Hi everyone, I am an extremely frustrated new grad RN! I graduated back in Dec 2013 and passed the boards April 2014. I have been job hunting ever since and nothing yet. I have applied to hundreds of ads including hospitals, home health agencies, long-term care facilities and haven't even been called for 1 interview.
Everyone wants at least 2-3 years of nursing experience but how can a new grad get experience when no one will give us a chance. I have called HR many times and have even dropped by and they all just kinda brush me off and tell me the same thing "if we are interested we will call you." Many will flat out tell me "sorry, we don't hire new grads". I am so disappointed with the way the job market is treating us. Where is the support for new grads?
I have also tried applying to two different new grad programs but unfortunately never received a call back. These new grad programs are very competitive and are only available a couple of times a year here in Florida, plus only a few hospitals participate. Is anyone having the same issue and what advice if any do you have for new grads looking for employment?
Thank you for all of your comments, I really appreciate the feedback! I will keep all of your responses in mind while I continue my job search. God Bless!
I don't think that out hospitals here in south mississippi have as much problem with hiring new grads, although I think most would prefer experience. I found a job in med surg in about 6 weeks. I think this is mainly because I was very aggressive and got up each day like I was going to work. I made my job finding a job. I would bring a handful of carefully edited resumes with me and physically hand them to the nurse managers. I would say something like "hi I'm Larry and I submitted an application online, but I just wanted to hand you a copy of my résumé and show my face in person. I had a job a few weeks after I started doing that. I think the right manager will see you as motivated and will want you on their team. Just make sure your résumé is customized for that hospital, professionally done, and in a nice folder. It should have all your contact information on it. Also make sure you are professionally dressed when you come in. Good luck[/quote
I have been going into the HR departments handing out my resumes but I have not been bold enough to walk on to each floor searching for the nurse managers. How did you go about doing this? Did you just walk onto each floor and ask for the nurse manager on duty?
I live in New York and it's nightmare to find as new grad, especially if you have associate degree nursing, forgot about find job. My friends usually moved pensilvenia, they hire nurses w put experience, $27 vs 40$ hr salary. But after one year , they get hired icu depertmant in New York hospitals. As soon as I graduate, I am gonna move out where can I get job or residency and gettng experience.
I am in the same boat as the OP; Graduated in December 2013, passed the NCLEX in 05/2013 and have literally sent out close to a 1,000 resumes out into the job market for new grads.
Only got one call back from a position in corrections, literally a week after I passed the boards and I passed that up, thinking there MUST be a ton of jobs out there for a very nomadic and mobile person like I am. NOT. Just No.
I also have applied to every residency prog in Florida that might accept me. Has anyone on here left the state to get a new RN grad job and found it ? If so, which state ?
I started in a nursing home in SW Florida in May. They changed the ownership at the facility and also the DON, the old one left and took three of the evening ft nurses with to her new job. That only have been my lucky moment.
I am from Germany, worked there for more than 20 years as a nurse, made my graduation for the US in 2007, obtained my license after I moved here in January 2014. They have been in such a need for nurses that I started a couple of days after my interview.
I was treated like you before, as a new grade RN, with no US experience almost impossible to get a job. I only can encourage you not to give up, you will also find a lucky moment or meet somebody how can bring you forward! The nursing education for RNs in this country is very high, you are worth an employment and you will find one. Good luck!
I also feel that traditional nursing jobs in hospitals for instance are the hardest to get and sometimes can be the lowest pay with the highest stress available.
I just got a job for the state in Fl working with Juveniles and I am ecstatic about it ! :)
I graduated back in Dec 2013 and passed the boards April 2014. I have been job hunting ever since and nothing yet. I have applied to hundreds of ads including hospitals, home health agencies, long-term care facilities and haven't even been called for 1 interview. 
:)
sugar12
149 Posts
Thank you!!