Nursing is the Biggest Mistake of My Life

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I am graduating in two months. It took me seven years from the moment I decided to become a nurse to when I started my BSN program. I thought I did everything right. Graduating Summa Cum Laude. Volunteering at every opportunity. Years of job experience in healthcare. Networking. But, I am getting turned down for every job I apply to.

I am still in debt, though I signed my life away for a scholarship that doesn't even guarantee a job but severely limits my employment options after graduation. My fiancé is talking about leaving me if I have to take a job that's not in a desirable area (even though I knew I might have to do that when I took the scholarship). But, even jobs that are considered "undesirable" won't take me. And it's not just me. It's all new graduates.

The best advice I could give anyone is not to pursue a career in nursing. I thought I was going to be an awesome nurse. I have the passion, the drive, the compassion, the dedication, the hard work--but that doesn't matter. If you don't have two years experience you can't even get your foot in the door. No one will take you.

I got one job interview but I flunked the "describe a situation where..." questions. The biggest employer in my area requires an electronic "talent" test and if you don't get the right algorithm your application doesn't even make it past HR, so it doesn't matter how hard you work. I regret the moment of "clarity" when I thought nursing was the right thing to do. Me, and thousands and thousands of other naive people who think they're actually going to make a difference in the world.

This is probably the lowest point in my life, and I've been through a lot. I thought I'd finally "made it". I thought I'd pulled myself up by my bootstraps. But I don't see any way out, now. I'm in debt and can't get a job, and neither can many, many other new graduates.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

You are giving up too quickly. You haven't even graduated yet! Once you graduate and pass the NCLEX, you may find yourself with more job options. Not everyone secures a job 2 months before graduation. My hospital isn't even interviewing yet!

As for the fiance who will leave you if he doesn't approve of your job ... Unless he is willing to pay your debts, then he needs to be supportive of you while you do whatever you need to do to pay them off yourself. If he can't do that, he is a loser and you should dump him. He is bringing you down when he should be building you up. If you want to be a nurse, then don't quit before you have even graduated. And don't stay with anyone who tears you down.

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You are giving up too quickly. You haven't even graduated yet! Once you graduate and pass the NCLEX, you may find yourself with more job options. Not everyone secures a job 2 months before graduation. My hospital isn't even interviewing yet!

As for the fiance who will leave you if he doesn't approve of your job ... Unless he is willing to pay your debts, then he needs to be supportive of you while you do whatever you need to do to pay them off yourself. If he can't do that, he is a loser and you should dump him. He is bringing you down when he should be building you up. If you want to be a nurse, then don't quit before you have even graduated. And don't stay with anyone who tears you down.

Couldn't have said it better myself!

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You're bringing a lot of drama to a situation that doesn't warrant it.

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You have a beautiful future in nursing career. Yes the job hunt might seems crazy and it's a matter of time. Apply for home care as a fresh grad am sure home care hire new grads, those nurses with long yrs of experience started from somewhere. And as for a boyfriend that is already telling you he would dump you if you change location, he is actually not in love with you, it's a matter of time he will eventually dump you even if you stay. Men that really love don't quit because of distance!Be hopeful and relax, get your license and keep applying, you will get a placement. We all don't know whether tomorrow will come but we make plans for tomorrow so make plans, make some changes in your CV if you have to and check out interview questions on this website and master responses to different questions, reheorifice them over and over. It is well with you!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.

You haven't even graduated and you already have such a defeatist attitude. How are you going to survive the world of nursing?

It took me and some of my classmates several MONTHS after earning our licenses before getting a job. In some places, new grads are unemployed for upwards a year before obtaining any employment.

At least graduate and pass the nclex before complaining about not having a job.

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My scholarship requires that I find a job within six months of graduation. If I don't have to pay back upwards of $40,000 immediately.

I fully accept and acknowledge that I'm complaining--I know it's not the best attitude to have. It's certainly how I'm feeling, though.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.

And yeah the fiance...dump him. A person who wants to hold you back and threaten you for something like what you've described is not boyfriend material.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.
My scholarship requires that I find a job within six months of graduation. If I don't have to pay back upwards of $40,000 immediately.

I fully accept and acknowledge that I'm complaining--I know it's not the best attitude to have. It's certainly how I'm feeling, though.

That's...odd. You sure that isn't a student loan?

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My scholarship requires that I find a job within six months of graduation. If I don't have to pay back upwards of $40,000 immediately.

I fully accept and acknowledge that I'm complaining--I know it's not the best attitude to have. It's certainly how I'm feeling, though.

Is it possible that this repayment requirement is intended for scholarship receipiants who either decline job offers or who do not even apply for jobs in underserviced areas?.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Yeah, something sounds weird here. The scholarship. Your level of stress. You still have two months of school to go. It is WAY too early to be hitting the freak-out button. And the boyfriend? Call his bluff. Tell him he gets to pay the $40K himself if he is so wound up about where you work. Whisky Tango Foxtrot????

Lose the boyfriend. Keep putting out feelers. You are in the middle of end-of-the-tunnel stress and nothing is going to look clear right now. Recognize your reaction to this isn't really helping you. Control what you can...and that would be how much ear time you give to the boyfriend component and how much you let your feelings control you. If becoming a nurse is the worst mistake you ever make you are ahead of 99.99% of the population. Self talk matters. Bring it down a notch.

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Specializes in NICU.

Many of the online applications have the question "Do you have the license for the position you re applying for?" When you answer "no" since you don't have your license, it will reject your application. Some hospitals don't want to hire new grads without a license unless it is a New Grad residency. It took most of my class several months after NCLEX to find jobs, but all of us did find jobs by the 3-4 month post NCLEX mark.

Don't get discouraged. If you really want this, then do not let anyone stand in your way. Since you called him your "fiance", then I would consider the both of you as a team. The purpose of a team is to help and support all members of the team, not just his agenda. I moved 3 hours away for my current job. My girlfriend realized that it was an opportunity that I couldn't pass up, so she uprooted her life to move with me.

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