NO NURSING JOBS!!!

Nurses Career Support

Published

So I'm a new grad--passes boards 2 months ago..and ever since I have been applying, calling, and begging every hospital in the city for a job! We have 22 nursing schools, just in the Columbus. This is as simple as supply and demand. For years all you heard about was the "nursing shortage", so everyone went to school to become a nurse.Now we have soooo many nurses(here at least) that many of them are jobless. I heard someone say they just went down to HR and asked to talk with someone...well I tried that twice and gave up after not making it past the front desk.

#1 Where is there a nursing shortage in the US?

#2 Advice please???

Specializes in dialysis.

i feel the same way,,having a hard time finding anything and the schools keep advertising the nursing shortage,i dont get it,, i think the course is just going to keep getting tougher,,i dont mind the education,in fact i embrace it but there has to be a job at the end,,why pay all this money for school,oh yeah,, i was also told that male nurses are needed,,yeah right,,,

California has a nursing shortage. But with the new budget that past here I am sure alot of nurses with be leaving this state because of the new tax increase. Las Vegas is offering a 10K sign on bonus. I understand your frustration. all hospitals want 'experience'- how do you get experience if no one hires new grad? but there are alot of hospitals that do. you just have to dig and dig, tho at times it feels like your digging a grave. I know because I am a new CNA and am living on welfare until I get hired. geez, Lord, help us all!

ikr? im like, how can i have any work exp. if no one will hire me because i dont have any work exp.??? its like a big joke.. only, its not really funny..

Has anyone here had luck yet?

I am a New grad RN as of Dec and just passed the NCLEX in Jan. Unfortunately myself and other classmates have not found a job!!! I have applied it seems everywhere! It's very discouraging, I can't even get an interview! I do have classmates who are CNA already working at a hospital that will be likely to get the position first. Someone like me, that was not a CNA and really don't have medical experience outside of clinicals, seems to be the last on the hiring list. It really makes me wonder if getting a degree in nursing was worth it!

I'm in the same boat; and I feel your pain. New grad RN, BSN. Passed boards 11/2010. Only had 2 interviews, but they chose the candidate w/LVN or CNA experience. I'm thinking the reason they do this is because they think they will require less orientation (and therefore less expense for the hospital) d/t the amount of experience they already have. Makes me feel like my BSN means crap! I am a quick learner and am equally capable if not more capable of learning the ropes as any new grad w/LVN or CNA experience. I've worked in retail and have 7 years of excellent customer service and a lot of the things I did in that industry translate very well into nursing!!! I'm sorry if I sound bitter, but it gets discouraging being a rejected new grad. I've applied to nearly all of the hospitals in my area with no luck yet. I would move if it were an option, but I need to stay local because I have obligations here I can't leave. I am planning on applying to LTC/LTAC/SNF next week, but am wondering if that would interfere with my shot of being considered for new grad programs in acute care hospitals...will they still consider us "new grads" and give us new grad training if we choose to work in LTC/SNF?

I wish you luck in your Job Search. Like I said, I am in the same boat as you and feel your pain. I'm praying that it gets better for us. Who knew the toughest part of becoming a nurse was finding a job!!! Passing the NCLEX was a piece of cake compared to this brutal job hunt.

Specializes in med surg home care PEDS.

I'm in the same boat, graduated June 2010, passed boards in July, and nothing

Have sent 100 of resumes and applications not even an interview, I am throughly discouraged, am applying for admin jobs (have many years experience) hopefully will find something soon, my student loans are going to kill me, I regret going to nursing school

:yeah:Good news, I did receive a job offer from a LTC. I have talked to a few other class mates and those that don't have prior medical background are only applying for hospital positions. A lot of new grads don't want to do LTC. So for all of you that were in the same boat as me there is hope even if it's not the dream job you thought you have to start with LOL! Just a thought, has anyone tried looking into Psych nursing they are always in need!

