What is a new graduate nurse supposed to do if there aren't any jobs available?

[skyheaven477]

What is a new graduate nurse supposed to do if there aren't any jobs available?

Especially if relocating/traveling is not an option.

I graduated in December 2012 with a BSN. I was part of a very demanding accelerated nursing program which left little time for anything but studying. During the course of the program I had to quit my steady and long term job at a dentist's office to focus on my studies full time. I took the NCLEX and passed first try! Woohoo!!

I knew it was going to be hard to find a job as a new grad but had no idea how difficult it has been. I spoke to a few of my classmates and out of 50 only three already found jobs. The three that found jobs have relatives who work at the hospitals where they got hired. Go figure! I am happy for them but what are the rest of us supposed to do to get hired too (me included).

I have been looking for a few months without any success. I have applied online, called human resource departments, asked family and friends and even meet with two recruitment managers at two mayor hospitals here in NYC. One nurse recruiter told me that they haven't done any hiring since 2011 and the other told me they had long waiting lists and were not hiring at the moment. It has been a soar experience so far. I don't want to lose faith but it has been very hard. My goal is to ultimately work at a hospital, start practicing my skills and provide good quality patient care. However, with 0 nursing experience this Job Search is getting no where.

I would like to know of any job alternatives or suggestions that you may have for a spanking new registered nurse. I am open to working in a variety of settings except traveling (I am not able to afford a car at this moment) or volunteering because I have several bills that need to get paid asap. I just don't want to start working for example at a nursing home or community clinic only to hinder or hurt my possibilities of working at a hospital later on. I hear hospitals do not consider certain jobs as nursing experience. Any advice would be highly appreciated.

Yours truly,

Spanking New Registered Nurse:nurse:

[NMGirlRN]

Hang in there. I am in the same boat. I think I have sent out 60 resumes and have had one offer that was withdrawn the same day, and no other interviews. We shouldn't be discouraged. There is a job out there for us, we just need to be patient until the opportunity comes our way. I am thinking about becoming ACLS/PALS certified while I wait. I am also signing up with the volunteer disaster nursing corp in my area to get experience and to network. Good luck and stay positive!

[RNReadyManc]

Good luck skyheaven477

[DPmke]

I graduated in December, passed NCLEX in Feb and just got a job very recently after sending HUNDREDS of applications (east coast and midwest mainly). I felt like the interviews and job offers came in bunches so just keep applying, search for open interview days that hospitals might have, and keep an eye out for job postings aimed at new grads. Lastly, it's all about customer (patient) service. Patient satisfaction should be the main subject of all of your interviews.

[RNReadyManc]

Good luck to you skyheaven477

[skyheaven477]

Thank you so much everyone for your support I am very happy that I found this forum.

[FLNurseGuy]

Same boat here. (Seems more like a huge ship). I have applied to somewhere between 300 and 500 positions. Not even an interview yet. Very depressing. Nursing shortage my foot! The free clinics wouldn't even return my calls or e-mails. I had applied to volunteer at a local hospital about a month ago. This past week they contacted me and SHOCKINGLY wanted to meet me! I'll start volunteering next week as soon as I get my TB test results. I am doing other things for income to keep my head above water for now. I told the volunteer coordinator that I was surprised to hear back from her because I am probably "just another new nurse grad trying to get a foot in the door". She said pleasantly that they like to give everyone a chance and that it was not unheard of for volunteers to be hired. She gave an example of a physical therapy assistant that was hired(not a nurse though). Well, I'm going to volunteer with same enthusiasm I went through nursing school with and hope for the best. Anyway, we have to do something right? I can't help but think that if what I'm doing now isn't getting results, then I should try something different. I have concerns about showing up unscheduled to a human resource office or asking to see the nurse recruiter. But since that's something different I might resort to it. Desperate times call for desperate measures sometimes. I'd like to see some posts from actual nurse recruiters or human resource folks on here. What would THEY do if they were in our shoes? REALISTICALLY....what would they do? Not everyone is young enough to join the military or in a position to travel across the nation. Not everyone is in a position to assume more debt to further their education. Most of us HAVE applied to things other than hospitals. I have applied to drug and alcohol rehab centers, clinics, nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, home health and travel nursing. Any ideas on what to do in the meantime anyone? Anyway, just venting with the rest of my jobless new nurse grad peeps! Keep the faith!!!! Things will get better and eventually something will come along! Hey,....we made it through nursing school right? We can do it!

