Post here about your new grad hiring woes....

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we've noticed a lot of new grad hiring woes: many places are not hiring. we think that many of you could benefit by sharing your experiences. thanks everyone....

graduated in May 2008 passed boards in dec, searched for RN jobs everywhere and anywhere. Applied to monster, career builder nothing! Decided to print out places that were near and around me and called as many as possible on my lunch breaks every day to see if they were hiring and if so do they train and hire new grads.

Finally found a place that said yes rushed their had an interview which went well. They hired me to work on their most unorganized busy floor and still training. I still feel like a student. Im working hard and asking questions but i feel like I am floating and taking in all this info but I cant seem to put it all together. Im scared I wont get there and Im not in school anymore this is my liscence im working under.

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ItDidn'tComeEasyRN, I am in a similar situation. I graduated December of 2008 with my BSN. Passed NCLEX 2009 and obtained my first job in a subacute/rehab facility. Very nice place for long term care. Developed some good assessment skills, but still LTC. Yesterday, was just hired into ICU- an hour away. Very scared. Wondering how much that I have forgotten from nursing school. Already starting to study and I don't start until the 14th of this month. Well, anyway, it took me a year to finally land a hospital position. I didn't think it would be this hard to find a hospital position. If I knew at graduation, what I know about the economy now, I would not have taken time off before taking my NCLEX and would have been searching BEFORE I graduated. I was fortunate that I was working in another field with a good paying position.

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I passed my boards in Oct.,09 and still no job .Most of the lpn positions in my area (west central florida ) want 1 year or more experience . I am so frustrated i applied for 2 transporter positions this morning and am just curious to see if i get a reply. I figure its better than " NO JOB " and will open the door to network and make some connections in my area hospital .If anyone has any advice as to how to get through this "no experience barrior " i would appreciate . Thanks

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If you are in west/central FL, you should look into the VA. Last I heard, they were hiring. There is one in Tampa, one in Gainesville.

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Graduated in May, passed NCLEX in June....still no job. I had to take a seasonal retail job to pay the bills. Unfortunately I am making about a third of what nurses make in my area. Plus the longer I am out of school the rustier I get :(

Where do you live? I'm trying to get an idea of where the hiring is worst.

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california is the worst :( sadness

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I'm about to sign up for an LVN program that will cost me $30K plus living expenses while I'm not working for a year. I would love to know what the current job market is like in the Bay Area of California. I know no job is recession proof, but I would love some reassurance that it IS possible to find a good job even in a crappy environment.

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I'm about to sign up for an LVN program that will cost me $30K plus living expenses while I'm not working for a year. I would love to know what the current job market is like in the Bay Area of California. I know no job is recession proof, but I would love some reassurance that it IS possible to find a good job even in a crappy environment.

Ooooo i'm from the bay area.. and all i've been hearing is the bay area LVNs are actually getting their jobs cut back.. hospitals want to make the RNs do the LVN jobs now...RN in bay area is very very hard. most of my classmates are having extremely difficult time to find a RN job here. I don't see as many LVN in the hospitals, but i know for sure their job outlook is as grim for a new grad RN right now.. although maybe if you graduate in a couple years, times might change the economy. i think it is possible in the future if you got the networking done. best of luck.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ICU, educator.

30 grand? I didn't even pay that for my RN and my RN-BSN bridge program combined. I know costs vary by state, but I'd try to find something a little more cost conservative, with jobs being scarce and the economy in the tank, and you not going to work while in school. WOW!

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graduated in may 2008 passed boards in dec, searched for rn jobs everywhere and anywhere. applied to monster, career builder nothing! decided to print out places that were near and around me and called as many as possible on my lunch breaks every day to see if they were hiring and if so do they train and hire new grads.

finally found a place that said yes rushed their had an interview which went well. they hired me to work on their most unorganized busy floor and still training. i still feel like a student. im working hard and asking questions but i feel like i am floating and taking in all this info but i cant seem to put it all together. im scared i wont get there and im not in school anymore this is my liscence im working under.

this was how my first job felt! and after 3-4 months they stated "since i could not put it all together (med surg) they had to let me go". hello, from all of my research it takes at least 6 mos - 1 year + to feel confident and put it all together. i was devastated. obviously the place was not right for me, and me for them. so, anyway - i graduated may 08 with bsn and that's been the only rn position i could find....and i am one of those people that follow everything by the book, and if that doesn't work i try somehting else.

recently, i redid my entire resume and cover letter for the hospital in the town i live in now, and it recently went to hiring manager! i have no idea if hospitals hire during the holiday season or just wait until after christmas? i will find out soon....and i can't wait to get out of this house and be productive.

my advice to you: keep working, do your best, ask questions but keep personal stuff to yourself (i really think i got fired because i ****** somebody off when i asked for help - and they were the cna) and always be safe.

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hello everyone!! here is my story. i am 22 years old and graduated from a lpn program in aug and got my license in sep. i have been applying to every nursing home,dr office, clinic in my county and so far nada! i call to follow up and all i get is " if we need you we"ll call you" i even went to several places in person to drop off a cover letter and resume in person with hopes of getting an interview on the spot but had no luck. the fact that christmas is coming up is not making things any better. i want to go back to school for my rn but that is impossible at this time due to my financial situation. i have a boyfriend, no children and i live with my mom so i have no bills (thank god for my mother) but i feel like im mooching off her! :sniff: she supported me all through out school and i need to be out there working so i can help her out with the bills!!!!! i have recently started to apply to retail stores in my area so i can make a little money for the holidays but i feel like i am losing everything i learned in school..:o

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I can totally relate to your situation. I hope it gets better after Christmas or i'll have to go hunting for a cna job or actually any job and i have had my lpn license since Oct. I also feel like i am losing everything i learned in school. The last nursing clinicals i did were in August of this year !!

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