New nurse stuck on verge of homelessness

Nurses Career Support

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I don't know how I am going to survive and look for a nursing job. I have been doing the online applications like every other 1,000 applicants. I know it would be easier and better to go in face to face. It's sd to say I have no money to get to these hospitals. I have drained all of my resources and it's the struggle of making through my last semester of nursing school. I got to a traditional college where they don't have a lot of classroom times. Making it harder to work. My job couldn't keep me and work with my schedule.

Mi have tried to get part time jobs but when they see I graduate in 2 months don't want to waste their time training me. After I graduated a month ago...the retail job definetly want nothing to do with me. Everyday I get up hungry and pushing to put my degree to use. I just feel so discouraged. When all I want to do is help people I can't even do that.

I've been in LTC for 20 years and had 3 days of orientation and I started out no where near 30.00/hr. I didn't want LTC when I graduated but it was available and I had a family to support and bills to pay. Best decision of my life. Wouldn't trade my career path for anything :-)

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I completely have sympathy for the poster. As a recent graduate it has been really tough and I've been doing nursing aide jobs with no opportunity for promotion so i can support myself. My advice is to apply for both hospital and sub acute jobs. That's what I have been doing. But where I live, new grads are also scrambling for those "undesireable" jobs and it can still take months. Several long term care job posting in my city were taken down only after only 2 days because there were so many applicants. Good luck, this situation is tough but temporary! I'm nervous everyday but hanging in there. Dont be discouraged, you arent the only one.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
My advice is to apply for both hospital and sub acute jobs. That's what I have been doing. But where I live, new grads are also scrambling for those "undesireable" jobs and it can still take months.
Three weeks ago, the aforementioned OP turned down a subacute/LTC rehab position that would have paid $30.00/hourly. She's taking a massive risk of getting pushed into the ranks of the homeless in the near future by holding out for the elusive job offer in an acute care hospital that may not come into fruition any time soon.

Everyone (and their mamas) wants the acute care hospital position, but those who are not in any financial position to reject non-acute care job offers must weigh their options realistically and carefully.

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Thank you everyone I have gathered all your advise and have been putting it to use. Also seeing what my options are. I am feeling less hopeless and have been up and going. Especially from the helpful post.

Does anyone know anything about accidentally being reporting deceased to social security?

im thinking this is also effecting my employment background check at the moment.

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Specializes in critical care.

Does anyone know anything about accidentally being reporting deceased to social security?

im thinking this is also effecting my employment background check at the moment.

Holy foley!!! No, but my goodness that is awful! I imagine it is possible you could be flagged as potentially stealing your identity if social security thinks you've died. In a prior job, I ran credit checks and it would have had an alert on it for that. As much as it will suck, you need to go to your local social security office and sort this out before your background check is run again.

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I completely have sympathy for the poster. As a recent graduate it has been really tough and I've been doing nursing aide jobs with no opportunity for promotion so i can support myself. My advice is to apply for both hospital and sub acute jobs. That's what I have been doing. But where I live, new grads are also scrambling for those "undesireable" jobs and it can still take months. Several long term care job posting in my city were taken down only after only 2 days because there were so many applicants. Good luck, this situation is tough but temporary! I'm nervous everyday but hanging in there. Dont be discouraged, you arent the only one.

Wow at least we are not alone and what I did in nursing school was support my fellow nurses and classmates. I am keeping it positive knocking down each barrier and thinking outside the box.

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Three weeks ago, the aforementioned OP turned down a subacute/LTC rehab position that would have paid $30.00/hourly. She's taking a massive risk of getting pushed into the ranks of the homeless in the near future by holding out for the elusive job offer in an acute care hospital that may not come into fruition any time soon.

Everyone (and their mamas) wants the acute care hospital position, but those who are not in any financial position to reject non-acute care job offers must weigh their options realistically and carefully.

Just to update you I took the ltc job

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Move to Fort Smith, Arkansas. That's what I did. 6-12 weeks of orientation depending on the unit you work in. Benefits from day one. The pay isn't great, but the experience is priceless. I work at Mercy Fort Smith a Trauma III hospital.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

Who are these "most people" that you speak of? Most new grads I know would be ecstatic over a job offer in their desired field, and KNOW with the nursing market the way that it is they can't afford to turn up their noses (and turn down a sure thing) just because it's not their DREAM job. If OP did indeed turn down a $30 an hour position, my empathy level has hit bottom...

Let's be fair here. That was a month ago, and the job offered was one that most of us would turn down. One week orientation with no experience is scary.
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I'm in a bad situation myself, my health is poor but it's not terminal. Anyway reach out to friends , family and God(if your a believer ). Don't stop looking, apply everywhere. When they see your about to graduate tell them it will be months before you can get a job in your career and even then you will need a second job. Embellish don't lie but truth is you may only find part-time. Good luck, stay positive. Pray!

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Specializes in critical care.
Who are these "most people" that you speak of? Most new grads I know would be ecstatic over a job offer in their desired field, and KNOW with the nursing market the way that it is they can't afford to turn up their noses (and turn down a sure thing) just because it's not their DREAM job. If OP did indeed turn down a $30 an hour position, my empathy level has hit bottom...

Most of the people who posted in her thread asking if she should take the offer. THAT most people.

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I went through a similar situation with filling out tons of apps with no response. I finally realized I had to go in and ask to speak directly with the Director of nursing to try to sell myself. I also went to nursing homes which tend to hire new grads more readily due to high turnover. I spoke directly with the director, filled out an app, and was hired the same day. Nursing homes were definitely not for me but I hung in until I was able to get hired in the hospital med surg unit. Also working in a nursing home is an awesome way to learn time management.

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