New Grad in Portland, Oregon and I can't find a job

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Hi,

I graduated from OHSU in June 2013 having done my senior practicum in pediatric medical acute care, and shortly after taking the NCLEX, I was in a car accident that took me out of the job hunt for 6 months due to injuries. I am now recovered, and actively looking for a job. I have recently been hired to do flu clinic and wellness trainings through an agency that works in Portland, but I'm very much interested in an acute care job, specifically in mother/baby and/or L&D. I have my NRP certification, S.T.A.B.L.E certification, took a 49-hour course from the Northwest Perinatal Resource Network Conference, and am about to be ACLS, PALS, and Doula certified. I'd love a job in my field of choice, but I'm also willing to work other acute care jobs in order to gain experience.

Here's the problem: While I've made it to the interview rounds, and even final interviews for Legacy's Versant program, and Salem's new grad program, I still have not been hired. I apply to dozens of jobs, and it appears no one sees my resume because they know I have no real nursing experience. I have tried to contact HR at multiple area hospitals, but most don't even have phone numbers, and I'm not sure it's even possible for me to walk my resume in the door. I have been in contact with HR at OHSU, but I mostly get referred to agencies, and agencies almost always require a year of experience.

I'm highly motivated, I work hard, and really I just need someone to give me a chance. I proved myself in nursing school, and I know I'd make an employer proud of the work I can do once I'm properly trained. I'm unbelievably frustrated, and I'm finding it hard to have confidence I'll gain employment in acute care in the Portland area. I am unable to leave the area as of now for family reasons, so I need to find a job in or around Portland.

If anyone has any advice, I'd so very much appreciate it. I feel like I've done as much as I possibly can to get a job, but maybe I'm missing something. Maybe there's a direction I haven't taken, or maybe there's a smarter, savvier way to get my foot in the door.

Thanks for reading, and I look forward to hearing back from anyone who's navigated this experience before, whether or not you're in the Portland area.

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Do you have your WA license? That would open up more opportunities for you as well.

As a new grad in the PDX area (about 2 1/2 yrs ago) I started as a school RN for a couple of months....then went to an ASC for about a year....and then moved on to output endoscopy for about a year. At the beginning of next month I start at one of the hospitals on the hill. I have worked in both WA and OR. FWIW I am an ADN nurse.

You will probably have to look outside of hospitals to get your start. Maybe try a women's clinic or fertility center? That would at least get you close to the field you are interested in. All of my positions except the hospital one I found on Craig's List. That is a great resource for RN job hunting in this area, as well as Indeed.com.

It's a tough market in this area and I don't know of anybody who got hired on to L&D as a new grad except through Legacy's Versant program. If you are really willing to just dig in and get experience wherever you can (trust me, it works!) I would get a WA license and apply for absolutely anything. Once you're "in" it is much easier to step in to the next job!

Good luck!!

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Hi, and thanks for your response!

I do have a temporary WA license. I was in the final round of interviews for Legacy's Versant program at Salmon Creek, so I got the ball rolling to get it. I have been issued a temp one until sometime next year. I have looked at Vancouver hospitals, (SW, PeaceHealth), and none will offer me an interview. I have also applied to a job on Craigslist, which was mostly working with people with drug addictions, and upon interviewing, it was definitely not a good fit for me at all, (but I helped my friend get that job, so at least I'm networking). I think a fertility center sounds great, and I'd very much be willing to do that. I've been in contact with an agency about school nursing, and found out a few days ago that I wasn't needed at this moment, but then got a call today to say they wanted to continue the process with me and hopefully get me placed in a few weeks. This happened after I wrote this post. School nursing is not at all my dream job, but it's $25 an hour with benefits, and 4 days a week at 2 schools. It's doable, and gives me the summer off, which is when I want to do a volunteer trip abroad, most likely in Peru, working as an RN in obstetrical health. I've been in contact with the agency who does the trip, and they want to have me on board. I'd get about 3 months of labor/delivery/mother/baby care in a more rural setting, and I think that'd be a great start and resume builder, in addition to being very culturally informative, building my Spanish, and giving me an opportunity to give back. That said, I will still be looking for an acute care job, so if one does come my way, I would take it, get my experience, then hopefully get into obstetrical nursing as soon as I can.

Again, thanks for your response, and congrats on your new position. I'll definitely checking into some of the areas you recommended!

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