New RN, NO JOBS!!!! WHAT the HECK!??

Guest296136 · Sep 19, 2008

Don't panic, there is a job for you, don't give up. Many new grad are coming off orientation this month, so preceptors will be available. Call, email recruiters, even show up at Human Resources.

YellowFinchFan · Sep 19, 2008

hi everyone. i am a new rn, just graduated in may, took nclex in july, and passed! yay!! however!!!!!!!!! i have been applying everywhere for over a month now!! i haven't gotten one phone call back for anything!! i got an email from someone about a position and i called him 3 times and he never returned my calls!!! i fax my resume with personalized cover letters only to recieve a phone call from hr saying "we don't accept resumes. you need to fill out an application online!" so those are the only phonecalls i do get! i fill out the online apps and ... nothing! no one ever contacts me! i am so eagar to get out there!! i feel like i went through all of that school and studying and $money$ for nothing!!! many of the people i went to school with have been hired, but most of them were emts, paramedics, or knew someone somewhere!! i am getting very discouraged. does anyone have any ideas? should i go to the hospitals?! hand them my resume?! help!!!!!!!!!!

where do you live? there are plenty of jobs for nurses by me:nurse:

mercermom_rn · Sep 19, 2008

Hi KCSB12,

We are in the same boat in NJ (BS Eng'g '87, BSN May '08).

HOW: I have done the online route, written a few followup letters as well as phone calls with no luck. I have applied to ALL positions online that do not say "2 or more years experience required". I almost tried "the show up in person" route, but I read somewhere on this site that they will just ask you to fill a paper application form or usher you a computer kiosk. Did you manage to talk to a recruiter when/if you did that?

WHERE: I live in Central Jersey and have applied everywhere within a 60 minute drive radius. I am just waiting for my license info to be available on NURSYS so that I can get a license endorsement for PA and start applying there too. I think it is useless to apply out of state at this time when you have the unemployed in-state RNs as competition, and not knowing when license verification will be available and how long endorsements are processed. To make matters worse, the NJ Board of nursing told me that it would take 6-8 weeks after license issuance that new license info is posted on NURSYS for verification/endorsement. NYU requires a GPA of 3.5, so that is out of the question, and New York Presby requires clinical experience outside of student nurse rotations (e..g. summer externship). Those who have jobs in my class either worked as a tech while a student and got jobs waiting for them, or had externed/interned over the summer or during their senior year, or went to Philly for jobs. UPenn, Jefferson did mass hiring before May 2008, but I wasn't interested since the commute to Philly by train was beyond my 1 hr cut-off. I never did that since I had a family to take care of and had a non-hospital job. We may have missed the new grad hiring cycle, it is so scary to think that the next one may start in January next year.

WHAT NOW?: To all employed NJ nurses, I am now seriously considering payinig for my own ACLS certification (for $250, same as NRP and PALS since I am also interested in L&D) just to pad my resume so I can apply to more jobs that indicate that as min. requirement. Is that a good idea? Is the cost reimbursed if you take the course while employed or do you get just a discount? If it is just a discount, then I think I'd like to take the courses now while the pre-req BLS is still unexpired and might make my chances of getting hired increase. Whaddya think?

If the recommendations all over the forums are true that LTCs/nursing homes are hiring new grads, I am now going to apply to these facilities affiliated with larger hospital systems. An internal transfer to acute care is easier than to go work for a nursing home or other facility that is not connected with any hospital. I haven't given up yet (but I'd really like to be employed by Thanksgiving....sigh). Hang in there kcsB12.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Sep 19, 2008

This year there is a glut of nurses from NJ hospital clsures, increased # new grads and not enough new grad postions.

Best bet: Attend a career fair -- see Advance for Nurses or Nursing Spectrum magazines/website for programs in your area.

mercermom_rn · Sep 19, 2008

kcsb12, There is a job fair in Atlantic City on 09/26, but it is not a purely nursing job fair. see if any of the healthcare exhibitors interest you:

http://health-care-job-fairs.advanceweb.com/Attendee/Healthcare-Job-Fairs-In-Atlantic-City-NJ-2008-09-26/SponsorsAndExhibitors.aspx

I'll probably drop by to reinforce previous online apps. Handing in a paper resume is much easier than doing everything online plus we may actually get to talk to a recruiter!!!

