Rejection Galore

[CP1983]

Hi nurses,

Wow, I never received this amount of rejection emails in my life. MY family and friends keep telling me to be optimistic but it's extremely hard to. Even when I applied, New York Presbytarian career website has an online screening tool so it will only submit your resume if you are qualified. If you are not, it won't be submitted. I applied all over; HHC hospitals, LIJ locations, Mount Sinai, rehab centers, called clinics and nursing homes/SNF. Fax my resume all over the place. Was told to keep applying online for other positions since I wasn't qualified for the nursing ones.

I had my doubts about LinkedIN and Facebook but gave that a try for a while even before I had got my license. I even start looking out the state but was willing to use that as last resort since my family doesn't think we would make it and we would have to get a babysitter for my son and they think I should keep trying in NYC. I know its been only two to three months but i have a child to take care of and my loan money is running out. All my family have helped with me so much but I have exhausted every financial assistance.

I wasn't too sure if I should volunteer again. I volunteered for a hospital in the UES and it was a cool experience but it didn't get anymore. I stayed there for six months. They told me I wouldn't be able to work there until I got my BSN.

I have no connections to anyone in the healthcare environment. I have a question. I have my ADN. Is it just better to sacrifice not working as a nurse for now, find a regular job and get my BSN in the meantime? I will keep looking for nursing jobs but I really don't know what to do at this point. I can't even afford to get ACLS, PALS and IV therapy certification because I need to pay bills and pay rent. I may become an old new grad with no current experience. Any suggestions or thoughts?

Thanks.

[CP1983, ADN, BSN, RN]

Yes, I am definitely planning too! I guess I just need a regular job at the moment so I can pay for all of these classes. At the moment money is tight and I am emailing and faxing and even calling places to make sure they received my resume because I really want to take an EKG, ACLS and PALS class, I agree that they will make my resume stand out. Thanks, wish_me_luck, :)

[biblepoet]

I worked in a medium security infirmary. I liked the ability to learn how to do deal with less. The least favorite thing oz watching people suffer as they die. Obviously you feel like you are the one in prison at times. Be prepared to learn much about mental illness there is a lot there compared to society. Pts. Lotta more appreciative because they are usually not treated well but you need to remember some are manipulative. Give excellent care but do not give stuff because you feel sorry for them because many have been manipulated into breaking the law. I treated them well but stayed within Ny scope of practice nothing more.

[biblepoet]

Forgot to post mostly medication pass in the infirmary. Catheters blood draws. Subacute care pts. That just came from the hospital. Iv starts btw really challenging on iv drug User. Iv antibiotics, stopping chemist pumps on cancer pts; auctioning teach pts no respiratory therapists; calling the Dr.; when what is an emergancy and what can wait; dealing with nonmedical staff boy can the Co'sbe dumb; ton on cards; no iv pumps so used that math we used in nursing school. Cannot at this moment what else sure there was more but am tired and post knee scope. I currently work at a trauma hospital for 1 1/2 yrs I worked at prison about 1yr. At least here it gave me the magical one yr. Experience and I was offered 3positions and had to choose. One hospital job; one subacute position and mental health organization. Was interested kn tjs hospital or mental health. Dealt with psych nursing for over a yr. Hope it helps. Can give you mord info if you need it.

[sauconyrunner]

When I said rural, I kind of meant rural NY, more towards the Western Fingerlakes region...than South Carolina. But I suppose SC is an option. THere are some very rural areas in the south true that might work for you...but I think you might try closer to your current home first.

[kcmylorn]

I am wondering after reading numerous posts about large numbers of new grads when seeking employment going ahead and getting ACLS,PALS and EKG courses without having positions in areas that require these certifications.

Is this something new??

The reason I am asking is: In days gone by,( and I am talking about 2008,2010) we only got those certifications if we were working in an area where these certifications were going to be used such as acute care hospital peds or the ED/PALS: ACLS for the ED, ICU's, Tele units. and in these cases- the employer paid for them, scheduled you for the classes and you were expected to go- it was part of your orientation. That was my experience working in ICU/CCU and tele units.

