New RN can't get a job

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Hello everyone,

I just happen to live in a part of the country which does NOT have a nursing shortage. It's been 4 months and I've applied to LTC and 3 hospitals. No job. I went to school to be an RN so I do not have my LPN and no healthcare experience. Anyone else having difficulty? My husband and I can't move until next May which we have made a definite decision to do so. But what in the world am I going to do until then? Has anyone had to work as a CNA just to get some experience to work as an RN?? That sounds crazy but I'm beginning to wonder. I have decent references but they're in a different career alltogether. I just never ever imagined being in this position. We have a house to finish up and so we can't move until next year. Anyway, I'm in northern MN and need some advice. Thanks

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I would also recommend broadening your job search. How far are you willing to commute? Attend job fairs. Get in your car and visit nurse recruiters and HR departments in person. Try home health agencies, ambulatory care clinics, outpatient surgery clinics, and the medical department at the local jail or nearby prison. Really get out there and pound the pavement!!

Also, check-out the nursing agencies. Can you travel?

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Glad I don't live there anymore. What is with all the MN nurses not finding work?

Getting out of the state and even the midwest altogether is a wise idea as I've heard the surrounding states have little shortage problems as well.

Where in Northern MN are you? Close to Lake Superior? Or more toward Moorehead? There has got to be a LTC somewhere up there that needs nurses, you may have to commute to a larger town like if you were even an hour or so from Duluth or Bemidji for instance.

Make it clear on your resume or cover letter that you will do nights, weekends, etc. whatever they want just to buy time until you can move. Offer to do all weekends even if you can stand it just to bring a paycheck home.

Then come down to Texas!!

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Like RN34TX, I migrated to Texas from Mn myself. :)

Minnesota is a funny place isn't it. Despite the cold, people there are very family oriented and thus they stay. Once someone got a good position they stayed forever. Also it was 'who you know' that often got you a job in those parts too, I remember.

Hope you find something...you may wish to be a secretary, a monitor tech, etc and get your foot in the door somewhere. One poster here on Allnurses has been working an LPN position until she can find a compatible RN position.

There just is not a shortage of nurses everywhere is there. Good luck to you.

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If I was you I would not even consider a job as a CNA, it is a different type of job altogether and would be a big waste of a hard-earned education.

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Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

Rural Oregon here, and no jobs either! I get begged to move to other states, but I am rooted where I am now, not going to move for a job!

I hit the pavement hard, and took on a job at an assisted living facility. NO not what I wanted to save my life, but it is a paycheck...good pay...and pretty close. I have had my eyes out since I took on the job (first it was habit because it took 6 months to find the job I took..then it was just to see if something more my style was out there...NADA, and it has been 2 years!!!!).

Yeah...I hear complaints and questions about this nursing shortage that none of us seem to find! I have had several CNA's complete their RN schooling, and have to move out of state to find a job!!! WOW! No nurses shortage out here...you just take what you can get and keep with it till you retire seems more like it...

But ya know...many nurses are considering retirement out here soon...I see a light at the end of the tunnel by my calcluations and contacts in 2 years (LOTS of nurses retiring in 2 years here!).

I hear California is hard up for nurses...or at least everyone I talk to keeps trying to get me out there...no thanks..I like my little wine country, coastal foothills; green rolling hill, deer in the front yard, apple orchard, one acre yard too much to leave :). (My little piece of heaven on earth :) ).

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yes..come to Cali..we have tons of openings...were even recruiting out of country (canada)

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Well thanks everyone,

I'll take you're advice and just hit the pavement. Maybe showing up in person will make a difference. I don't really care what I get because it will be temporary anyway. Like ya'll said, a paycheck until I move is what I'm looking for. Personally, I cannot wait to move from this place. I'm near Lake Superior and the economy all around is terrible. We're targeting Arizona but I hear Texas and Cali are really looking also. We considered moving to Minneapolis/suburbs area but the cost of housing has skyrocketed. We could never afford to buy a house there now.

Yes MN is a funny place. It does seem to be who you know vs what you know to get into any hospital system here. Oh well, thanks everyone for the good advice!

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
i would also recommend broadening your job search. how far are you willing to commute? attend job fairs. get in your car and visit nurse recruiters and hr departments in person. try home health agencies, ambulatory care clinics, outpatient surgery clinics, and the medical department at the local jail or nearby prison. really get out there and pound the pavement!!

also, check-out the nursing agencies. can you travel?

i've worked with lots of nurses who commute. by this, i mean they found a job with straight 12s and work 3 in a row every week. they stay in town near the hospital for those 3 days, then go home (anywhere from 50 miles to 3000!) at the end of their stretch. when i worked in washington state, we had canadian nurses doing this because they made so much more money in the us.

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Ruby, that's a pretty good idea....

iliket3, I'm down in Florida (by Sarasota) and I know that one of the major hospitals (SMH) is looking for nurses. They actually have seasonal per diem RN positions making $41.00/hour for the evening shift! I know that they have 12 hour shifts...

Good luck!

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Yes, when I lived in Duluth a lot of nurses carpooled for 3 days to the Twin Cities...worked their 3 12's at the facilities there, and went back to their families for 4 days. They made it work.

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JUST MY 2 CENTS..LOL..DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME ON TRAVEL JOBS, FOR ONE YOU NEED AT LEAST A YEAR HOSPITAL EXPERIENCE AND MORE IMPORTANT,YOU NEED THE EXPERIENCE TO PROTECT YOUR LICENSE.ONCE YOUR IN A TRAVEL JOB, ITS USUALLY SINK OR SWIM. MAKE A BUNCH OF RESUMES AND PUT DOWN ANY AND ALL WORK EXPERIENCE THAT SHOWS YOUR A HARD , DEDICATED WORKER. YOU WILL GET A JOB, YOU WILL :)

Well thanks everyone,

I'll take you're advice and just hit the pavement. Maybe showing up in person will make a difference. I don't really care what I get because it will be temporary anyway. Like ya'll said, a paycheck until I move is what I'm looking for. Personally, I cannot wait to move from this place. I'm near Lake Superior and the economy all around is terrible. We're targeting Arizona but I hear Texas and Cali are really looking also. We considered moving to Minneapolis/suburbs area but the cost of housing has skyrocketed. We could never afford to buy a house there now.

Yes MN is a funny place. It does seem to be who you know vs what you know to get into any hospital system here. Oh well, thanks everyone for the good advice!

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