New grads can't get jobs afraid of becoming an old new grad.

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AZblabnurse

11 Posts

Well I am a 6 month graduated New Grad that works in a NICU as a HUC. So I get to be Old Grad, that ONLY wants to work with Babies in "Nurse Recruiter/Managers" eyes.. No matter how many times you tell people "I do not have a preference I am ready to get started" "I am excited for any job Tele, Med-Surg, Ortho, Ono".. They do not listen. I have been told by my recruiters to LIE to people... Sorry I have integrity. :) Even though most people don't....

I say just keep plugging away, I just take it day by day.. I know that I will be a great nurse some day, even though Mrs. Nurse Recruiter cant see that!!!!

I am ACLS, PALS, STABLE and NRP certified. So far the certs have not helped at all..... Nice window dressing I guess.. I got to meet some nice people in class....:), :crying2:, :uhoh3:, :rolleyes:..... Who knows what to think.

In my market Phoenix!!!! They just keep listing the same jobs over and over and over again..... Why would they want to hire a new grad??? That would make to much sense.. It makes so much more sense to list the ICU, Emergency, Med-Surge or Tele position for 3-6 months.....

joanna73, BSN, RN

4,767 Posts

Specializes in geriatrics.

Don't lose hope. While the job market is awful right now, perhaps you might consider relocating if you are able. Not always ideal, but if you are determined to work as a nurse, there is a job somewhere. Relocating is what many of my friends, and myself included have had to do to get work. Sometimes there are too few jobs and too many applicants in certain areas, especially major cities.

laynaER

228 Posts

Specializes in NICU.

I agree with everyone else. Seriously, I know where you're coming from and you may not want to hear this but there are people who are in worst situations. Some have been looking for 1 yr to 18 months and no job yet. Look on the bright side, you passed your licensing exam, I assume on the first try. There are some who haven't even passed their licensing exam yet so count yourself fortunate and be thankful for small blessings. Your time will come. It's just a matter of when. You could be crying one minute and the phone ringing for an interview the next day. You won't do yourself any favor wallowing in your sorrow. Try to get certifications so you don't lose knowlege, take CE from nursing spectrum magazine, read..anything that'll keep your brain fresh. You may not want to hear this either but I was told by a recruiter that sometimes you have to volunteer at a hospital, network, make good with a nurse manager that way when a position comes up they have you in mind. Just a couple suggestions I hope it helps

Specializes in Hospice.

Commute .......it sucks but you have to find anything so that you can move into the job you want. that being said I applied 1 1/2 away and wasn't getting calls either. I ended up lucking out and one of my connections that doesn't hire new grads made an exception and i got a job i love. so work your connections and spread your net wider. this is NOT the first time this has happened with the nursing job market. lots of nurses i have talked ot experienced the same thing we went through. One of my preceptors in school had to get a job at american red cross (a job that now techs do) and did that for a year before landing a hospital job. so think outside the box. what you do now is not necessarily going to define the rest of the your career. Best of luck! (ps...i have a teaching certificate and i keep a loose eye on the teaching job markets......NOT a sure bet at all...its worse than nursing) BUT some school districts will give you a sub license if you have a bachelors and that might be a nice supplment while you search.

RN1298

64 Posts

I don't have any practical advice for you, but one thing that's helped me have a positive attitude (ok, I actually don't have a positive attitude about it most of the time, but I'm trying and remembering this helps...) is that I'll probably be a nurse for around 30 years; and this part of my career--the part where I had to look and look and take the job I could find which is not in the area or location I wanted--is a tiny, tiny part of my nursing journey and who knows what will happen after this phase.

mochamocha

77 Posts

hang in there, I was a new grad from may 2009 and found a job 2 months ago. Don't give up, you'll find something and someone out there will want you; they just haven't found you yet.

himilayaneyes

493 Posts

Specializes in Critical Care/Coronary Care Unit,.

