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.
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.
Have you done your end of school preceptorship? If so, network and see if you can get a interview on that floor or another similar floor. More doors will open when you're licensed. Be patient!
with my exwife, we lived in a quiet suburb. We moved to a busy diverse city for her job. I really didn't thrive there. Now i'm out in a different set of berbs. I look at my drivers license pic then and now, and I look like 2 completely different people. The city one looks like a bit of a maniac, lol. Maybe it can be a short term thing until you get past your debt.
As many others have said--put the brakes on all of the stress! This goes for any new grad. You're still 2 months out from graduation. For many employers, that may be too far away yet to make an offer knowing it very well could be 5-6 months out before you could start working and a good 8-9 months before you would be off orientation. I accepted a position the week I graduated pending that I passed boards within 3 months and I believe I was the first of my classmates to get an offer. Many many many people did not have job offers until after they had passed boards and that is perfectly okay! Finish strong, pass your boards, and have faith that it will work out! Yes, many places prefer 2 years of experience--however I guarantee there are employers out there that hire new grads (otherwise none of us would have jobs). Be persistent, make sure your resume and cover letters are the best they can be, and take boards as soon as you can. Apply for clinics, offices, hospitals, etc. Even if it's not in a department or unit that you particularly want to work on, apply anyways. Put in the time and good things will happen!
Are there any hospitals that have new grad residency programs in your area? That's what I'm in right now, coming up on a year in July. They are great for new nurses and require no prior nursing experience. A lot of the larger hospitals have programs like that for new graduates. Just apply to EVERYTHING that you can and be prepared to go on lots of interviews. I interviewed with about 6 different hospitals before I was offered a position so don't give up!!! Just keep trying. And every hospital has a different timeline and requirements. Some will do their hiring before graduation, and some won't hire you until after you've passed the NCLEX. It's just a lengthy process sometimes but try to persevere and stay focused. You've made it this far and everyone had to start somewhere. Best of luck to you!
your nick says it all...ALMOSTnurse!!!! To me it sounds like you have some personal aspects of your life to be fixed before you venture into the world of nursing. Just keep in mind patient satisfaction, accountability, devotion and excellence, when you start your first job! IT IS ALL ABOUT THE PATIENT. Almost all of us started in "undesirable places", but we worked hard ad proved ourself valuable assets for the next position we applied for. You need to open your mind, and understand that you will need some training, better set of skills, before you have the option to choose "where to" next! It is hard to find a job, but I am sure there is a job out there for you. Keep you head up and clear of this lovey-dovey business, because you are a professional. And the patients expect you to be one, and act like one! Meanwhile, learn your algorithms and medication, since there is always a pharma test WITH algorithms upon admission. Good luck!
Please don't give up. When I graduated 3 years ago, I went through a similar emotional breakdown to this. I live in a large city with a very extensive medical center, yet I still couldn't get the hospitals to call me back either. I actually even reached the second round interviews for the county hospital, before I was rejected. However, I called them back and asked if there any other opportunities for me, and I landed my first job about 3 weeks before the nurse residency program started (very last minute). Luckily now, I'm at my dream job and feel very happy with this career path. We all go through it and sometimes even for a bit after we pass NCLEX (some of my classmates had difficulty for a while longer than I did), but eventually everyone was hired and working by the end of the year.
Anyone who wouldn't get married to you due to location of a job isn't worth it. You deserve better. Don't marry this selfish person who obviously puts himself in front of you....that's ridiculous.
You need someone who has the same compassion that you have.
your problem is that you do not have a license. I got a job in the first place i applied in 1992. No experience at all. Where do you live. so get the license first.
As a community health nurse of 31 years, I have to disagree with the idea that home care is a great last resort for new grads without experience. How can you make critical decisions alone in a house with no experience? Example: you are reassessing an infant's respiratory status for adequacy and stability after a questionable visit yesterday. That's a LOT of responsibility and takes skill. Not unusual in thdaera of 23 hour hospitalizations.
A) You haven't graduated yet, or passed the NCLEX; I'm thinking you've got a lot more to worry about than getting a job.
B) You can't get blood out of a rock; you worry about getting a job when YOU are ready. There are millions of us out here that are in way deeper holes than 40K and we're making it (it can get grim, but what the hell; so can nursing!)
C) Being a nurse and having a *ickhead for a boyfriend/spouse is not the best combination, but if you managed nursing school, you'll probably manage that too.
D) Check out government service; they're not as thick with the HR MBA bots yet as the private sector and the bennies are awesome!
Are you RN or BSN? I think you should wait it out. I didn't have a job when I graduated, and felt much the same as you. It worked itself out. I didn't even have a single INTERVIEW prior to graduation. Talk about depressing A sister hospital to several that I had applied for called me a month after I graduated. Someone had failed the NCLEX and they were interviewing to replace them. I also worked as a tech in the system PRN during school, so I think that helped some, but the hospital that I worked at at the time didn't have enough in the budget for vVrsants, so that wasn't even an option. Got the job, and it's closer than the others I had applied for (had no idea it was even here) and top performer in a very large system. Blessed to be here. If I'd had my way, I'd be working for a crappy HCA hospital. Not that HCA hospitals are all crappy, but this one didn't have the best reputation. I just wanted a JOB, but something better worked out. As far as the loans go, you can't pay what you don't have. I did work with one RN who it took a YEAR to find a job (that is highly unusual). She's a top performer on her unit now. The market is there for nurses, but we require so much training even AFTER school to become proficient that not all hospitals are eager to invest that. The ones that DO have an internship program will be WORTH the wait! Couldn't have made it with one of those one month and then you're on the floor places. Hang in there! You'll be telling us all about your great new job in a coupla months or so! :)
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A sister hospital to several that I had applied for called me a month after I graduated. Someone had failed the NCLEX and they were interviewing to replace them. I also worked as a tech in the system PRN during school, so I think that helped some, but the hospital that I worked at at the time didn't have enough in the budget for vVrsants, so that wasn't even an option. Got the job, and it's closer than the others I had applied for (had no idea it was even here) and top performer in a very large system. Blessed to be here. If I'd had my way, I'd be working for a crappy HCA hospital. Not that HCA hospitals are all crappy, but this one didn't have the best reputation. I just wanted a JOB, but something better worked out. As far as the loans go, you can't pay what you don't have. I did work with one RN who it took a YEAR to find a job (that is highly unusual). She's a top performer on her unit now. The market is there for nurses, but we require so much training even AFTER school to become proficient that not all hospitals are eager to invest that. The ones that DO have an internship program will be WORTH the wait! Couldn't have made it with one of those one month and then you're on the floor places. Hang in there! You'll be telling us all about your great new job in a coupla months or so! :)
ScrappytheCoco
288 Posts
Have you done your end of school preceptorship? If so, network and see if you can get a interview on that floor or another similar floor. More doors will open when you're licensed. Be patient!