Passed Nclex rn in August, still no job

[oztizz184]

Right after I passed, I applied to many job openings-New grads and RN positions.

After a while of not hearing anything, I reapplied to other RN positions, still no calls.

All the new grad positions are gone and no one is hiring new RN's, yet there is a RN shortage?

(I contacted my senior preceptor and they are not hiring either.)

I've been volunteering to keep me occupied, but really hoping to get an RN job soon.

Any advice for a new grad/new RN for searching for a RN job?

It feels like job hunting is harder than the nclex!

I don't want to forget 4 years of nursing by not working.

Thanks.

[Mayway]

I think it depends on where you live. Try to apply somewhere in the South if you don't mind moving. There are plenty of Nursing Jobs here. I graduated in May, went on trips and goofed around for a while. When I finally decided to take NCLEX it was already October. I took NCLEX and passed in the beginning of October and as soon as I got my license, I applied three different hospitals in my area and got two interview calls within a week. I was too lazy to go to both interviews so I just picked one over another and had an interview and got the job right away. Right now I am their full-time medsurg nurse.

I had no experience what so ever and my nursing school GPA wasn't that high either but I still got the job. Seriously, try somewhere in the South if you don't mind. I mean... it's better to work as a nurse here than having a non-nursing job with your RN license.

[kindlylili]

I think it depends on where you live. Try to apply somewhere in the South if you don't mind moving. There are plenty of nursing jobs here. I graduated in May, went on trips and goofed around for a while. When I finally decided to take NCLEX it was already October. I took NCLEX and passed in the beginning of October and as soon as I got my license, I applied three different hospitals in my area and got two interview calls within a week. I was too lazy to go to both interviews so I just picked one over another and had an interview and got the job right away. Right now I am their full-time medsurg nurse.

I had no experience what so ever and my nursing school GPA wasn't that high either but I still got the job. Seriously, try somewhere in the South if you don't mind. I mean... it's better to work as a nurse here than having a non-nursing job with your RN license.

May I ask which state you are living now? And south you mean the southern part of USA? Thanks and congratulation on your job!!!

[nicole5984]

Your first post says Rn. Have you applied to a nursing or rehab center?? A lot of smaller places will let you walk in and apply rather than just being another application and resume online. It's experience and gets rid of the new grad stigma!

[ChrissySnowRN]

I have to say, my confidence is shot. I passed Nclex in July, I've been feverishly applying everywhere since. 1 call, 1 interview, LTC (pet diem) which by all means, I'll take, but when I see former class mates getting hospital jobs, Neuro, med surge. ect, I feel like such a loser. It really plays with my head

[kindlylili]

I have to say, my confidence is shot. I passed Nclex in July, I've been feverishly applying everywhere since. 1 call, 1 interview, LTC (pet diem) which by all means, I'll take, but when I see former class mates getting hospital jobs, Neuro, med surge. ect, I feel like such a loser. It really plays with my head

You are not alone. I think sometimes others just got the luck to get hired in the hospital settings. I had one classmate just applied for three hospitals and got two interviews and got hired in second one. How is she different than others? She did not have any working experience, and that is her first job ever, so what left for us to say now, pure luck. She applied the every position in that hospital even it required for one year experience, and I did the same thing too, but I never got the interview. What can I say? No luck for me. That is it. It is not who you are or what kind experience you have, or where you got your degree, just simply you are not lucky enough to get hired as soon as possible.

[Ntheboat2]

It definitely just depends on where you live. If you're willing to move then you can get a job. After I graduated with my first degree (non nursing) there were NO jobs in the area. I went back to school for nursing and there are plenty of jobs where I live. I had to choose which job to take actually. Not to boast because I've been in the same exact position as many of you except it wasn't the nursing field. I didn't have the option to move though so I went back to school.

[Mayway]

I live in Tennessee. Literally, all my friends are employed (all fresh graduate with no experience), some of them even started working before taking NCLEX. The hospital paid for hours that they studied for NCLEX, and also paid for their NCLEX fee and all that. True story.

[NurseCJV]

Im in NY and even though I did not expect the harsh job market in here, my fellow classmates and I did fairly well in the job hunt. Most of my classmates have jobs in great hospitals with extensive orientation. It took me a few months to land an interview but I think we need to be patient and persistent. Don't get me wrong, it can be very frustrating as you may already know.

In the meantime, we can network, improve our resume, practice interviews, and volunteer or join relevant organizations. I recently joined a local organization that helped during Hurricane Sandy. Most of these people were healthcare professionals and have given me contacts. Having current BLS, ACLS, and other certifications won't hurt either.

[AutoRotate, MSN, RN]

There are plenty of jobs out there for new grads, but they may not be in your area (as others have said). You have to go to where the jobs are!