Old grad = no job = depression

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Its been over a year now and no job opportunity yet. People that are close to me can't believe that I dont have a job yet because im an RN. I dont know what to tell them. I try to tell them its hard nowadays esp for new grads. They look at me kinda different. I hope they dont think im lazy or something because im trying my best to get a job. I hate this feeling. Its not my fault. Most of my family and friends are not in the healthcare field and they all have jobs. And me, nothing! They expected so much from me while I was in nursing school because Im going to be an RN. A steady secure good paying job???? Where is it? The media doesn't think that nursing (RN, LVN) are hurting in this recession. As a matter of fact, the media portrays that nursing is a recession proof job and encourage others to go into the field of nursing. Why give the public a false reality??? New/Old grads are becoming more saturated every year. And its going to be worse for all of us soon because the competition is going to be very high. Those people who graduated with an ADN degree will be hurting more because hospitals preferred BSN graduate nurse. And those who graduated over a year old will face a tougher time to land an interview because its been too long already. My self confidence dropped to an all time low since seeking employment has become a nightmare.

I know that at MPLS VAMC there is at least some discussion about starting to do some hiring. I just went to the USA Jobs website and 500 positions popped for a nationwide search. USAJOBS - Search Jobs

Corrections and MH are another nursing career field to check out.

Wishing all of you the best.

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Specializes in NICU.

I agree, I have had no luck going in person. I had, for example, one occasion where the recruiter asked me to bring her a packet of materials. I gathered them up, brought them in as asked. The receptionist took them from me, put them in 'the pile' and wouldn't let me speak to the recruiter (or even let her know that I was there). I'm pretty sure that they recruiter was in her office, as the door was cracked open and I could hear a voice coming from there. Instead I got zero eye contact and directions to 'just apply through the website'.

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I am in the same boat. There is just nothing out there in my area. And I mean anything -- LTC, nursing home, hospital, home health. I am just graduating now, but have been looking for a job for six months. :sniff: I am applying for tech jobs now, just to get some experience, and volunteering for everything I can. Hopefully the market will come back soon. Whenever I feel lousy I come here because, as cruel as it sounds, I feel better knowing I am not the only one!

I am in same boat I graduated in August 2009 and no luck with any job.

I was thinking about applying for Nurse tech jobs too but I am still wondering will any hospital hire us knowing that we are RN not techs??

It frustrates me when they tell you.... oh!! you need one year experience....how we are suppose to get experience when they are not hiring new grads??

I went back to college for BSN.....I am tired of waiting...hoping that BSN will help and also i am starting some volunteer work next week.

Navreet

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Specializes in NICU.

When I tried applying for a non-RN position, I actually got a call from the recruiter. Unfortuanatly, he misunderstood that I was an RN, acted really puzzled as to WHY I was applying for the position, and then told me that he couldn't interview me because I would run the moment I got offered an RN position. He also asked me why I wasn't applying for RN positions at the hospital. I told him that I had applied for 5. He mumbled something and got off the phone really fast.

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Specializes in LTC/Skilled Care/Rehab.

I hope the job market picks up for everyone! I know how difficult the job search is. I feel lucky to have found a job even though I will be PRN for right now. 99% of the time I tried to contact managers or HR I didn't get any where. Usually your call goes straight to voicemail or they tell you to apply online. The reason I got the job I have now is because I called them even though they said they would contact me. I thought it would be a total waste of time but it ended up paying off. Hopefully I end up liking this job. I will keep my fingers crossed for everyone still looking! I am also going to start volunteering for the American Cancer Society. They only ask for a couple of hours a week. There are volunteer positions for RNs even though I will be working in an office.

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All of your stories are scaring me away. I wonder if there would be job opportunities by the time I graduate?! If all hospitals are requiring one year of experience, how can new RN grads ever get a job?

My mother was LVN for 30 years of her life, she got her RN license last year and was hoping her hospital would offer her a job as a RN. Unfortunately, they did not have any openings, so she just got hired a week ago as a RN in a prisoner ward. The downside is she has to relocate. But the good side is she will just need to work for four more years and she can retire and receive all her benefits life time. I guess that's what so good about working for government. =)

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Hi All,

I'm due to graduate a 2 yr program in about 1 year & the job prospects look pretty scary.

Most of the postings I see for nurses do require a year of experience.

I'm pretty worried - I'm doing a whole career change to be a nurse & on borrowed time & money as is.

I'll have a kid ready for college $$ in a couple of years so I need to get working asap after graduation'

It's hard to find a CNA job too - Guess what - they want a year of experience too!

I hope things get better for us!!!! Lord knows we're needed out there!

from, Also OLD_no "CNA" job_depressed

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Specializes in Emergency Room.

I feel your pain. The Bureau of Labor Statistics report being quoted by the ANA, American Association of Colleges of Nursing and every career counselor, of needing 260,000 nurses by 2025 does help nurses who graduated 2008 help pay bills, feed their families and pay back student loans. Nursing graduates need to hold these organizations accountable for the misrepresentation of the nursing shortage.

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Have any of y'all looked into school nursing?

A lot of them don't explicitly require experience, though they do recommend it.

For instance, here's a link to a job opening in the school district I reside in:

http://www.cfisd.net/humanres/opportun/postings/Post-school%20nurse%207-25-07.pdf

Shouldn't there be positions for nurses in school settings?

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Specializes in ED.
Have any of y'all looked into school nursing?

A lot of them don't explicitly require experience, though they do recommend it.

For instance, here's a link to a job opening in the school district I reside in:

http://www.cfisd.net/humanres/opportun/postings/Post-school%20nurse%207-25-07.pdf

Shouldn't there be positions for nurses in school settings?

friendof mine just got hired for the Miami Dade health as a school nurse and she has no experience at all

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Specializes in Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy.

I am starting to get depressed too... I ended school on such a high, so enthusiastic to go into nursing, so determined not to let the job market get me down. Three months later it's getting harder to keep my spirits up. I know depression is the wrong way to go and will only work against me. But I'm running out of ideas. Yes, I'm ready to relocate and have applied to many, many out of state jobs. Yes, I've applied online, in person and by phone. Yes, I'm willing to consider LTC, bad shifts, bad neighborhoods. Yes, I'll even take office work.

I'm plain discouraged.

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"I feel your pain. The Bureau of Labor Statistics report being quoted by the ANA, American Association of Colleges of Nursing and every career counselor, of needing 260,000 nurses by 2025 does help nurses who graduated 2008 help pay bills, feed their families and pay back student loans. Nursing graduates need to hold these organizations accountable for the misrepresentation of the nursing shortage."

There is no shortage of nurses. this is propoganda put out in order to justify bringing in more cheap labor from overseas on the H1B program etc. They did the same thing with STEM jobs years ago. Entry level work exists for very few grads, and almost always as result of family member getting them the job.

It could also be used as university propaganda in order to increase enrollment. If the truth was made public all Universities would go broke. All this happened so 1% of population could get richer. Sold their own country out for a buck.

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