You're in the MIA. Keep applying and calling the recruiter and showing up in person. Have you tried hospitals in Palm Beach and W Palm Beach. Try Bethesda Memorial in Boynton Beach...really good hospital friendly to new grads...speak with the nurse recruiter about the cardiac telemetry program. The director is -------. They do the program a couple of times of year. It's quite a drive..but it's a job. Also try hospice if you haven't tried it yet. Definitely, keep up with your nursing knowledge through joining a professional nursing organization or getting a nursing journal and keep up with your CEUS. Have up-to-date ACLS and BLS. Good luck.

elprup, BSN, RN

1,005 Posts

Welcome to my world. totally sucks. Just wanted you to know I hear you and understand completely!

Trinitas2010RN

67 Posts

Specializes in (future hope) Genetic Nursing.
So I get my BSN and my RN liscense. I'ts been 5 months and about 50-75 job applications latter. And if this keeps up I'm going to be and OLD new grad with no experience who Is in the hole 30k in student loans. So what do I do now. I can't move locations due to family and financial restriction. Should I just get out of the nursing game and go for a teaching job for right now?

I know how you feel. I graduated back in January in 2010 and have had my license for New Jersey since February. I have applied everywhere in the state that I could find and so far I've only had 2 interviews in that time. One of those interviews was from the hospital that runs the clinicals for my SON. There were 60 people applying for 5 spots. And even though I externed for the hospital that summer I still could not land a position. Also at this point I have also received reciprocity from New York State and Connecticut and have applied for jobs in those states. So far from these states I received one email back asking me if I would like to be considered for a new grad internship program. Of course I said yes. But I'm going to have to wait until November to see if I'm even going to be considered for an interview and if I am selected for the program it won't start until February. So we'll see how that goes.

At this point I'd like to say that I'm like you in the fact that I can't move because of my significant other's job. I definitely would move if I could. Right now I'm applying for position that are about 2 hours away from where I live. But nothing has turn up yet. So I'll keep plugging away and open up my radius little by little until I exhaust my options.

I will say this for you your probably better off then a lot of folk out there including me at this point. You have your BSN which at the end of the day does make you more marketable than say a person like me who only has a diploma in nursing. (granted I have a B.S. in another subject unrelated to healthcare.) Also your only 30K in the hole in student loans. Really that isn't that bad compared to say like a law student that probably double that amount in school debt. In fact my sister who came out of law school ended up owning 80K in total for all her college expenses. 30 K is very doable even with a slep job.

As for ideas for what to do. I have a tendency to agree with other poster here you and I have to think outside the box and try to find opportunities where every they maybe. Perhaps volunteer our service or maybe do short contract work. Personally though, I am still hesitant to to home healthcare. I just don't believe that I have enough experiences to go it alone with no back up at this point. Basically I don't think it safe for those patients.

Lastly. Personally I have no idea if or when there will be a recovery in the nursing job market. It's really tough out there not just for nursing but for all employment everywhere. I mean if you look at the jobless rate it's says it 9.6% but that isn't a true number because they don't count all those folk that could not find a job and have given up looking for work. Also the percentage rate only grow when you add those folk in that are underemployed as well. I think it at 14% (don't quote me on that but I think it close to that.) So basically alot of people are between a rock and a hard place and will probably have to do whatever they have to to survive for now. Now with that said. I think the long term future look much brighter and think we are slowly recovering as a nation economically. It going to take awhile but It's going to happen. My only hope is it happens before 2012 when my license runs out and I may have to consider non-renewal of it. We shall see.

In any event I wish you much luck.

Trinitas2010RN

67 Posts

Specializes in (future hope) Genetic Nursing.
hang in there, I was a new grad from may 2009 and found a job 2 months ago. Don't give up, you'll find something and someone out there will want you; they just haven't found you yet.

Congratulations! :yeah: I'm very happy to hear that. That give me a little bit of heart to keep plugging way. Thank you.

nurse2033, MSN, RN

3 Articles; 2,133 Posts

Specializes in ER, ICU.

Don't quit! Find a way to use your nursing skills even if you don't get paid. Things will turn around. I won't be easy but keep going.

80/20

7 Posts

Specializes in ICU, Med/Surg, Med/Tele.

Don't give up! The market for nursing is extremely tough right now. There are always refresher courses available and volunteering can help to open new doors. I understand your situation and hope you get a job soon.

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