So how many of you newly licensed RNs are unemployed or in a job you dislike?

[Carrie_MTC]

I graduated nursing school in June, and passed NCLEX in July. I graduated with around 50 students, and I only know of 2 that got internships, and a couple who got jobs in LTC facilities. I just never imagined it would be this hard to find a job. I've been applying all over Ohio from full-time to per-diem positions and not even as much as a call back from a hospital. Last week I went to one of the local hospitals to talk about employment opportunities. She said they don't even consider new grad applications unless they worked there for an extended period of time as an STNA, she even recommended I take an STNA experience to increase my chance of getting my application looked at . Last application they put up received 129 applicants the first day. If you live in a state that is hiring new grads where are you located? I'm just so disappointed, I worked my butt off to make it through nursing school and now I can't even find a job.

[NoviceRN10]

Metro Detroit hospitals hire new grads :).

[caliotter3]

Perhaps you should take the lady's advice. Inhouse personnel are always considered first and if it takes working as a STNA to get your foot in the door, well, maybe that is what it takes. In my neck of the woods they are very, very selective about who they hire to work in that role in hospitals. A person hired for that position has overcome a big hurdle if they want a hospital job. Good luck.

[leekun2010]

just got my license here in FL and its hard to find jobs ;( got turned down with the first job i applied for. so we'll see how goes...if it's really bad, i would consider moving somewhere else

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I'm a newer RN who passed NCLEX a few months ago, and I have four years of LPN/LVN experience. I guess you could say that I am "underemployed" because, although I am working, I do not have a full-time job yet. I work part time every weekend at a local nursing home, and I work PRN status at a small rehabilitation hospital.

Even though I am able to generate full-time income between these two jobs, I am not where I want to be in my career. My whole purpose for earning the RN license was to expand the career opportunities that would be available to me, and to do something other than long-term care. However, getting a full-time position at a local hospital in my area is difficult unless you have 1 to 5 years of acute care experience.