New Grad RN can't find a job

RescueNinjaKy · Mar 3, 2015

North Dakota people

allnurses Guide · Mar 3, 2015

I wonder if the OP is even reading these.

morganv · Mar 3, 2015

Yes, I am reading all of this! Thankful for the tips. I am going to start going into hospitals. What's the best way to professionally approach "hey I'm here because I need a job?" I am always on indeed but I don't ever see any LTC positions on there? I am ADN and enrolled in BSN currently.

calivianya, BSN, RN · Mar 3, 2015

I know a bunch of people who got hired in Atlanta. Several on the floor I worked on as a CNA, which was a hospital in NC, got jobs in Atlanta right out of school. You might have just started applying too late to be part of the cohort that started Spring 2015. I'm pretty sure the person I knew that went to Northside was hired in March for a start date in May, so it's possible the cut off to start work in January was in October or November. It sucks that you started applying so late, but I'd say that's why you're having trouble finding a job. Most places should be opening up applications for their May graduates soon - I'd say you've got a pretty good chance of getting on with one of the summer spots.

greenerpastures · Mar 3, 2015

If you are willing to move to NC and make a 2 year commitment, it appears this hospital is hiring all the time. Cape Fear Valley Health

alannah_smth · Mar 3, 2015

The job market varies to much by location. I know a lot of people from the Chicago area cannot get a job very easily as a new grad but in the Springfield area it would be unusual not to get a job offer. Some hospitals are in desperate need for RN's, it just depends on the area you are in!

Keep you head up though. You will find something. Take whatever you can get for the time being, get your experience and move on if the field doesn't fit you. You might fall in love with an area you never thought you would like! I have even seen a few new grads move to find work with the full intention of moving back home after they get experience (i.e. Chicago new grads coming to Springfield) which is completely ok and understandable!

You will find a job. Everything happens for a reason!

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Mar 3, 2015

I'm not sure why you assume being a CNA on a unit is a ticket to employment. I've encountered more CNAs in my career who were *not* hired on unit they were working after school than were.

I have to agree. Both hospitals I work for have new grad residencies, but there are not enough spots to pick up every internal applicant. In addition, they still end up hiring quite a few outside applicants...so there's still lots of downcast employees roaming the halls after every new grad hiring announcement.

Being a CNA or other internal employee can help your chances because your foot's already in the door, but don't bank on it leading to a nursing job. Job hunt the same way you would if you weren't an internal employee.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Mar 3, 2015

(empahsis mine)

I am a traveler and there are literally thousands of jobs open. There IS a shortage for nurses, just experienced ones. Don't be discouraged though. I applied to hundreds of hospitals and other jobs too. It took me 4 months to finally a job as an RN in a hospital even with my BSN.

But the OP is a new grad and lacks experience--there's the problem. If facilities are looking for experienced nurses, they're not going to settle for an inexperienced new grad, not when there's tons of experienced nurses looking for work as well.

Larry3373 · Mar 3, 2015

I would just say " hi my name is Larry, and I applied online for (fill in the blank) and I just wanted to introduce myself so you can put a face with an online application". Then I would hand them a copy of my rÃ©sumÃ©. Be prepared to answer why you want to work there. Look up some YouTube videos on nursing interview questions before you go to any interviews

strawberryluv, BSN, RN · Mar 3, 2015

If worse comes to worse, you could always drop $400-600 and hire a certified resume writer to

professionally write a resume+cover letter. If you pick an experience resume writer, they might be able

to get you an interview.

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Mar 3, 2015

i applied and was offered a new grad job at northside... omg the pay was horrible. 23 bucks and hr! I was floored how retarded and low that was!
I'm soon glad i got my job in cali!

Wow! Super-offensive and unprofessional. You should delete that word from your vocabulary.

dnursy · Mar 3, 2015

I also graduated in December and passed the boards in mid January. 2 days after graduation I moved out of the state where I got my degree to a completely different state due to my husband's job. I didn't know ANYBODY in the new state and really thought it was gonna be an impossible mission to get a job. All I could do was to apply online and that is what I did. I made sure to have a good resume and cover letter (my school has a department that helps with career coaching so I made an appt and went over my resume/cover letter with them). I guess I was lucky that I got a job 1 month after graduating. I did not have CNA experience. My only nursing experience were the clinicals in school. Also, I was applying for a peds job and having many years of experience as a nanny and being lucky to have done my senior clinical practicum in a peds unit helped me a lot. Still, I'm sure there were many people with nanny experience and also peds clinical experience, and maybe even many of the applicants had more hospital experience. I was still able to stand out. Don't loose hope. Don't think that without knowing people you cannot get a job. I thought the same and it was not true.

One thing that is unfortunately true is that most of the hospitals are giving preference to BSN instead of ADN. So that might be why you are having a little bit of a hard time. Make sure you emphasize that you are enrolled in a BSN program, it might help to catch their attention.

Good luck!