I am a new grad RN that cannot find a job. I graduated in April and passed the NCLEX shortly after. I applied to the Nursing guarantee initiative and unfortunately did not find a job, now I am stuck feeling so depressed. I have applied ALL OVER Ontario, also Nunavut, I have sent so far OVER 240 resumes with only one response. I went to the interview, stayed over night since it was 8 hours away from where I lived and bombed it because I was so nervous, not only that I was not prepared for medication type of questions (
I have had my resume looked over by TWO employment agency services. I change my cover letter for each job postings.
I have contacted the RNAO for help but they are useless, I have emailed the lady that reviews resumes 3 times and I doubt she even read my email since she has not even responded.
I have contacted health force ontario which claims to be committed to supporting nurses and they are also useless, I was told just to keep applying for jobs from the HFO and RNAO sites.
I have applied for a job in the U.S and they called me within a week. However, I was not aware of the LONG and EXPENSIVE process to become licensed in the U.S. So as of right now I want to focus on getting a job here in Ontario. Of course if I am still out of luck I will have no choice but to apply to the U.S.
I have become very depressed and I cry all the time, I am so frustrated that most jobs require at least 1 year experience, I am also frustrated when I see nurses complain about their shifts when theres nurses that cannot find work that would die for that chance.
As bad as it sounds I would work for less, I love nursing I would take a big pay cut just for the opportunity to work as a nurse, unfortunately with unions I know that is not possible but if it was I would do it.
I need help, places that would give a new grad a chance.
Before you sign on in the US, know the labour laws for that particular State. It varies, and some places are worse than others. However, you do need to start somewhere.
You could also consider applying in and around Halifax. At least NS is unionized.
Most of us have the ability to work hard for two years, but be careful about what you are getting into, a place that needs contracts to maintain nurses in a surplus market very likely has unsafe working conditions and preventable sentinel events.
Good luck getting your US papers. Try the Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo areas in Upstate NY. They need nurses. They have plenty of new grad internships and is close enough to Ontario to not have you feeling home sick all the time.
Before you sign on in the US, know the labour laws for that particular State. It varies, and some places are worse than others. However, you do need to start somewhere.
You could also consider applying in and around Halifax. At least NS is unionized.
Most of us have the ability to work hard for two years, but be careful about what you are getting into, a place that needs contracts to maintain nurses in a surplus market very likely has unsafe working conditions and preventable sentinel events.
Yes, understandable. As someone that is desperate, this seems like my only ticket to an actual nursing job. Other nurses are able to do it, I'm sure I can handle it.
Good luck getting your US papers. Try the Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo areas in Upstate NY. They need nurses. They have plenty of new grad internships and is close enough to Ontario to not have you feeling home sick all the time.
Thanks for the information, I did only focus on the rural Southern areas.....I will look into NY now.
Hi OP I was in your position not too long ago. I would suggest calling hospitals and getting hte nurse managers name then emailing them, it worked for me! Some were rude but others appreciated it (and hired me after 5 long months of applying!).
Have you tried applying to "NRT" positions?? Theres some available in UHN network, New oakville hospital, credit valley etc keep an eye out for them they welcome new grads and dont expect you to have a ton of experience.
Try BC as well I know a few friends who moved there. Also clinics; a couple of my friends work there. If you can get your g2--Agency (do you really need to have to wait 8 months after g1? I thought that was only if you were a certain age if you are 24 it shouldnt be a problem). Home visiting (para med is a good one!).
GOOD LUCK! Honestly I can't imagine how you feel I graduated the same time as you and got a job end of November so I've only been working for a month. I took a job where I commute 2 hours there and back (16 hour work days its brutal) cause I have no car! Everyone close to me said to wait it out but I knew that if I did that who knows how long it would take to get another opportunity. Hang in there :)
Hi OP I was in your position not too long ago. I would suggest calling hospitals and getting hte nurse managers name then emailing them, it worked for me! Some were rude but others appreciated it (and hired me after 5 long months of applying!).
Have you tried applying to "NRT" positions?? Theres some available in UHN network, New oakville hospital, credit valley etc keep an eye out for them they welcome new grads and dont expect you to have a ton of experience.
Try BC as well I know a few friends who moved there. Also clinics; a couple of my friends work there. If you can get your g2--Agency (do you really need to have to wait 8 months after g1? I thought that was only if you were a certain age if you are 24 it shouldnt be a problem). Home visiting (para med is a good one!).
GOOD LUCK! Honestly I can't imagine how you feel I graduated the same time as you and got a job end of November so I've only been working for a month. I took a job where I commute 2 hours there and back (16 hour work days its brutal) cause I have no car! Everyone close to me said to wait it out but I knew that if I did that who knows how long it would take to get another opportunity. Hang in there :)
Congrats!! It's worth a shot to phone the managers. I will try that on Monday.
I have applied to every and anything, still nothing. I don't know if its just Ontario that is brutal or my resume just sucks. I really don't know whats wrong with my resume since professionals have helped me, even the HR at RNAO FINALLY took a look at my resume and said my resume was fine.
Did you have someone help you with your resume??
I understand not wanting to wait it out, you never know when another chance may come again. Good thing you didn't, now that you have experience it will be easier for you to find something closer to home.
I'm pretty sure everyone has to wait 8-12 months after their G1 to get their G2, I will now have to look into it! I believe thats what I was told.
I wish, out of 4 managers none have come in when short and let me go home. I am allowed to sleep and the CCA can come and get me but I can never sleep properly
It's worth a shot to phone the managers. I will try that on Monday.
I have applied to every and anything, still nothing. I don't know if its just Ontario that is brutal or my resume just sucks. I really don't know whats wrong with my resume since professionals have helped me, even the HR at RNAO FINALLY took a look at my resume and said my resume was fine.
Did you have someone help you with your resume??
.
Don't phone managers on Monday wait a couple of weeks, as they will just be returning from time off over Christmas/New Years and will be swamped.
Maybe your resume is ok but your cover letters are too basic. Do you write individualized cover letters with each application?
I have been a member on this site since 2012. Graduated from the Philippines, and passed CRNE in 2012. When I was reviewing for the exam, lots of people are saying how bad the job market was. THERE ARE NO JOBS and so on. Soon after I got my license, I thought it was hard, but still limit myself around the GTA/Toronto because I don't want to move or relocate. I only waited for three months before getting a Full-time job. I applied to many casual, part time, and FT positions. Had two interviews but didn't get the first one because I sucked it, and it was my first ever interview in my whole nursing career. Now, my second interview the manager offered me a FT on the spot, which I initially applied PT.
Don't be depress. There's a lot of jobs out there. Now the best thing to do while waiting for the right one is to improve more your education for the higher job market. And this includes taking certification classes like Cardiology Nursing, Nephrology Nursing, Oncology Nursing, Operating Room and many more.
Within the period fro 2012 to now - I completed a Cardiology Nursing Certificate, Infection Prevention, and Control Certificate, attained the CNA certification in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, and the Gerontological Nursing. Now, I'm four months way in completing my Master of Science in Nursing and routing forward to work as an Advanced Practice Nurse - Geriatric Emergency Management Nurse in one of the downtown hospitals.
BTW, I started working on a General Medicine/Telemetry floor, then moved as part of the resources nurses in my first hospital. Now, I'm currently a staff nurse in the Emergency Department in Downtown, Toronto.
(
joanna73, BSN, RN
4,767 Posts
Before you sign on in the US, know the labour laws for that particular State. It varies, and some places are worse than others. However, you do need to start somewhere.
You could also consider applying in and around Halifax. At least NS is unionized.