New Grad RN, BSN in So. California Seeking Nursing Job Alternatives - Please advice!

DarkBluePhoenix · Apr 28, 2011

Hace you looked in to northern or central cal? I heard there's some jobs up there

Did you graduate here in Ca?

nurse.sandi · Apr 28, 2011

Wow. Since you are not experienced it will be difficult to get a travel job. I am here in MI and CA recruiters call. Times are hard. Try and stay positive. Even us senior nurses are having a hard time getting a job. They say there is a shortage. Every time I look for a job I see the same ole jobs..over and over. Do you know anyone already working who can try and get you in. Network... Good luck.

gs_rn · Apr 28, 2011

Hace you looked in to northern or central cal? I heard there's some jobs up there
Did you graduate here in Ca?

I graduated in Illinois in October 2010, then received my Illinois RN License in January 2011. I just got my California RN license in March 2011 because the licensing process took over 2 months. So, I really just started looking for about a month for jobs here in California, with very few prospects.

I am working my way up to North & Central California. I am thinking of Ojai, Sacramento, San Francisco, or Bay Area. I thought about moving back to Illinois but even my classmates are having a problem finding jobs there too and they have been looking since October.

gs_rn · Apr 28, 2011

Wow. Since you are not experienced it will be difficult to get a travel job. I am here in MI and CA recruiters call. Times are hard. Try and stay positive. Even us senior nurses are having a hard time getting a job. They say there is a shortage. Every time I look for a job I see the same ole jobs..over and over. Do you know anyone already working who can try and get you in. Network... Good luck.

Thank you! I have gone to a lot of career fairs, open houses, and online career fairs and volunteer work to network and market myself anywhere and everywhere.

I am not looking into getting any travel job at the moment. I realize that I need at least 1 year experience before I can do that. I am just looking into going back to school to get my Masters while looking for an RN job because I don't want to lose my skills, so I'd rather increase my knowledge base.

DlittleRN · Apr 28, 2011

Try to look for a job where other new grads are not looking into... Try small hospitals, and even hospitals without new grad. If it says registered nurse with 1 year acute experience preferred, try it...That's how I did it. I graduated in Dec with BSN and just a job offer in Fresno...good luck in job hunting...I know how frustrating it is, you just need to be patient and try to expand your preference

chuckster, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Apr 28, 2011

I think many of us feel your pain. Except for being an ADN-RN, I have a fairly similar background to your own, including the volunteer work and certifications and have still not had any luck in lining up a job. I'm not sure how much an MBA is likely to be of benefit - it hasn't been a help in my case. I've actually applied for part-time patient care tech positions just to get my foot in the door - also without success. I am much luckier than most new grads in that I'm not unemployed and have simply continued working in my existing, non-healthcare job since getting my RN and contined to do volunteer work as an EMT.

I'm not sure if the situation in SoCal is the same in my area (metro Phila) but the cause of the problem here is a growing oversupply of new nurses in a stagnant job market. I took a look at the BLS data for my area and found that over the past 5 years, nursing jobs have grown by a total of 920 jobs or about at 2% total (.4% per year on average). Over the same period, nursing school enrollment in the RN programs in the area has grown dramatically and over that same 5 year period, about 9,700 new RN's have entered the nursing workforce. Obviously, not all of these new RN's stay in the area but no matter what, the odds are not great for new grads.

With you pharma background, what about sales or market research for drug cos in your area?

gs_rn · Apr 28, 2011

I think many of us feel your pain. Except for being an ADN-RN, I have a fairly similar background to your own, including the volunteer work and certifications and have still not had any luck in lining up a job. I'm not sure how much an MBA is likely to be of benefit - it hasn't been a help in my case. I've actually applied for part-time patient care tech positions just to get my foot in the door - also without success. I am much luckier than most new grads in that I'm not unemployed and have simply continued working in my existing, non-healthcare job since getting my RN and contined to do volunteer work as an EMT.
I'm not sure if the situation in SoCal is the same in my area (metro Phila) but the cause of the problem here is a growing oversupply of new nurses in a stagnant job market. I took a look at the BLS data for my area and found that over the past 5 years, nursing jobs have grown by a total of 920 jobs or about at 2% total (.4% per year on average). Over the same period, nursing school enrollment in the RN programs in the area has grown dramatically and over that same 5 year period, about 9,700 new RN's have entered the nursing workforce. Obviously, not all of these new RN's stay in the area but no matter what, the odds are not great for new grads.
With you pharma background, what about sales or market research for drug cos in your area?