There was supposed to be an nursing spectrum career fair on 10/10 in edison, but for some reason that fair has suddenly dropped off their website yesterday.

Binkles100 · Sep 19, 2008

There's a career fair on October 10, 2008 in Edison. It's back on the website for Nurse Spectrum.

Just a suggestion - keep in touch with grads who have jobs. They may be able to tell you when a position is opening on their floor. Good luck to you.

I graduated last year and heard from several people that they got the interview by filling out the online applications and then calling several times to follow up.

On a positive note...congratulations on becoming an R.N.!!!:wink2:

MAISY, RN-ER, BSN, RN · Sep 19, 2008

You'll find information already posted on the subject on recent thread...I am not understanding why schools are not advising students to job shop prior to graduation. Everyone I know was hired prior to their NCLEX and worked as GNs during their early orientation.

Either way, fill out all online info, send resume, bring resume, be a pain in the neck calling recruiters. Go to the Edison recruiting fair dressed to interview, be assertive, have a good resume on good paper to hand the recruiter. Don't be too anxious, just express your competence and why they should hire you.

Be ready to answer the question as to why you are not working if you graduated in May. It will come up, have a good answer that does not include you needed vacation time. That will not be appreciated.

Good Luck

Maisy

JerseyGirl73 · Sep 20, 2008

Hi...There are openings at Bayshore Community Hospital in Holmdel...they hired me last year fresh out of nursing school...I, too, am a second degree nurse (BS Physics '82, AAS Nursing '06).

PM me if you like, but here is the link:

http://www.bchs.com

It is hard to get a job right out of nursing school these days...not what they preached to us in school!!!

kcsb12 · Sep 22, 2008

hi guys. i called HR for all the hospitals that i applied at and each one told me they would contact me if i fit the criteria for the position. i asked if it would help if i came in and personally handed in my resume and they said no they dont accept resumes. i need to fill out online applications which i have already done!!! does anyone have any names of nursing recruiters who can find and place me in a job?? thanks for all your help :crying2:

NooNieNursie · Sep 22, 2008

I just got a job at a LTC facility. Not what I wanted but better than being unemployed. I thought I was gonna get a job at clara maass, the recruiter told me I was a great candidate, told me I would definitely get a call back within 2 days, but I never did. I called several times, no response. That was most disappointing of all because I was promised a call back and I was sure I would be hired.

I recommend to go to the open house interview days advertised in local papers. I also got calls for doctors offices, but I decided LTC > drs office experience wise.

It really is pathetic that they tell us in nursing school that we will have sign on bonuses and employers eating out of our hands, only to actually discover jobs are few and far between and quite competitive. That is very hurtful, if only I had known how difficult it really was, I would have done so many things differently. I would be working in a hospital making +30/h right now because I would have hustled my butt to get a job before the influx of new grads hit the market...

mercermom_rn · Sep 22, 2008

KCSb12, and all other seekers:

Nursing Fair on 10/10 in Edison is back on the Nursing Spectrum Website! I''d rather go to that one instead of Atlantic City on 09/26 (more companies close to central NJ). Here is the list of exhibitors:

http://events.nursingspectrum.com/event_Detail.cfm?NAV=03_List%20of%20Exhibitors

I got names of nurse recruiters by just calling HR or career centers of hospitals. That info is only useful for making specific cover letters for websites that call for paste in cover letters. Nurse recruiters do attend career fairs. The problem is these fairs may not really recruit new grads, but mostly provide info for when they do, same informational campaign they do if they hold career fairs in schools. But still seeing them in person is better than perpetually leaving voicemail (they never return your calls unless you have been considered for a position). We can then ask specifics e.g. when are the hiring cycles. See you there!