New Nurse...No experience=No job...???

VioletKaliLPN, LPN · Feb 22, 2012

Are you applying to "New grad" jobs? Many hospitals only hire new grad RN's if they have "New grad" jobs available. These jobs include a lengthy orientation process with a preceptor to guide you.

The job market is not so hot for Nurses. Have you tried Nursing homes or LTC?

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Feb 22, 2012

Are you still connected with your nurse manager from the department in which you worked as a tech? It's a very tight market for new grads (although I will say it seems to be getting better in my area... we hired new grads this year for the first time since 2008) and it is to your advantage to use any and all connections that you have.

momof2guys · Feb 23, 2012

We're in the same boat, I'm a RN for 3yrs. After I grad I went into hospice working prn.Now I'm looking for f/t position with no luck. I've recieved the standard drivel- "were looking for more experienced candidate or were hiring new BSN grads". I've worked as a LPN for 6 yrs prior to obtaining my RN, working telemetry , med/surg, ED..... HR doesn't consider all that experience!! I have sent out well over 15 resumes,maybe something will happen for us soon.

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Feb 23, 2012

Network like heck, and apply to WAY more than 20 postings. That number is pretty low IMO.

allnurses Guide · Feb 23, 2012

Yeah, 15-20 resumes is only one to two days of applying. If you go to the "careers" forum there are areas specific to those looking for work. Many have sent out hundreds of resumes without luck. Most people can plan on that first job taking 6 months to one year of applying before coming along, longer if you live in certain places, like New York City and California.

Best of luck. This job market is our reality for now.

Columnist · Feb 23, 2012

Moved to Nursing First Job Hunt Assistance forum. Take a look at some other threads and posts in this forum for helpful information.Good luck!!

GamerNurse · Feb 23, 2012

Are you only applying at hospitals? I know a lot of places want at least a year of experience around my area (PA). Currently I work for an agency which, as a new grad, you may not want to do just yet, but I needed another job on top of this one and I applied to nearly 15 places and only one got back to me and it wasn't my ideal job. I've worked in peds for almost 14 years now and this new job was assisted living. But I figured, it's money, I can at least try it. I've been there for 8 months now and I really enjoy it there. If you've only been trying for hospitals, try other places for a while. Get your foot in the door, you might like where you end up even it's if not what you wanted originally. Good Luck!

xtine618 · Feb 23, 2012

Are you willing or able to relocate? This is difficult if you have a family but it might be an option for you to look out of state and then move back home or to where you really want to go after you have had a year or two under your belt. Good luck to you!

RNmage · Feb 23, 2012

I got my RN Dec 29th 2011, prior to that I was an LVN. Since January, I have applied for well over 100 positions. on my resume, I indicated my duties as an LVN on a medsurg telemetry floor. out of this many applications, I have so far had 4 interviews and 3 job offers. I called the recruiter of these specific hospitals to follow up on my application they then gave me a phone interview and scheduled me for a face to face with the nurse managers. I guess it would be safe to say that I was quite aggressive and did not let any new position pass me by. I checked on the internet every morning and night to see if any hospital had new positions that fitted my qualifications. Some of the Job openings have the recruiter's phone numbers anytime i called a recruiter, I let them know where i got their number and ask if the position was still open. if they said they would call me back at a certain time, i called them back and reminded them who I was. I never gave up and did not feel any guilt on calling all the time to make a follow up on my application.

Good luck

LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN · Feb 23, 2012

You need to keep applying, only 20 is low.

My first 9 months post graduation I applied to 5-10 jobs a day

Then went in person to every SNF/LTC within a 20 miles of my home

My first nursing job was doing flu shot clinics, then got a job doing private duty pediatric nursing/home health, not reccomended for a new grad, then finally got a job at a LTAC/SNF.

I kept on applying to hospital positions

I applied to 260 positions with a large 6 state hospital system and I applied to positions in every state, I finally got an interview for an on-call position with their pediatric LTC facility, which thankfully I was hired and worked into a full time position.

In addition to those 260 I applied to almost 200 positions from LTC, prisions, mental health hospitals, and other hosptial systems.

I learned that on Tuesdays one system post new positions and on Fridays at midnight another hospital post their new positions, this is important because there are 100s of applicants for each position and my old manager told me that because they have so many applicants many times they will only look at the 1st 30-40.

So keep on applying, finding that 1st job is a full time job

froggy0381 · Mar 15, 2012

Thanks all for your advice! Still at it...searching and looking like crazy. Can't even begin to count how many I have applied for! Unfortunately moving isn't an option right now or I would jump on it. Looking at hospitals, clinics, you name it. Nothing to do but keep at it! I haven't been calling recruiters but I'm thinking I will just start. I have been afraid to annoy them for fear of not getting a job because of it, but guess it's worth a shot. Here's hoping!