New RN Grad Anxiety

[RNNPPAHopeful]

Wildly enough, I graduated earlier this month. Although I haven't taken my boards, I am struggling. I think this could be related to graduation depression, but either way I have none of the excitement I should for graduating nursing school. Long story short I already started applying and I'm either getting rejected right off the bat or having to wait months to hear back for even a POTENTIAL interview. Prior to graduating we kept being told there was a nursing shortage and now would be the best time to graduate because you're almost guaranteed a job. However, although still early, I'm getting discouraged by not even having an offer let alone the ever growing pile of rejections I'm getting. Most of my classmates and other nurses I've came across have gotten at least an interview or a job offer. I can't even get an interview. I'm venting my frustrations because even though it's early days I'm getting discouraged. 

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Perhaps the hospitals you are applying to require licensure.  The  nursing shortage depends on location. Reach out to your school counselor for advice.

Good luck.

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

In most areas there's not a shortage of new grads, there's a shortage of experienced nurses. There's a plethora of new grads. New grad positions can be very competitive.

It's recommended to start applying your last semester, as you did, as positions are contingent upon passing the NCLEX. Waiting for licensure can make it hard to catch up with your competitors-basically, all the other new grads.

If most of your classmates have gotten interviews and offers, then it's your resume that needs improvement. If your resume doesn't make the cut, then you never get a chance to interview. Here's a couple of articles to read:

How to Get Past ATS Software

Revamp your Resume

I remember one year when my friend and Residency Coordinator received over 300 applications for a 20 spot residency. One day we sat down and eliminated most of them.  We had a grading system, but dozens were tossed out of hand because of grammatical errors, carelessness, and  mistakes made out of just plain naivete to the whole hiring process.

As a hiring manager, I knew a lot of the crumpled resumes were authored by new nurses who had the potential to be excellent nurses but who had never been taught the skills. I really wanted to tell them everything I'd learned about how to compose a resume, write an essay, put together a cover letter. Impress a manager, interview to win. What to say. What not to say.

In essence, how to stand out when you are one of hundreds who are equally inexperienced. 

I went home that night and starting writing my first book, "Your last nursing class...how to land your first job" 

I'm saying all this today because you are EXACTLY the person I was writing to.

I also want to say, you're right, these are still early days. It's good to be concerned, but it's too soon to be discouraged. Channel your frustration into learning how to compose a winning resume and become the best new grad applicant possible ? Good luck, my friend

 

[RNNPPAHopeful]

Thank you! You’re absolutely right, the shortage is experienced nurses and I need to make myself at least come across as willing to learn. I will definitely take a look at your book and review ATS systems