No Jobs For New Grads Despite RN Time?!

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I need a pep talk or moral support or something. I'm an AGACNP-BC as of December and am having a horrible time finding a job. I've been a critical care/ER nurse for 9 years, teach PALS and mock codes, charge nurse, CCRN, all the things. Went to a public and reputable university and graduated with a 4.0 GPA. I live in the West and want to be in a smaller community, which I figured would work in my favor, but I am getting nothing. I have been a little picky about location because I want to be near skiing and biking, but even drastically broadening my search area I'm still getting minimal interest. I'm hearing back from some of the places that hopital jobs it took them over a year to fill in 2018 are having 10 applicants in 2 weeks. Jobs that used to have 5 applicants have 30. WTH?! How did things get this saturated so quickly?!

I just got set up with several recruiters in the last week or so and am considering locums assignments if need be, but I'm just really frustrated. I feel like I shouldn't have wasted so much time "mastering" the nursing role and just gone to NP school quickly like most of the other people I know. I feel like my whole RN career means nothing and that I'm stuck in this weird place where no one will take me without experience but I can't get experience if no one will hire me.

Anyone have any tips or positive stories or anything?

5 hours ago, RN/WI said:
On 4/14/2020 at 4:34 PM, kdawnz said:

I need a pep talk or moral support or something. I'm an AGACNP-BC as of December and am having a horrible time finding a job. I've been a critical care/ER nurse for 9 years, teach PALS and mock codes, charge nurse, CCRN, all the things. Went to a public and reputable university and graduated with a 4.0 GPA. I live in the West and want to be in a smaller community, which I figured would work in my favor, but I am getting nothing. I have been a little picky about location because I want to be near skiing and biking, but even drastically broadening my search area I'm still getting minimal interest. I'm hearing back from some of the places that hopital jobs it took them over a year to fill in 2018 are having 10 applicants in 2 weeks. Jobs that used to have 5 applicants have 30. WTH?! How did things get this saturated so quickly?!

I just got set up with several recruiters in the last week or so and am considering locums assignments if need be, but I'm just really frustrated. I feel like I shouldn't have wasted so much time "mastering" the nursing role and just gone to NP school quickly like most of the other people I know. I feel like my whole RN career means nothing and that I'm stuck in this weird place where no one will take me without experience but I can't get experience if no one will hire me.

Anyone have any tips or positive stories or anything?were you able to find anything? If so how long did it take and what are you doing? Did the locum job work out ? 
I totally agree with you. I understand that RN is not NP as I mastered every step along the way. I am an RN of 13 years prior to FNP.

My state is extremely slow with the licensing. I live in Wisconsin and it’s been 8 weeks and counting for the license:( The state is allowing NPs to expedite from other states , as well as allow NP s that have expired or retired to come out and be processed immediately, due to COVID... I have called and emailed several times. They sure take the money and cash it fast enough. 

On average how long does the process of being licensed and finding an NP job take? I am 5 months out after graduation already.

It's hard for me to know what you wrote/are asking and what you are quoting here.  I live in Wisconsin. It's a terrible market right now for new grads but  there will eventually be some more jobs.  Where I work.....people are leaving and they have jobs to fill but they are holding off and spreading us all thin to try and recoup losses caused by COVID (were talking millions of dollars most months covid has been in play ).  I also think right now experienced NP/PAs are unhappy and shuffling around and organizations are taking advantage of snatching up  those with experience.   Go where you can get a job..     In terms of licensing in Wisconsin....I had it within a few weeks.    I was working within 2 months of graduating

I should be working.... I am not because the State of Wisconsin is slower than snails with the licensing process, even though I’ve held an RN license in the state for over 13 years. 
I am mostly just venting about how long it’s taking the state to process new NP licenses , when they expediting what I mentioned above.

I had quoted the original poster , as I wondered how their process ended up and if they actual ended up doing locum work first. Thank you for your reply. I am glad to hear that our BON in Wisconsin isn’t extremely slow all of the time. 

12 hours ago, RN/WI said:

I should be working.... I am not because the State of Wisconsin is slower than snails with the licensing process, even though I’ve held an RN license in the state for over 13 years. 
I am mostly just venting about how long it’s taking the state to process new NP licenses , when they expediting what I mentioned above.

I had quoted the original poster , as I wondered how their process ended up and if they actual ended up doing locum work first. Thank you for your reply. I am glad to hear that our BON in Wisconsin isn’t extremely slow all of the time. 

Literally had my WI APNP  license within 1-2 weeks.... that seems strange

Yes, it is strange! Total disorganization there. No one answers the phone , the only agenda is COVID and credentialing fast track NP from other states. 
If you truly got the license in a few weeks, it may have been under different administration, because now one must wait for them to receive it then literally took 6 weeks for them to enter the information. They have to complete all of that before they give access information to the legal exam. I took the legal exam literally a day after I was able to access. The excuse now is that they must enter it manually into the system- (give 3 weeks). Altogether from time I sent this application, it has been 8 weeks already. 

This is the current Wisconsin process for new providers, no joke California is faster!

Specializes in L&D.
On 4/15/2020 at 1:55 PM, YG FNP said:

I’m in the same boat. Finished in December, passed boards in January, and started looking in February. I’m FNP and really getting depressed about this. Coming from the ER, there are jobs for the me as an RN, but nothing for me as a new graduate NP. I am waiting to hear back from a residency to see if I made it, but I have no other prospects at this time. May have to move to get m first year out of the way, I’m just not willing to give up completely on my dream- covid or no covid. Hope my marriage can survive this!

good luck?

I know this wasn't your thread, but were you able to secure a job?

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