Most recently, I have been offered 2 positions in outpatient family practice clinics and the agency recruiters are asking me to get ACLS to submit my name to these positions. My response to them was "why?" it's outpatient family practice, I'm on unemployment and that $300 pays my electric bill, there are no guarantee I will get the position and if iI don't get the job, Im out of $300 on unemployment,and have a ACLS I will never use. Since when is ACLS a requirement for an outpatient clinic or doctors office- in both these areas, you would call 911. The drugs used in ACLS are not present in any of these clinics- some of these clinics don't have crash carts!!! most personelin these clinics- don't know what a crash cart is!!! so we now need ACLS, PALS to pick up a phone and call 911. It seems to me that some CEO's kid is now working in HR and heard the term ACLS and now wants to sound like they have a Doctorate in Nursing. Sorry to be so fasicious but after my 2 recent encounters on the phone with agency recruiters- I am peed off.

It seems to me that these HR depts and employers are only busting bunns, asking people to get all the expensive certifcations with no intention of hiring the person, just going through resumes to pick out which cert you don't have and saying 'Oh we can't hire you because you don't have a certification in basketweaving" and excuse not to hire. all the while they are spending candidates money who don't have the money to throw away.

Any information to clear up this major expense of a question would be welcome. As these certifications are quite costly. approx $300 each and for some one on unemployment - this is an outrageous expense and ......possibly an unnecessary one. To me this is mind boggling. Like, what are they up to now to not hire people.

[sauconyrunner]

this is more in response to kcmylorn. kc, I actually do not think these certificates are all that needed. If I was looking hire someone, the fact that they passed a class which everyone passes these days (ACLS and PALS, the new kind version, everyone is remediated into passing) is not that impressive. With no experience, you are correct, it is just a piece of paper. Now an EKG certification if you are applying to a tele floor would interest me, because it means you have done more than just school and you might be a better than normal new grad candidate. For most of these positions, ACLS is not needed and in a code situation, you would call a code and the ACLS certified code team would swoop in and take it on. But that is my personal take on things. No None of the certs hurt, but...they may not help that much either.

[JB2007, ASN, RN]

I would be thinking of moving if it was a possiblity at all. There are hospitals in Northeast Indiana that will hire new grads and the cost of living is less than NYC. In addition, it is close enough to NY that you could go visit family and friends when you get a few days off. Good luck.

[RRWilson,RN]

Know that you are not only. :hug: I have a BSN and in Georgia. I have applied to to every hospital within an hour and half from my house. Only landed one interview, one phone interview, and one email questionnaire. It has been 4 months since graduation and 2 months since passing NCLEX. From what I have heard the job market for New Grads is hard in every state.

[CP1983, ADN, BSN, RN]

Forgot to post mostly medication pass in the infirmary. Catheters blood draws. Subacute care pts. That just came from the hospital. Iv starts btw really challenging on iv drug User. Iv antibiotics, stopping chemist pumps on cancer pts; auctioning teach pts no respiratory therapists; calling the Dr.; when what is an emergancy and what can wait; dealing with nonmedical staff boy can the Co'sbe dumb; ton on cards; no iv pumps so used that math we used in nursing school. Cannot at this moment what else sure there was more but am tired and post knee scope. I currently work at a trauma hospital for 1 1/2 yrs I worked at prison about 1yr. At least here it gave me the magical one yr. Experience and I was offered 3positions and had to choose. One hospital job; one subacute position and mental health organization. Was interested kn tjs hospital or mental health. Dealt with psych nursing for over a yr. Hope it helps. Can give you mord info if you need it.

Thanks Biblepoet! The only thing that makes me nervous is starting IVs, even on a drug user because I did see, during my clinical rotation its definitely hard to find a vein. Is it necessary to obtain a IV therapy certificate? I have been checking Corizon (for jobs) and now they are asking for experience, so I was like, everything is changing. The only facility that is pretty close to me is Rikers Island and that is two hours away, I believe.

What do you mean "tons of cards?" Wow, no IV pumps? You mean, if a patient need fluids or any meds, you would have to count drips? Jeez...

Wow, it really does sound lonely working as a nurse for the prison but what I did noticed is you become better with time management and priorities. I think that's important but it really looks like you were doing everything yourself.

[CP1983, ADN, BSN, RN]

I am wondering after reading numerous posts about large numbers of new grads when seeking employment going ahead and getting ACLS,PALS and EKG courses without having positions in areas that require these certifications.

Is this something new??

