RetSGT

Thanks for your input, Slinkyhead.

Thanks Dirty Hippie, I should have been more clear, I applied to 30 hospitals. That's how many hospitals there are within a 60 mile radius from where I live. Some of those hospitals I applied to multiple times for various job postings that they advertised. But even so, 1 out of 30 ratio for getting a call back for a an interview is pretty poor. And I can tell you, every one of those job postings required 1 to 3 or 3 to five years experience. I'll also tell you this, the quasi competitive area that I live in is New York and even today if you go on indeed.com and search RN "new grads welcome, you will come up with 0 jobs. So rather than disrupt my whole family's lives trekking across the country for a career that may or may not come to be, I will begin seeking other employment. Beside that, I have also started applying to nursing homes which I would love to work in if given the opportunity. But their ads say the same thing. Anyway, just griping. Not that it'll change anything but.....

Thanks for the advice sunshyne.

Hi, Another new nurse here who can't find a job. Sorry that I chose this path. Left one career for this one, knowing that "nurses are in short supply", "They're always looking for new nurses", "Nursing is a recession proof career"> Well I was wrong. After sending out about 30 resumes in 5 months, and getting called by one hospital for an interview that went great, and I knew I had the job, I still didn't get the job. Now every nurse I speak to tells me, "well it's cyclical, you just have to be patient and it'll come around". So where's the tipping point, when hospitals come looking for us. I heard that before the recession, hospitals were so short that they recruited out of nursing schools. Will that day ever come again??? Many of the hospitals I applied to didn't even respond with a, "thank you for your interest..." type email. Time to seek out some other future because I fear that by the time I do get that call, everything i've learned in nursing school will be forgotten. I hope all of you are having better luck. I will not recommend this as a viable career option to anyone for a long, long time.

Hi all, I was hoping to get advice from some of you that work in LTC. After graduating from an ADN program in May 2013 and applying to at least 25 different hospitals in the area with no luck, I am trying to consider my options before seeking a job in another field. Is it possible for a New Grad RN to get hired in a LTC facility. My understanding in nursing school was that RN's run the floor, with the LPN's providing the nursing care. I never bothered to apply at any LTC facilities for this reason (How can an inexperienced RN supervise highly experienced LPN's) as well as my plan being always to go into emergency nursing in a hospital. Now, with very little hope of ever getting hired at a hospital as a new grad with no healthcare experience, I am seeking other opportunities before I give up the search completely? Does anybody have any advice regarding this? Thanks

Has anybody ever been put on a "Hiring List" following a job interview. I recently interviewed for a position with a hospital and was told that I'm being put on a hiring list so that when a position opens up and they get to me, I'll be hired. I'm just curious if this is a common policy with hospitals? And while I'm extremely grateful, on the other hand like Tom Petty said, "The Waiting is the Hardest Part", and every day that passes it just seems less and less likely. Thanks

I would like to clarify something to those who challenged my contention that people frequently told me that, because I'm a male, a job would not be difficult to attain. Additionally, I was also frequently told that "men are highly desired in nursing". You need to understand, I am coming into this field as an outsider. I have no contacts or connections in the medical field, other than those that I met in Nursing School. Many of those who told me these things were in the field as LPNs, as well as some professors and administrators in school. I find it hard to believe that some posters have never heard these sentiments. Does skill level and experience play the biggest part in who gets hired for a particular job? Of course, as it should, but It's disingenuous to pretend that we live in a world free from racial and gender preferences... or biases for that matter. And I think the people that expressed these sentiments, understood that.

"Then again, nurses from around the country heard rumors that Texas was still supposedly booming with jobs during the economic downturn, so we have nurses from all over the US who have flocked here over the past few years without securing employment before moving." Good Point!

Dallas/Fort Worth area, Wow! I'm surprised with the influx of new residents that you guys have had in the last few years, I was sure that your area would be one of the growing markets in nursing. Thanks for the info. P.S. Re: the "specialty they did not desire". At this point, I don't care. While I do have a preference, I will do whatever they hire me to do and worry about the rest down the road.

"Don't worry, you're a guy. You'll have no problem finding a job!" How many of you guys have heard this? The reason that I ask is this. Every time I spoke to anyone in nursing school about the job crisis, that was always (and I mean always) the response I would get. Well, It's been over a month since I passed the NCLEX and after sending out about 25 resumes, I only heard from 1 hospital. Everybody wants 1 to 3 or 3 to 5 years experience So anyway Question for you guys out there. Have any of you found that you are more likely to be hired as a male nurse regardless of experience? Let me know and also, let me know where you're from. I'm wondering if this is just a regional problem.

Hi guys, I don't know if you're still following this thread but I'm interested in Mental Health Nursing and would like to apply to South Oaks, but every time I click on the "Join our team page", it takes me to a nursing home website with an application only for employment in the nursing home. Can you explain to me how the hospital operates? Does everyone start off in the nursing home? Thanks.

I just graduated from an ADN program and started the Kaplan NCLEX prep program. Let me start by saying this, I did very well in the program and have done thousands of practice questions during the course. The only reason I am telling you this is because I have major problem with the way that Kaplan is teaching us to take the test. The instructor is very good and knows her stuff but she is stressing this "Decision Tree" when answering questions rather than relying on knowledge, logic and common sense, which always worked for me. I'm not taking to this shortcut too well and I feel like I'm back in my first day of fundamentals when answering the questions. The correct answers often don't seem like the best answer. So, is it me? Should I focus on mastering the "Decision Tree" method? Does it work? Are Kaplan's questions just plain bad? What was your experience with them, did they help you? Thanks.

Please forgive me for my lack of knowledge in the field but, I'm a new (soon to be) graduate and I'm looking into applying for an E.R. internship and hope that somebody can give me some information about them. First of all... How do they work??? Are nursing internships the same as the classic internship that people do in college where it's basically volunteer work and you get paid in experience with the hope that the boss takes a liking to you and hires you? If not, and you do get paid, do you get the same pay as any other new hire nurse? Are there any guarantees for employment down the road or are there any mandatory commitments? Finally, are internships viewed as a good opportunity in nursing or is it more of a foolish move to get into a position? Thanks

Everything is done on computer.

Hi SapphireStarr, I can only provide basic information about Brookhaven Hospital as I don't work there. I am presently a nursing student and I am also doing my clinicals there. As an outsider looking in, here's what I can tell you. In past years, Brookhaven Hospital had a less than glowing reputation. Recently however they have worked to improve their reputation and I believe that it has improved. While doing our clinicals there, I can say that the nurses and CNA's have been extremely helpful and welcoming to our class. They are always willing to take time to assist us when requested. I can also say that my mother was a patiuent there several years ago and was provided great care by the staff. I know that doesn't really give you great insight into what it's like to work there, and how well the nurses are paid or treated, but I hope that it helps. Don't believe rumors about that facility. Take the time to speak with people that actually work there. Good luck.