New grad nurse advice needed

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I recently graduated and passed my NCLEX. I’ve been at home for about 2 months now because of the coronavirus. I’ve gotten used to living this way (sleeping in, having no homework or tests to study for, being with my parents and sisters 24/7, not a lot to worry about, etc.) Now when I think about applying for my first nursing job I get really nervous and want to put it off longer. I’ve been researching jobs around where I live, but none seem like what I want. I can’t find any full time post-partum or pediatric jobs. I also wanted to maybe apply for a residency, but I’m not liking the ones where I live. I don’t want to apply anywhere right now. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m lazy, nervous about my first job, or worried about the Coronavirus. Honestly, I feel really lost right now and I’m not sure what I should do. Any advice would be appreciated.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
2 hours ago, medapop said:

I recently graduated and passed my NCLEX. I’ve been at home for about 2 months now because of the coronavirus. I’ve gotten used to living this way (sleeping in, having no homework or tests to study for, being with my parents and sisters 24/7, not a lot to worry about, etc.) Now when I think about applying for my first nursing job I get really nervous and want to put it off longer. I’ve been researching jobs around where I live, but none seem like what I want. I can’t find any full time post-partum or pediatric jobs. I also wanted to maybe apply for a residency, but I’m not liking the ones where I live. I don’t want to apply anywhere right now. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m lazy, nervous about my first job, or worried about the Coronavirus. Honestly, I feel really lost right now and I’m not sure what I should do. Any advice would be appreciated.

You are a brand new grad. You aren't going to have your choice of positions. That was true before Covid-19 struck and is especially true since it has. New grad jobs are hard to come by. Jobs in the high demand specialties like pediatrics, postpartum, L&D, ER, ICU and NICU are even harder to get due to high competition and generally lower turnover.

You aren't the only new grad looking for work. What does that mean? It means competition is fierce. You are only a few months away from the next cohort graduating. They are going to flood the market too. The longer you take to find a job, the harder it will be to find a job. If you get to one year after graduation without finding an RN position, you become what is referred to as an "old new grad" - meaning people who graduate after you are now seen as more qualified than you because their education is more recent.

You need to get off your duff.

You don't have time to lay around. You don't have the luxury of being picky. Apply everywhere. Every time you get an interview, sell yourself like your future depends on you landing the job, because it does. Being used to sleeping in and having nothing to worry about isn't a realistic lifestyle for an adult and isn't appropriate for your stage in life. You should be working toward independence. Apply all over the place and work hard at it. You are probably a little bit lazy (nursing school was a beating, yo!), a little anxious and a little worried about Covid. Push past it. It is time. Good luck!

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Specializes in ER, Pre-Op, PACU.
23 hours ago, medapop said:

I recently graduated and passed my NCLEX. I’ve been at home for about 2 months now because of the coronavirus. I’ve gotten used to living this way (sleeping in, having no homework or tests to study for, being with my parents and sisters 24/7, not a lot to worry about, etc.) Now when I think about applying for my first nursing job I get really nervous and want to put it off longer. I’ve been researching jobs around where I live, but none seem like what I want. I can’t find any full time post-partum or pediatric jobs. I also wanted to maybe apply for a residency, but I’m not liking the ones where I live. I don’t want to apply anywhere right now. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m lazy, nervous about my first job, or worried about the Coronavirus. Honestly, I feel really lost right now and I’m not sure what I should do. Any advice would be appreciated.

Yes, jobs - even in healthcare are hard to come by with covid. Experienced nurses are having hard times finding jobs. I live in an area with 3 very large healthcare systems not to mention the smaller ones. One system is basically not even hiring. The other is laying off all PRN employees. The third is basically one big hiring freeze. I actually have been looking to transfer to a more dependable job (and one that’s better for my health) and I have never ever had trouble getting a job before. Now I am being turned down right and left because so many nurses need jobs.

As a new grad, just apply for anything. Even if you don’t like it - just stay at it for a year and then move on.

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If you don’t get out there and start pounding the pavement or the enter button on your computer, soon you will move into the category of explanations and Covid isn’t going to cover all of your backside forever. At least start the job hunt experience.

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