Slowly diminishing excitement

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:redbeathe Hi!

I just graduated with my Associates in Dec.09 and I take my boards Feb. 25th!! I also received my Bachelors in Psychology.

I thought it would be so easy to find a job once I completed school, but I am having tremendous difficulty. I have been applying since August and at first, I was set on an ICU position. I have since lowered my expectations & am applying for any open RN position, & recently even applied for LTC (which I dont want to do at all). I've probably sent out 40 resumes & applications!! My excitement over graduating is slowly diminishing.

I did an externship in the NICU & on an ortho floor & I completed my mentorship in the CT/ICU at Shadyside UPMC dealing with open-hearts. :redpinkhe I have also been a physical therapy assistant & am currently an aid at Ruby Memorial in Morgantown, WV (which I could have a job at but it's just too far, especially with all these hospitals here!) I'm intelligent and I am a hard worker.

I am quite frustrated because I think I am a better candidate than most & some of the jobs I have applied for have been posted for months now & never seem to come down. Why am I not even getting an interview?!?

I have heard most of Pittsburgh is not hiring GN's, but I applied to St. Clair & when I called to check on my app. they told me they were. I realize Pittsburgh is saturated with nurses, but why are these positions still available? I am a perfectly acceptable placement. :)

I am guessing I'm not getting called because I am a new grad, or because I haven't taken my boards yet (but I have my Temp. Practice Permit), or because I don't have prior nursing experience. What do you think??

*StarkysS*

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Don't forget UPMC hospital just shut down Braddock. I don't know how many nurses lost there job over there but they are probably getting first pick of jobs.

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Thanks for your response. Unfortunately, several people did lose their jobs at Braddock. I heard that the rest of UPMC was on a hiring freeze for outsiders, in order to allow ample opportunity for those employees to get jobs elsewhere. I have been in contact with a manager at Shadyside who told me that was not true & she'd heard nothing of that. I'm still not sure I believe her though. I do know that those employees do get first priority, but the majority of them should have been placed by December. They probably took all the available jobs I'm sure. I thought graduating in December would give me an advantage, Braddock sorta put a kink in that :)

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Thanks for your response. Unfortunately, several people did lose their jobs at Braddock. I heard that the rest of UPMC was on a hiring freeze for outsiders, in order to allow ample opportunity for those employees to get jobs elsewhere. I have been in contact with a manager at Shadyside who told me that was not true & she'd heard nothing of that. I'm still not sure I believe her though. I do know that those employees do get first priority, but the majority of them should have been placed by December. They probably took all the available jobs I'm sure. I thought graduating in December would give me an advantage, Braddock sorta put a kink in that :)
One thing about Shadyside, it is a busy, busy place. I would not be suprised if the freeze does not apply there if in fact there was a freeze. My original statement was just a guess.
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I hope you find a job soon. I graduate next spring but I'm concerned about being able to find a job (and passing NCLEX) after I graduate.

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Thank you, I appreciate it!

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So are you willing to do LTC? What shifts? Are you being picky about shifts when applying? PT or FT?

How about some of the LTAC hospitals in the area? Not sure if they are hiring much.

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Specializes in BSc, ASN- RN, MBA.

Hang in there and keep trying. Things are opening up. I just got a job at a nursing home working nights. Not an ideal situation, but I know I will learn a lot and it will be experience. A classmate/friend of mine has a job at a summer camp . In the fall, there are quite a few flu shot clinics new nurses can participate in. It has been a year and a month since my graduation and I got discouraged a few times, but I just kept going. Continue in school if you can. I have spent this year doing an MBA program and by Christmas will have the MBA.

Lisa

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Michelle - Thank you. I do not have a problem working in LTC. Honestly, I don't feel I am in a position to be picky at this time :) So, when I apply, I apply for everything whether I think I want it or not and I state that I am willing to work any shift, FT or PT. I've found that when I inhibit myself and only look for something I think I want, I end up not liking it anyway. Likewise, when I just let things come as they may, it usually turns out the best for me! So I'm up for anything right now & look forward to any new challenge!

Lisa - Thank you for the words of encouragement, as well as for the job suggestions. I am remaining optimistic so far. Congratulations on the new job. I hope you enjoy it. I am leaning toward nursing home/LTC & would actually enjoy nightshift. I will most definitely continue on with schooling. I will be a Nurse Practitioner & am going to the Frontier School of Midwifery & NP, but I need one year of experience as a nurse first. So, thats what I'm working on right now. I take my NCLEX next Thursday & I feel ready, so hopefully that will go well & everyone will want me :redbeathe

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Good Luck...drop me a pm if you might still be looking in LTC.

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Specializes in BSc, ASN- RN, MBA.

Starkyss,

Good Luck on the NCLEX! I think experience in LTC will pay off as the baby boomers are going to be the largest elderly population we have ever experienced in the next 20 years. It will be cool to be old LOL (I wish) but there will certainly be jobs for those who want to work with the elderly :)

God Bless,

Lisa

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Thank you all so much. I just found out I passed my boards this week, so I will be calling all the places I applied to this week to let them know I passed. Hopefully, someone will want to hire me then, we'll see.

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