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!
This is exactly what I did, during my preceptorship in my last semester I worked extremely hard and pushed myself to show initiative. I got to know every nurse on the floor and would be excited and motivated to jump in and perform tasks, even going as far as letting my preceptor know when another nurse was going to do a task that I was unfamiliar with just so that we could go watch/learn/practice. I made sure to meet the manager, be friendly with the care team techs, environmental services, everyone that I could meet and talk to I did.
I then used my preceptor as a reference, and her and the other nurses on the floor gave me such a good reference that I was hired on the spot.
But someone else brought up a great point earlier, many hospitals won't even look at you until you pass the NCLEX, I had a classmate that had an application in at one place for almost a month, when she received her license# she updated her application and received a call from them the same day.
As soon as you graduate, apply at one of the Dialysis companies. They are desperate for nurses, the pay is not as good as hospitals, but it is a foot in the door. They will train you for dialysis. Try it. You might like it. One on one with pts, you will use all the skills you learn. They are EVERYWHERE.
What state do you live in? I graduated a few years ago and took the NCLEX about two months after graduation. As soon as I had officially passed the NCLEX it took maybe three weeks to nail down a job. I would say don't apply until you take your NCLEX. Unless you are a student nurse, or in a graduate nurse program already, no one is going to look at your application if you don't have your license. Take some deep breaths, focus on graduating nursing school, and then worry about the NCLEX and a job. Oh and apply to everything. I sent out hundereds of applications and got call backs for maybe ten once I did have my license. And that boyfriend of yours.... I would really evaluate if he is in it for the long haul. Your first year of nursing is scary, and stressful, and overwhelming. There will be a lot of ups and downs and you deserve someone who will support you through that not make your stress level worse.
I'm not sure where you are working, but there are job shortages all over my area (upstate NY). In my hospital, one of the most successful in the area and a Magnet facility, is hiring new graduates into specialty areas! The average age of nurses these days is fast approaching retirement age so the job opportunities will just be getting better...
Try to do very well on NCLEX first. That helps. Apply at smaller hospitals, maybe rural ones if available. You may have to drive some distance at first. Search for preceptor/mentor programs at lg hospital. You may want to try better nursing homes. May be a lousy job, but you will learn meds, leading people, being in chg. Yes med-surg is great, but you need a job. Your nursing program doesn't have a placement program for after grad.? Study all the NCLEX/situation books you can. Try to recall ones on apps to see if you failed-they usu. don't tell you. Pass school, pass Board's. If you're any good at all, you'll get hired. Nursing is not just a job, it's a calling. It's not like a reg. job, doing A gets you B. It's long hrs you didn't signup for, but have to do. Unfair? Sometimes. Just don't think hiring procedure is gonna be like getting a job at MickeyD's.
I am an LPN and I live in upstate NY. I know that one of the hospitals here is giving bonuses to current employees if they refer an RN to the company who gets hired. I heard they are doing this because they are in such desperate need for RN's. I know there are jobs out there for RNs where I am from. Keep looking, and keep your head up!
I know this post is months old, but it popped up on my facebook today so here I am. I graduated 6 years ago today. I started applying in the facility where I worked as a secretary 8 months prior to graduation, got turned down for countless jobs *and I already had worked there for 5 years*. I was one of the lucky ones and was offered a job the day before I graduated. Many of my classmates had to wait months if not a full year. Two took jobs in nursing homes as the "supervising RN" over LPNS and that scared the heck out of them so they moved on after 6 months.
Nobody. Gave. Up. Not everyone loved their first job, one got fired and moved into dialysis and LOVES it. But not one of us gave up. That would be my advice. Apply for any job you remotely think you can do. Get trained - the more training you get, the more employable you are for better positions. Like some of my classmates, you may find something you love by accident. Look outside the box - home care, dialysis, travel, new grad residencies offer great opportunities.
I have had interviews where they LOVED me, but failed "personality tests". In one of my initial interviews my own boss called me to set up an interview on the floor I worked as a secretary on - i hadn't applied there she called to interview me. That hospital required a peer interview, i met with 6 of my coworkers (who all said later it was the only unamious vote for hire) but didn't get the job - the girl who did was from outside the hospital and had graduated from my boss' alma mater so yeah, favoritism can come in too. Still didn't give up.
And from experience I could not agree more with the posters who all say if your fiance cannot be supportive of you without threats of leaving you if he doesn't get his way... That is clear warning that he is not marriage material. In fact it sounds controlling which can lead to a more abusive relationship down the road. My hubs supported me through school, and through jobs - including one where i worked in a different state and commuted back and forth for 2 years. I don't even know you and I assure you, you can do better.
Don't give up.
The scholarship - nobody can mandate when you are going to get a job. Read your paperwork, ask questions. Is it requiring a nursing job? Can you take something else part time while you look? What about MD offices? Med secretary? Other hospital jobs (admitting, secretarial, transport, nursing assistant, telemetry). If you havent already, you WILL get there! 6mos to a year after experience you may well become one of the most sought after in our profession but getting in IS hard. Stick with it!
Yep! You made a huge mistake. You haven't even graduated and you are giving up. Nursing is not for you. You were expecting red
carpets to be rolled out and job offers to come flooding in and when that didn't happen, you did the only thing your generation knows how to do, quit and complain. Maybe you can still get a participation trophy.
Here is is a little reality for you. Once you pass your boards, you are legally able to work as a nurse, but you are not really a nurse. You have a long way to go before you will actually be a nurse. Right now you know just enough to not kill somebody. Anyone who hires you will have to spend thousands and thousands of dollars to train you to become a competent nurse. You are better off now quitting before someone wastes a lot of money on you.
Also, any guy who will leave you if you take a job is not worth keeping either. Drop him like a bad habit! You need a man, not a boy toy. A man sticks with you and supports you.
I know this is a fake story that keeps popping up to get a conversation going, but this is how I feel about your boo hoo attitude. Suck it up or you will never be a good nurse.
I had the same problem coming out of nursing school. You should try a nurse residency, that's what I ended up doing. Everyone will be new grads so they don't expect you to have experience. For my residency, it was basically a couple weeks of classes and then an extended orientation. It really helped ease me into my new role.
beezarn
10 Posts
Sorry to hear you are having a hard time!
I feel lucky to have gotten 2 offers right after I graduated. I live in Chicago so maybe it depends on the city/state?
Don't give up! You've persisted this long, so don't give up hope now.