by professors that this was not necessary. It really is a nightmare out there. Good luck to all of you, don't stop looking!!

noctanol · Mar 31, 2010

hey vayala3, i had the same experience that you are having, although i did not wait that long. look at my earlier posts. one of the thing that you MUST do, i repeat you MUST do, is speak to the DON or Nursing head at the time you apply for any job. If they are in a "meeting," tell the receptionist or HR that you will WAIT for her to get out of the meeting so you can speak to her. In nursing HR does not hire, it is the sole reponsibility of the DON or director. Second look at how you fill in your applications, do not demand a salary, rather put OPEN to what you are expected to get paid. Have good reference, your instructors will be the perfect ones, lastly apply to the most horrible places you have heard. It has been my experience that one mans meat is another mans poison and after all you need a place to work. When applying for a job, appear sharp and confident, not corky, when asked why you havent had a job in all that time, dont tell them u have applied everywhere and cant find a place to take you,(why would they want to take u then) tell them u were taking care of your family etc and when offered a lesser position, take it, most of the time its a trick to see if you can adjust and if you are willing to work for them at a different level when they are short. Good luck and post something if you get a job

smarti15 · Mar 31, 2010

It isn't just the media spreading this garbage. Three of my instructors have told me that I don't need to worry because we are in a nursing shortage! I have applied to all of the positions that I am qualified for and I have been looking for almost a year. I was shocked that my instructors are still of the mindset that there is a current nursing shortage....some people!

**NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN** · Mar 31, 2010

It isn't just the media spreading this garbage. Three of my instructors have told me that I don't need to worry because we are in a nursing shortage! I have applied to all of the positions that I am qualified for and I have been looking for almost a year. I was shocked that my instructors are still of the mindset that there is a current nursing shortage....some people!

Instructors will continue to say that even if they know the truth. After all, if people aren't getting hired, nursing school enrollment will be on the decline, and nursing instructors will get laid off.

cicatrixx15 · Mar 31, 2010

Well, I looked online around my area hospitals, and they are hiring plenty of nurses. So if anyone wants to move to COlumbus, GA, there are plenty of jobs here!

kristou · Mar 31, 2010

I am definately worried. I will be starting nusing school in January of 2011 and the school that I am attending has a contract with a hospital that pays my full tuition and in return I have to work for the hospital for three years. It's a private school and I hope I get in.