*Karleena*RN*

Carol- THANK YOU!!! That is exactly what I needed to hear tonight!! I so appreciate you not nagging at me about complaining...but instead "lighting a fire under me" and getting me going in the right direction!! I will go out tomorrow and buy a new outfit (suit perhaps) to look super professional, and get my CV, resume, references, etc into a nice portfolio. On Monday I will be "armed and ready" to go "fight" for a job!! :) I will put away my insecurities about the face-to-face job hunt and just do it! :tku:

Won't that really bug the nurse managers who are super busy to begin with? Won't they think that I'm trying to "cheat the system"...or "that's why we have HR departments"? The last thing I want to do is get on their "bad side." So it seems to be a fine line of getting your name out there and driving them crazy!

Make sure you balance your time with school vs life so you don't get too burned out. I know a lot of people suggest having tons of fun during breaks and then saying "adios" to everyone during school... but I don't agree. I think you need more of an even balance to keep from going insane. Reward yourself occasionally for working so hard - go see a movie on a "school night", read a novel (non nursing related book) during a regular weekend, have a date night with your significant other (or friend/family member), etc. Make sure you treat yourself well during the long year ahead of you! And definitely make sure you get enough sleep. No cramming the night before an exam - it's probably going to make things worse, not better. Try hard not to stress. Plan enough time to get the necessities done with and don't stress over the extra things that might not get accomplished. You've made it this far - that is something to be proud of!! Keep up the good work! You can do this!!

Nope... nothing pans out for SV either. They are the ones I was referring to in a previous post about it not even letting me finish the application now because of just recently graduating. I used to get the rejection emails regularly...but it's like they've made their systems "smarter" and won't even let you turn in the application unless you give the "right" answers. I love that hospital...live really close to it...have friends that work at it... did a clinical rotation there... etc....it just hasn't worked out thus far!

I've posted it.....this thread just got too long and wordy so most people probably didn't see! :) I'm in Las Vegas, NV. I've tried the FB thing; I'm friends with one of my clinical instructors from school; I know a few nurses in various hospitals around the city; I've tried the friend of a friend of a friend route.... all this with nothing so far. I know I could still have months ahead of me before finding something... I just hate that I'm not being able to do something I worked so hard for! I love being with my kiddos and husband in the meantime (but our finances are looking grim)! I see so many job postings...but it seems to be true that unless you are someone "special" or know someone with major connections - they won't hire ya. I'll keep pluggin along and applying/networking as much as I can. I know "this too shall pass"....I just hope it passes soon!

Wow! Thanks (to some of you) for the helpful comments!! I was just venting...so please don't attack me for feeling the way I do. I thought this was a place where I could maybe vent my frustrations... so if you don't have something constructive to say in response - then please keep your opinions to yourself. ) Thanks. Yes, I have kids and no, moving (or traveling long distance) is not an option. I am continuing on with more school (my long-term goal is to become a NP). For the person who listed all those positions in Vegas... um...really? You think I haven't seen all those and applied? I'm not kidding when I say I've applied EVERYWHERE! All those "RN I" jobs...even though they don't list experience as a requirement... After you finish the cover letter section, the app goes straight to one question "Have you graduated nursing school within the past year?" (or something to that effect...I don't remember the exact wording). So, I have no choice but to say "yes"...and then it won't even let me finish the application. It tells me I don't have the right qualifications. I even tried on one to put "No"...then it asked how much experience I had... I put "1-2 yrs"...just wanting to see what it'd do.... It still wouldn't let me past that point! I realize that going to school wouldn't guarantee me a job... but I guess I just figured that I would still be able to find one. I was a good student, complimented in clinicals frequently, received a "leadership award" at my pinning ceremony, etc. I guess I got too "confident" that all that would help. Thanks to someone who pointed out about the residency a hospital here is opening up in a few months. I've seen that. They won't start even accepting applications until April...so I will have to wait. (And if you've seen it...and aren't from Vegas - can you imagine how many other people are seeing it too? There's going to be hundreds of applications for very few spots. *sigh*) I just wanted to vent...so excuse my rambling. I really appreciate those who had a "sympathetic ear" and gave some helpful advice. I found a really helpful thread about how to get a job and will use some of that advice as well. I've already sent tons of hard-copy resumes (that looked stinkin good, if I may say so! haha!)...but I haven't tried hand-delivering any. I wasn't sure how that would come across to the nurse managers. I may have to try it though. Anywho...thanks again!

Thank you!! As a new grad looking for a job right now - these tips will be very helpful, I'm sure! Congrats on finding a job so quickly! I hope it turns out to be a good experience!

haha! Unfortunately moving right now is not an option. My husband has a stable job here in Las Vegas...and unless I find something far better than what he's got - we're stuck here. And I'm definitely not just applying to hospitals... I'm trying everything!! (Rehab, LTC, home health, etc.)

Thanks for the encouragment! I applied to a volunteer program just recently - so hopefully that will give me something "meaningful" to do! I'm at a loss of what to do/say when going in to see HR. With all the applications being done online - what am I supposed to say to them? "Hello... just wanting to check to make sure the computer sent my application to you!" (Kidding, of course.) Any tips on how to get my name out there without being annoying?? I am not whining about more experienced nurses getting the positions... I just wish I could be given a chance to even have an interview every so often. I feel like they see that I just graduated in December...and automatically chuck my application. I realize I have a lot to learn, and training might take longer... but I could become an amazing nurse - if they'd just give me the chance.

How on earth am I supposed to get nursing experience if NO ONE will hire a "new grad"?! There are so many job positions supposedly available....but they won't even consider me! It's NOT FAIR!!!! I can't even get my application/resume past HR. The longer I wait, the more I forget! 3 years of school....over 20K of student loans... and I'm decorating cakes to try to earn a little money! COME ON!!!! There has got to be someone, somewhere willing to hire a new grad RN - one who did great in school, who received multiple compliments throughout clinical training, and who even received a Leadership Award at pinning ceremony! I'm getting so discouraged.

Hello!! I'm kind of new to the forum (had an old account a couple years ago)! I graduated in December and I'm already so discouraged about finding a job. I know that it's a very common problem...so I don't mean to whine the same ol' sob story as everyone else. I have gotten to the point that I find it humorous to see another "rejection" email in my inbox! I apply to most positions I find available (whether I'm completely qualified or not)! I am a little irritated, however, that my application/resume doesn't ever seem to get past Human Resources!! Just once I'd like them to notice all the other qualifications I have - and not get hung up on the "New Grad" status! I wish I could skip the HR department and send my application/resume straight to a unit manager!! I used to have high hopes of working right out in an ICU. HAHAHA! Funny, I know! I used to feel confident enough that I could handle (after being sufficiently trained, of course) working right away in the ICU setting. (I did my 120 hour preceptorship in MICU.) But now... only 2 months after graduating... I'm losing confidence in my ability to be a nurse in any area! At this point, I would take ANY job...just to keep from losing the skills that I worked so hard for! I would even volunteer to train for FREE as long as it meant I'd have a job!! I expected finding a job wouldn't be "easy"...but I never could imagine it would be this hard!! (And after reading other posts...I know that some will say to consider relocating. My husband has a good job here and we have two kids... uprooting our lives isn't so simple. Though we have considered moving to Southern Utah, where I'm from, but the job market there is even worse! And others say to get certifications... I already have BLS and ACLS. I hate peds - but looking into PALS as well.) Okay...enough whining from me! I will keep on pluggin along and applying as much as I can!