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Hey everyone, I wanted to post an update to give you all hope! I was offered a position on a med/surg unit for a local hospital based on my "2nd in-person interview" referenced in my original post. I've been there for about a month now, and things are going really well. It's very challenging, but I feel so incredibly lucky and grateful to have a job. Since then, I've received other offers for interviews...in home health and hospice. Looking back, I'm so happy I decided to volunteer...I think it really made a difference on my resume and being able to discuss those experiences during the interview. Something else that really helped me to prepare for that interview was reviewing the Johns Hopkins nursing interview guide. I'm including the link below. I hope it works. It was really helpful. http://nursing.jhu.edu/life-at-hopkins/center/documents/interview_guide.pdf Good luck to everyone still searching!!

Hi everyone! I'm an unemployed new grad, and I'm so happy to find this page. License type: BSN/PHN Time out of school: 10 months # of positions applied to date: 100+, 1 phone interview, 2 in-person interviews Dream RN position: Public/Community Health Nurse Hospital experience: None Where do you live: Bay Area, CA What are you doing now: Working part-time for a community health services agency; hospice volunteer Favorite color: Purple How you cope with unemployment: Amazing & supportive husband, friends, and family. Along with working part-time and volunteering, I try to see my friends often. I need a break once in a while from all the job websites, applications, resumes, etc! When the new year rolled around, I started to get super depressed. I recently accepted a part-time non-nursing job because I needed to make money. I was open and honest with the employer and told them my situation (that I'm still looking for an RN position) and they decided to take a chance on me. I'm so grateful to have a job...any job! Plus, considering that it's a community services agency, it should help with my eventual goal of finding a public health nurse position.

I know what you mean! I wanted to yell "Pick me! Pick me!" :)They told me they had approx 400 apps (way less than previous programs) and were interviewing 47 people.

I know...I'm trying not to think about it too much, but its always in the back of my mind. I felt like the interview went well, but you never know what they're really looking for. How did yours go?

I interviewed on 12/27. They said they will be making decisions (phone call or email) by the first week of January. I haven't heard anything as of today. Trying to stay hopeful!!

What a great article. Thank you for that honest and open assessment of yourself. I'll never forget the interpersonal skills class I took prior to nursing school. It changed my life. It changed the way I communicate with everyone. I still refer to the textbook when I face a situation I don't feel I handled particularly well. The nurse manager on the unit I precepted on during nursing school told me that just about anyone she hires can learn the skills necessary to nursing...but what she looks for in a nurse, and what she can't teach someone, is how to play well with others, create a spirit of teamwork and camaraderie, and basically just be a great person to work with and someone that patients and co-workers will like. So true. I'll never forget her words.

Ah man, this post about lobotomy boy made me laugh...I sure needed that after reading through all of these sad posts. I graduated in March, passed NCLEX in May, and have been applying all over the country since. I live in Northern CA by the way, and as much as I'd love to stay here, I'm willing to move. I've had one phone interview, which I thought went well, but it turns out they were seeking someone with more experience. Why waste my time? In any event, it was good interview experience. As I watch my classmates land jobs one by one, it really seems to come down to just plain luck most of the time. Some who've landed jobs have absolutely no healthcare experience, and some who are still looking have actual hospital experience and still can't get an interview. It's a toss up. In the meantime, I've deferred my loan payments, signed up to volunteer for hospice & palliative care, and am about to take an ACLS class & an advanced 12-lead EKG interpretation class. I can't just sit here feeling sorry for myself. I've also been applying to various healthcare-related jobs because I need money. Jobs like intake coordinator, medical office admin (I have admin experience), patient coordinator, etc...but haven't received a single response. I imagine the hiring managers are wondering why I'm applying to those jobs since I just graduated from nursing school, and they just know I'll pick up and leave at my first RN offer. Sigh. Anyway...good luck to all! I know it's achingly disheartening, but keep your head up and put your good energy out there. I believe that eventually we'll find what we're looking for.

I guess it's a good thing you didn't spend the money for PALS then. I have a friend (new grad) who was recently hired as a pediatric OR nurse. They are also teaching their own version of PALS. I also think nights would be a great place to start...I would think it would be a little less crazy...but then again I could be wrong. Good luck with everything!

Congratulations! I like hearing stories like this. It helps me to keep the faith that I too will find a job soon. I graduated in March, got my license in May, and have been applying all over the U.S. I'm willing to take ANYTHING, ANYWHERE, HOLIDAYS, WEEKENDS, NIGHTS, you name it! Out of curiosity, did you have ACLS & PALS before you interviewed? I'm thinking about getting my ACLS certification. Obviously, without a job I'd rather not spend $240, but I will if it'll give me an advantage. Again...big congrats to you! You must be so relieved.

I just finished my preceptorship yesterday on a med-surg (mostly surgical) unit. My big plan is to work in med-surg for a couple years and then move onto something more specific. Initially, I did not enjoy med-surg, but my 3 months there has changed my opinion. It really is good experience. After med-surg, I'd like to go to surgery, endoscopy, or oncology.

You will come across professors like that...and it can be frustrating. Find out what content you're responsible for learning/being tested on (usually in the syllabus) and then read the assigned chapters. Connect with your classmates to see how they're dealing with it and study with them. It may also be helpful to take a speed reading class.

Good to know. Thanks for the update.

I applied on 2/8. My application status still reads "020-appl".

I don't know that information. However, from talking with a few other classmates, their GPA/TEAS results were similar to mine.

We used anatomically correct mannequins to practice bed bath and peri care. During the final checkoff, we had to do everything on a fellow student, but the student was dressed and we pretended with dry cloths, etc. Now that we're doing physical assessments, we practice on each other, but we wear loose clothing so that pant legs can be hiked up and you can get a stethoscope into a shirt, etc. Not invasive at all, but the instructors still informed us that if anyone had problems being touched by fellow students, etc, that they would provide alternate arrangements. I don't feel cheated out of a learning experience just because we didn't get to practice everything "for real" in the skills lab. Besides, you can practice at home by giving a bed bath to your significant other!