momichar

Hey I’m an unemployed New Grad. License type: ADN - will start my BSN this Fall Time out of school: Almost 10 months # of positions applied to date: I don't keep track but definitely over 100 Dream RN position: I would love to work in a Public Health/Community Health setting. I think one of my strong suits is patient education. Hospital experience: Not outside of nursing school. Where do you live: SD What are you doing now: Working in retail part-time, taking care of my kids, volunteering at church, continuing to apply to any and everything, even non-RN positions in places where I could potentially be hired as an RN down the road. Favorite color: My kids would say black because that is what I wear most but I love blue and coral How you cope with unemployment: I continue to pray and have faith that the right opportunity will come along. Some days are worse than others but I try to stay physically active and enjoy living in San Diego, I might as well get some benefit from being unemployed and being able to work out by the beach is a huge one for me.

OP, I am experiencing the same thing as you and beginning to wonder if I just wasted the last 2 years getting my Associates degree! I am looking into beginning the RN-BSN next year, but I don't know if it will change things and then I will have wasted even more time and money. I know it's a little early to give up since I just graduated in May and was licensed in June but the climate is really unwelcoming for new grads here. When you look at all of the job postings and they say "No New Grads" as if you are something dirty, you cannot help but feel discouraged. New Grad + No experience = No callbacks. I don't know what to do anymore. I didn't think it was going to be easy but I didn't expect to be made to feel so worthless. I have 2 young children and a husband whose income is dependent on us staying in California. If it were just me, I would be out of here in a heartbeat to get that experience, but it's not really an option right now. I truly hope that someone is willing to give us a chance soon. Good luck to you and as I am sure you already know, you are not the only one with these feelings.

Wow! Three years later and the story is the same, if not WORSE! Why didn't I see all these posts when I was getting ready to start my ADN program. I was probably too busy focusing on all the media about the nursing shortage, and projected job openings and BLAH, BLAH, BLAH!

It was great reading this post. I am a new grad and would love love love to work in a clinic, but without any experience I feel like my chances are slim to none. I don't even know where to begin right now, but hearing you describe the job makes me want to do it even more. I will be sending out resumes to all the clinics I can find in my area and hoping for the best. Dixie, I hope all is well with you, your story was inspiring.

What bothers me is the people that look at you funny when you say you are having trouble finding a job. "What do you mean, I thought you got your nursing degree and passed your boards". Apparently that means that job offers are flying at me left and right. The general public is still under the false impression that RN jobs are everywhere. I think these nursing schools have been smart! They are banking on the fact that students are looking for stable careers where they can both make a difference and make a good living. They have used the media to lead students in droves to their programs and haven't been quite clear about what is really going on in the market. I am not ready to give up yet, I just graduated in May and received my license in June, but I am also being realistic. Hoping for the best, but preparing for a difficult job search. Congrats to all that have found jobs, and good luck to all of you who continue to search. I appreciate this forum being here, it helps to know you aren't alone in your frustration.

Congrats! I took the NCLEX the same day as you and also did ATIs (98% probability on comprehensive). Got the good pop up and my license posted to the CA BRN today! Yay us!!

Hi kellysd. Well I have finished my first year in the ADN program, and yes, it was tough and my kids missed me but I am so glad I am in the program. Whether I find a job right away or not, I know that I am in the right field and made the right decision. I have one more year to go and from what I hear it is still difficult to find jobs in the San Diego area, but there are new hospitals opening up and I am optimistic for the future of nursing. The economy won't be like this forever and the changes in healthcare are going to require more nurses. I am willing to go where the work is, so if we have to move or if I have to take a job that isn't my dream job at first, I'm willing to do that too. We all know that as nurses we have to adapt to changing situations right? I would recommend the program kellysd but I would also warn you that most of what people say about nursing school is true, it's stressful, and sometimes you feel like you don't want to do it anymore. Just remember that when you are feeling like that, everyone around you is too, even the ones that look like they've got it together. Good luck with whatever decision you make!

I guess I really do know that, I just have a bit of anxiety about the big change. I'm going from essentially being a stay-at-home mom to a full-time nursing student. I know everything will eventually pay off though, I just need to be patient, persistent and hard-working.

I was accepted to the program and I'll be there on June 25th as well. Is there anyway you can find out if it's similar to a priority list, are you numbered? That might give you a better idea of your odds. I hope everything works out for you. Good luck!

I'm starting the ADN program this Fall and I've recently starting reading the many threads on here about no new-grad programs and the difficulty in finding jobs. After being on the waitlist for almost 2 years I was able to get in based on City colleges new multi-criteria evaluation process and I was so excited to find out but now I'm really worried. I plan to go on and do an adn-bsn and eventually a msn but I'm worried about not being able to find work in order to get the experience. I don't just want to go to school for all of those years and have no job at the end of it all. I know we are in tough economic times and who knows what things will be like when I actually graduate in a couple of years but I'm 33 and married with young children and I can't see putting them through this and then having nothing to show for it in the end. Anyone else feeling worried and scared like me?