[skyheaven477]

Same boat here. (Seems more like a huge ship). I have applied to somewhere between 300 and 500 positions. Not even an interview yet. Very depressing. Nursing shortage my foot! The free clinics wouldn't even return my calls or e-mails. I had applied to volunteer at a local hospital about a month ago. This past week they contacted me and SHOCKINGLY wanted to meet me! I'll start volunteering next week as soon as I get my TB test results. I am doing other things for income to keep my head above water for now. I told the volunteer coordinator that I was surprised to hear back from her because I am probably "just another new nurse grad trying to get a foot in the door". She said pleasantly that they like to give everyone a chance and that it was not unheard of for volunteers to be hired. She gave an example of a physical therapy assistant that was hired(not a nurse though). Well, I'm going to volunteer with same enthusiasm I went through nursing school with and hope for the best. Anyway, we have to do something right? I can't help but think that if what I'm doing now isn't getting results, then I should try something different. I have concerns about showing up unscheduled to a human resource office or asking to see the nurse recruiter. But since that's something different I might resort to it. Desperate times call for desperate measures sometimes. I'd like to see some posts from actual nurse recruiters or human resource folks on here. What would THEY do if they were in our shoes? REALISTICALLY....what would they do? Not everyone is young enough to join the military or in a position to travel across the nation. Not everyone is in a position to assume more debt to further their education. Most of us HAVE applied to things other than hospitals. I have applied to drug and alcohol rehab centers, clinics, nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, home health and travel nursing. Any ideas on what to do in the meantime anyone? Anyway, just venting with the rest of my jobless new nurse grad peeps! Keep the faith!!!! Things will get better and eventually something will come along! Hey,....we made it through nursing school right? We can do it!

Hi FLNurseGuy, I am sorry about your situation. I can totally relate to the desperation and frustration of trying to apply to jobs hoping to get a call for at least an interview. I am in New York City and being such a large city makes it more competitive to find the right job among the hundreds of new graduates (me included). I have also applied to so many positions that I have lost count, it has been probably 300 or more. I did managed to get a handful of interviews with a few hospitals or by just walking to their HR and dropping my resume but they all used the same line " we are looking for an RN with experience ". I started to feel even more discouraged to learn that at least 70% of my graduating class already found jobs in hospitals and full time. It is not that I am not happy for them, it is just that I started to feel that maybe something was wrong with me or something. Because after all, didn't we graduate from the same school? I found out that about half of those employed at hospitals were referred by a very close relative or friend or used to work there during nursing school. Just to give you an update since I wrote this post, I have been looking for work actively for three months since I got my NCLEX results and finally landed a job in homecare. It is not my dream job but I am going to try it out and see how it all unfolds. My advice to you is to continue to persevere and stay positive. And to believe that you will find your first nursing job pretty soon because you will, you just might need to try different approaches and become a little creative with your Job Search. The volunteering option is a good way to get your work ethics noticed. Perhaps you could also try stopping by different clinics or hospitals in your area, call them directly, spread the word to your family and friends. I hope you all the best with your job search and yes you can do it!

[DPmke]

Volunteering is great. No better way than to get in front of a nurse manager or two and maybe talk to them and give them your resume to consider you when they have an opening. Quite a few hospitals here in NYC prefer new grads volunteer there first. I would not go to a recruiter's office. I think a better idea is to go directly to the unit you applied for and ask to meet the nurse manager. Say hi, talk for 2 mins (they're very busy), drop off your resume, and say you love their unit.

[dachlewis]

Who would have figured that a BSN would be the most worthless thing we ever worked for. I'm in the same boat and there is nothing on the horizon. That light that we see at the end of the tunnel is nothing more than an oncoming train.

What also sucks is that we can do nothing with our degree other than nursing!

[KryBry]

does anyone have any updates on the job hunt?

[CrossCountryRN2008]

Join ANA. Highlight clinicalson your resume. Apply places you did clinicals at. Try everything. Long term care rehab hospital dialysis home care. Keep applying.

[PVCCHoo]

Scary stuff in this thread. I am lucky enough to own a small business that allows me the flexibility to work whenever I want and attend classes (cab driver with a couple vehicles). I plan on working full time while earning my nursing degree. I will start next year at a community college, but will be able to earn a BSN with some extra online classes at the same time because I already have a bachelor's.

The funny part is that even after 2 plus years back in school, once I do find a job, my pay will probably be the same or less than I already earn with my cab company for at least a few years. But I want a new career so I willing to give it a shot.