Specializes in dialysis.

i am amazed at what goes on in the nursing homes around here,,the average is one lpn to 22 patients,,some nurses even say they took care of 40,,when i questioned them,they say thats just the way it is,,i tryed it and theres no way to be a care giver at those ratios,,they justcheat on the treatments and meds and paper work,,they want to be super nurse,,to me,,we should all stick together and demand reasoable staff to patient ratios,,were just hurting ourselves ,our profession and mostly our integrity,,and dont believe the Bull that the nursing homes cant afford it,,do the math,,more nurses would not only give better care which should be our goal but would also open up more jobs,,but these nusing homes are run like the dark ages and we just keep making excuses,,i guess us male nurses have to get more involved,,just joking,,but it is a serious issue,,,

Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

I feel your pain. I graduated in May 2008, in Massachusetts. I started job-hunting in other states during my last semester. Massachusetts doesn't have "graduate nurse" status, so I couldn't look for local jobs until I passed the NCLEX, 2 months later. After a bad experience trying to do flu shots (Provant), and a job that was cancelled 45 minutes into my first shift. I finally found a job, 250 miles away, 10 months after graduation.

Last fall, when I was between jobs, I did flu shots at stores through Mollen Immunization Clinics. I met a lot of new grads who were doing it as their first job. It was seasonal, with no bennies, but it paid well, and the work was easy once I got the hang of it. The worst part for me was working in a Wal*Mart in the midst of remodeling; half the people who came to my table were lost shoppers. Anyway, they should start hiring again in August.

Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.
:yeah:Good news, I did receive a job offer from a LTC. I have talked to a few other class mates and those that don't have prior medical background are only applying for hospital positions. A lot of new grads don't want to do LTC. !

Lots of nurses refuse to work LTC. I'm one of them. LTC is a revolving door for a reason.

When I graduated, even LTC wanted a year of experience. I found an LTC job when I got my year of experience (in an ALF), and it was a nightmare; too many patients (17, which is considered a light load) and no orientation (2/1-2 days). LNAs ambulated, fed, turned, bathed, dressed, and toileted; nurses did everything else.

Sometimes, any job is worse than no job at all. Waitressing won't jeopardize your nursing license.

i am amazed at what goes on in the nursing homes around here,,the average is one lpn to 22 patients,,some nurses even say they took care of 40,,when i questioned them,they say thats just the way it is,,i tryed it and theres no way to be a care giver at those ratios,,they justcheat on the treatments and meds and paper work,,they want to be super nurse,,to me,,we should all stick together and demand reasoable staff to patient ratios,,were just hurting ourselves ,our profession and mostly our integrity,,and dont believe the Bull that the nursing homes cant afford it,,do the math,,more nurses would not only give better care which should be our goal but would also open up more jobs,,but these nusing homes are run like the dark ages and we just keep making excuses,,i guess us male nurses have to get more involved,,just joking,,but it is a serious issue,,,

I agree with you and it is heartbreaking. The nursing homes do struggle because so many of their patients end up on Medicaid. Well, how long could you prevent going on Medicaid if you had to pay 100k or more a year?

Still they could do a lot better if they cut out so many administrators and concentrated on safe staffing ratios - it's not like they have all the regulators of a hospital. I thought only the State regulates them.

I feel your pain. I graduated in May 2008, in Massachusetts. I started job-hunting in other states during my last semester. Massachusetts doesn't have "graduate nurse" status, so I couldn't look for local jobs until I passed the NCLEX, 2 months later. After a bad experience trying to do flu shots (Provant), and a job that was cancelled 45 minutes into my first shift. I finally found a job, 250 miles away, 10 months after graduation.

Last fall, when I was between jobs, I did flu shots at stores through Mollen Immunization Clinics. I met a lot of new grads who were doing it as their first job. It was seasonal, with no bennies, but it paid well, and the work was easy once I got the hang of it. The worst part for me was working in a Wal*Mart in the midst of remodeling; half the people who came to my table were lost shoppers. Anyway, they should start hiring again in August.

I've heard Mass is one of the worst states for new nurses. Florida another and so is Kentucky.

Tho truly how anyone lives in the Boston area on a nurses salary is no small mystery to me. Beautiful state and city but I don't think I can afford to DRIVE through Boston anymore.

+ Add a Comment