The reason I am asking is: In days gone by,( and I am talking about 2008,2010) we only got those certifications if we were working in an area where these certifications were going to be used such as acute care hospital peds or the ED/PALS: ACLS for the ED, ICU's, Tele units. and in these cases- the employer paid for them, scheduled you for the classes and you were expected to go- it was part of your orientation. That was my experience working in ICU/CCU and tele units.

Most recently, I have been offered 2 positions in outpatient family practice clinics and the agency recruiters are asking me to get ACLS to submit my name to these positions. My response to them was "why?" it's outpatient family practice, I'm on unemployment and that $300 pays my electric bill, there are no guarantee I will get the position and if iI don't get the job, Im out of $300 on unemployment,and have a ACLS I will never use. Since when is ACLS a requirement for an outpatient clinic or doctors office- in both these areas, you would call 911. The drugs used in ACLS are not present in any of these clinics- some of these clinics don't have crash carts!!! most personelin these clinics- don't know what a crash cart is!!! so we now need ACLS, PALS to pick up a phone and call 911. It seems to me that some CEO's kid is now working in HR and heard the term ACLS and now wants to sound like they have a Doctorate in Nursing. Sorry to be so fasicious but after my 2 recent encounters on the phone with agency recruiters- I am peed off.

It seems to me that these HR depts and employers are only busting bunns, asking people to get all the expensive certifcations with no intention of hiring the person, just going through resumes to pick out which cert you don't have and saying 'Oh we can't hire you because you don't have a certification in basketweaving" and excuse not to hire. all the while they are spending candidates money who don't have the money to throw away.

Any information to clear up this major expense of a question would be welcome. As these certifications are quite costly. approx $300 each and for some one on unemployment - this is an outrageous expense and ......possibly an unnecessary one. To me this is mind boggling. Like, what are they up to now to not hire people.

I really do agree with you, kcmylorn. I guess I feel I am left with no choice but to take these classes to look more attractive but yes, I did read that many new grad nurse take these classes and still get no responses from hospitals. I think this is their way of just weeding out candidates, (just like you stated). It's frustrating tho. And honestly, the other reason why I deciding to do this is because a family member's friend told me to take these classes, she said to take at least one. You would think I can get a hook up from family member's friend but no, I have no way of getting access. The family friend works at a HHC and she is a CCU manager and she just told me they are not hiring but she suggested I take an ACLS or PALS class. I feel I have no choice and these classes may be a waste. But I feel like my nursing knowledge and skills are leaving the longer I do not get a job...

[CP1983, ADN, BSN, RN]

I would be thinking of moving if it was a possiblity at all. There are hospitals in Northeast Indiana that will hire new grads and the cost of living is less than NYC. In addition, it is close enough to NY that you could go visit family and friends when you get a few days off. Good luck.

Thanks JB2007, I guess I just have to research if the MetroNorth goes out there but that is true, I should upstate NY a try first. How far is Fingerlakes from NYC? What is the transportation to get out there? Amtrak or metronorth? thanks again.

[CP1983, ADN, BSN, RN]

Know that you are not only. :hug: I have a BSN and in Georgia. I have applied to to every hospital within an hour and half from my house. Only landed one interview, one phone interview, and one email questionnaire. It has been 4 months since graduation and 2 months since passing NCLEX. From what I have heard the job market for New Grads is hard in every state.

Awe thanks, RRay! I know! I was actually apply to hospitals in Georgia as well, I guess it's rough out there too? How did you think you're first interview went?

At least you and everyone on this board understands. I know my family is optimistic but it's hard talking to them. They keep saying I will find something but I just feel they don't understand what I am truly going through. Like I haven't been working for three years. I gave up my full time job to pursue this exciting career. I do not regret it one bit of it, tho. But I am always use to working and making money, I even worked during the time I was getting my BBA from college to and obtained a BBA in management. Its rough seeing my bills go into collections and my credit score sink.

I am just frustrated that these hospitals don't want to invest in us at all but they keep the propaganda of "nursing shortage" going strong, using advertisements from schools, journal articles, the media and even job outlooks to fool us. I hate that they allow the ADN programs to continue but hospitals are requiring BSN which is fine but I just don't understand it; it's backwards. We are wasting money in the process. And now recruiters want us to get our certifications in ACLS and PALS with no intention of hiring us but we still waste more money in the process.

These schools and hospitals are leading us to dead ends and now we have to figure out another path and pray that someone hire us.

But I am trying to keep hope alive and I am still looking.