One Year Since Graduation & No Job

[nursej_]

I graduated in June of last year and applied, applied, and applied to different hospitals. I've interviewed in a few places but had no luck in being hired. I'm worried since it's going to be a year since I graduated that no hospital is going to hire me.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I graduated in June of last year and applied, applied, and applied to different hospitals.

Have you applied to potential places other than hospitals? Beggars cannot be choosers, especially when one's choices are limited. Everyone and their Momma wants to work at the shiny, exalted acute care hospital. Therefore, seek opportunities off the beaten path.

There's private duty, home health, hospice, corrections, long term care/SNF, physical rehabilitation, IDD/MHMR (developmental disabilities), adult daycare, assisted living, and psych. Good luck to you.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Apply for anything and everything outside of the hospital setting. You need nursing experience and the longer you remain unemployed, the less attractive you will seem to potential employers.

Perhaps you might also consider relocating to a small town or under served area where nurses are in demand.

[sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN]

Absolutely, you could start on med surg or the ER, at Christus Jasper Memorial Hospital, Jasper , Texas....... LTC, dialysis, home health, if you are not up for a move... But rural areas as SE Texas, have jobs available.....

location, location, location....

you you will not be attractive for any employment if you do not get some experience..... Some experience might not be in the "Shinney Acute Care Hospital...."------ please realize there is no real shortage of nurses.....

there are opportunities in rural, underserved areas..... (S E Texas)... Is not the only rural, underserved area in USA.... Most every state has areas, except possibly Wash. DC....... It may be out of the "Box=Hospital"

best wishes

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

If you really want to work in a hospital, keep applying to hospitals. Be prepared to move if necessary. Many out-of-hospital jobs want hospital experience. Starting in a non-hospital job can make getting a hospital job much, much harder.

[nursej_]

Thank you everyone!

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

Have you applied to potential places other than hospitals? Beggars cannot be choosers, especially when one's choices are limited. Everyone and their Momma wants to work at the shiny, exalted acute care hospital. Therefore, seek opportunities off the beaten path.

Agree.

I went from out of the hospital experience to hospital experience; I utilized my skills and found opportunities that would help me be a viable hospital candidate, whether it be complex care facilities, and then tailored my resume and interviewed well; I also didn't shy away from leadership opportunities. I've been in the ED for 1 year and have recruiters contacting me for opportunities.

Take an out-side hospital specialty, get some experience, climb the acuity and complexity ladder, and you will be in a hospital eventually-it took me about two years to get into a position that was a fit for me, and I brought along valuable experience with it.

Best wishes.

[NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN]

While I was going to school to transition from LPN to RN I worked in private duty. The pay was lower but it was a job with flexibility that worked well with my school schedule. I had seen many RNs take the shift following me that had just gotten their licenses. They were there for a brief period (a month to several months) while they gained some history of employment and then left once they got their acute care hospital offer. I don't know where you live, but small home health agencies in my area seem to hire anyone with a license, including new grads. The only thing I would caution is to review the care plan before accepting a case, and if there are tasks on there that you've never done before, either get them to teach you or ask for a case that you can safely work independently because there's no backup in private duty.