Hi Chuckster!

It seems like the job market for new grads are the same. Even in IL and my friend in FL are having the same issues. They're all competing with nurses who graduated before and after us.

Thank you for the input on the drug companies, I am looking into a couple in my areas right now. Usually they do have nursing jobs for clinical trials or whatever.

Well, the way I see it...we survived nursing school and passed the NCLEX! At least, the majority of the hard part is over. :) I want to go back to get my Masters only because the job market is tough and while waiting for opportunities to pop up, I'm increasing my knowledge base. Plus, in the long term Masters will open more doors for me if I ever decide to go into a management position or teaching, etc.

Best of luck to you too on your job search! :)

nurse.sandi · Apr 29, 2011

I agree. I keep reading there is still a shortage and I have read the projections for the trend. The literature also suggests that we do not have enough nursing instructors, therefore they can not graduate enough new nurses to meet the demand or/and upcoming demand. None of this makes sense. I just do not understand it. Also, when I tell people I can not find a job..they tell me I am crazy. Go figure right? Good luck in your searches. I am searching also.

B52-H · Apr 29, 2011

If you are looking at Metropolitan areas in California, the further north you go the worse the new grad job market is (Bay area is horrible, I would flee from that place). If you are willing to take any RN position, look at areas in California few would like to live.

For So Cal, anywhere in the desert (29 Palms, Yucca Valley) or just really far east towards the NV, AZ border (Apple Valley, Barstow) . The smaller hospitals will probably not have a website or online application. Call them directly, be enthusiastic and tell them what you can offer.

One of my classmates got a job 2 weeks ago by walking into a small community hospital and talking to one of the unit directors. Obviously this isn't typical and your mileage may vary, but it shows you might have to be unconventional and pull out all the stops to get hired.

gs_rn · Apr 29, 2011

I agree. I keep reading there is still a shortage and I have read the projections for the trend. The literature also suggests that we do not have enough nursing instructors, therefore they can not graduate enough new nurses to meet the demand or/and upcoming demand. None of this makes sense. I just do not understand it. Also, when I tell people I can not find a job..they tell me I am crazy. Go figure right? Good luck in your searches. I am searching also.

Well, the people who graduate before us got a job....EVENTUALLY. Lol. So, I suppose it's only a matter of time right?

Have you tried searching on Craigslist? I'm finding a lot more covert jobs there because employers find it cheaper to advertise there than other job search engines. Try to see if you get lucky there. Oh, and try RNinsider.com & RNwanted.com. It's an online career fair, so you can look for job leads w/o having to leave your house.

Unfortunately, because of the job market, many hospitals are very selective. I've applied to a couple that have obnoxious requests like must have a GPA over 3.20, personal statements, 3 letters of recommendations, school transcripts, cover letter, etc. and then a 300 personality questionnaire at the end. Thank goodness, I got everything they wanted but having a root canal done might've been a better option. :)

I understand why hospitals are selective, I mean there's a lot of nurses that leave once they get their one year experience and it costs as much as $50k to train nurses. So those people who like to jump from one hospital to the next kind of makes it harder for the rest of us.

Anyway, best of luck and happy job hunting!

gs_rn · Apr 29, 2011

Try to look for a job where other new grads are not looking into... Try small hospitals, and even hospitals without new grad. If it says registered nurse with 1 year acute experience preferred, try it...That's how I did it. I graduated in Dec with BSN and just a job offer in Fresno...good luck in job hunting...I know how frustrating it is, you just need to be patient and try to expand your preference

Thank you! I am definitely keeping my options open, I've moved from Illinois already so a couple of hours away from So. Cal shouldn't be a problem. :)