GFocker92

I'm a fairly new nurse, I finished school about a year ago and have been working for around 6 months, and I really like my job, the nurses I work with are all very friendly, professional, and willing to help, some of the doctors can be a little different. The other day after a LONG 12 hour shift, a patient asked me about what a urostomy tube was, she was a little confused as she already had one. Somehow or another I mixed up urostomy with nephrostomy when I was explaining, little did I know, the urologist had stepped into the room quietly behind me, and proceeded to groan, make a snide comment (in front of the patient). I realized my mistake apologized and said I mixed up the urostomy tube with nephrostomy and got out of there. What really annoyed me was how he did this in front of the patient, a simple "You're thinking of a nephrostomy" would have been sufficient and more professional. I've seen some doctors come into a patient room (for the first time) not even introduce themselves, put a stethoscope on the patients chest and walk out without even a nod. I also saw a doctor scold a grown woman like she was a child about not following up with a particular treatment that was VERY expensive without even considering that not everyone can afford a single treatment that costs hundreds or thousands of dollars each month.

"You're complaining about working holidays?

You're not doing anything wrong, its a systematic process. I've been applying day in/day out too, networking, career fairs, going to HR, filling out applications, I picked up ACLS, PALS, I was an EMT (volunteer and paid for 3 years), tutored in at the college level, M.A. in Psychological Counseling from Columbia University, worked as a counselor in a psych ER AND managed the nurses station. I've gotten two interviews (that said no) after countless applications, I even got rejected from VOLUNTEERING at a hospital specifically because I was a new grad RN. The biggest thing people tell me is to be patient. I was talking with a nurse who worked in an ICU for 4 years, and it took her 3 months to find a job. The fact is its just brutal for new grads. As far as seeing peers get jobs, just remember the biggest word in hiring is "capricious" Who knows why some of these people get picked. There was a guy in my nursing program who I was convinced had a lobotomy, I mean this guy had no personality, no facial expressions, a voice like Ben Steins and a hospital I interviewed at hired him into their nurse residency program...Sooner or later the odds have to work in you favor.If it worked for lobotomy boy it will work for us!

From what I've seen about 50% of new graduates can't find jobs. And please don't respond saying something like "you're not trying hard enough, you need more credentials, etc." I spend day in/day out looking for jobs, networking, visiting HR, etc. I have an M.A. in Psychology from Columbia University, worked in a psych ER, managed a nursing station, was a volunteer and paid EMT for 3 years, I tutored in A&P since I got a 105%, 3.9 GPA in nursing school, practicum in the ICU, picked up ACLS and PALS, and hospitals simply DON'T CARE AT ALL if you don't have experience. The fact is, hospitals don't want anything to do with new graduates unless they're SPECIFICALLY posting jobs for them or nurse residencies. However, maybe by the time you're done the economy will be doing better. Good luck!

Just to give everyone a little sense of how bad the job market is for new grads, I have some humerus news (get it?). I graduated in May, passed NCLEX in June, and have been looking for a job since, had a couple interviews, nada. So I decided to try and volunteer at a hospital with the hopes that I could get to know the staff and help my chances. I get an email this morning REJECTING ME FROM VOLUNTEERING BECAUSE I'M A NEW GRAD NURSE!!!!!! HA!!!!! Focker

The best thing I can say as another new grad with 3 years paid/volunteer EMS, psych tech, anatomy & physiology tutor who can't find work, the best answer I think is "maybe." I was talking with a nurse about getting my first job and he told me one of the key things in this economy is to be patient, keep applying, and hopefully something will happen. It certainly can't hurt to be a CNA, but when its so easy for employers to have hundreds of nurses with 3,5, or 20 years of experience applying for the same job...