Still can't find a job, should I just volunteer?

[MiaNJ]

I have been searching for a job for almost 6 mos now. I am beyond frustrated and running out of money. It seems that many hospitals in my area hire new grads in waves. I have applied to most hospitals in my area, and within a 30 mile radius, and most have not replied anything back. The ones that have, all said 'sorry, but we don't have any new grad openings at the moment'.

I don't know what to do anymore. People keep telling me to just keep trying, but I am losing hope.

Should volunteer as a nurse, to get experience? Is that even possible for a new nurse?

I know I can volunteer at any hospital, but those positions offered really don't provide nursing skills. Also, what would they think of an RN volunteering to do jobs that non-RNs can do? Will they look down at that, when I tell them I can't get a job so I am volunteering?

[racing-mom4, BSN, RN]

Have you inquired about job shadowing? This would not only allow the floor your shadowing on to see you and get to know you and your personality/skill set it would also allow you to get a feel of that floor. If some key nurses on that floor hit it off with you and you showed them what a hard /smart worker you are they would be a BIG pull in getting HR to get you in.

I just cant believe that not a single hospital or dept with in the hospital or nursing home/rehab home etc etc etc are just not hiring. Are you being picky on who gets your resume? Have you applied at the LTC homes or Stat Care type places? In my town we have 3 main with a hand full of satellite hospitals and I think all 9 are probably hiring on a med surge unit.

Best of luck----you need to apply for everything and take something.

PS what about fellow classmates of yours--where are they working? Contact them and see if they can recommend you or refer you. Alot of facilities offer a referral bonus.

[MiaNJ]

Have you inquired about job shadowing? This would not only allow the floor your shadowing on to see you and get to know you and your personality/skill set it would also allow you to get a feel of that floor. If some key nurses on that floor hit it off with you and you showed them what a hard /smart worker you are they would be a BIG pull in getting HR to get you in.

I just cant believe that not a single hospital or dept with in the hospital or nursing home/rehab home etc etc etc are just not hiring. Are you being picky on who gets your resume? Have you applied at the LTC homes or Stat Care type places? In my town we have 3 main with a hand full of satellite hospitals and I think all 9 are probably hiring on a med surge unit.

Best of luck----you need to apply for everything and take something.

PS what about fellow classmates of yours--where are they working? Contact them and see if they can recommend you or refer you. Alot of facilities offer a referral bonus.

I think one main problem is that I've heard many hospitals in my area hire new grads during certain periods, where they can do orientations and hire preceptors. I got started searching for a job several months after graduation due to family issues.

I have applied to every single hospital in my area, and beyond. I'm even willing to travel 30 miles or more. I am not picky about which hospital and what dept to start.

It's not that they are not hiring, alot of them DO have openings, BUT for experienced nurses. Most require 1 year + experience. There is just not many who hire new grads, at least not at this time.

I have tried a few nursing homes, but I guess I need to try more. I just didn't want to start in a nursing home since they told us in school it's better to start in a hospital where they have full orientations and they give you opportunities to learn more skills, such as med-surg, where they may not be possible in nursing homes.

I guess I have to resort to that for now.

Thanks about the tip for shadowing. I have also tried asking about that, and have been told they prefer students or new grads who don't have their license yet. I guess as an RN w/o any experience, it's a different category.

I have also heard from some classmates who said it took them a while to find a job, and some had to go to other states. I may have to do the same if I can't find anything soon.

[jjjoy, LPN]

First off, find out when local facilities will be hiring new grads again. Then, don't just sit back and count the days till you can apply. That's the time to interview unit managers about their unit & what they'd recommend someone in your position to do. That's the time to ask about shadowing on various units and deciding on a few "choice" units/facilities you want to make an extra effort to pursue. If you find a unit that you are interested in, offer to work as an NA until the next hiring wave. (Many of my classmates worked as NAs after graduation for several months until a new grad opening came up.) Call the unit manager back every few weeks and let them know you are *still* interested in working on their unit. Go in person to the HR department and talk to a nursing recruiter. Call the recruiter back every few weeks and let them know you are *still* available. Some people will be rude. Just cross them off your list of potentially helpful allies and try to contact a different HR department or unit manager.

In some locations, there's an overabundance of new grads and not enough structured orientation programs to absorb them. Even if you do all the work above and don't land a job and end up deciding to move a place with better opportunities, the experience and contacts of the process can still be valuable to you.

It can be quite a shift of mindset to go from "nurses are in demand, a job is always available, they'll be knocking on your door" to "gotta strategize and expect to take several months to land a good starting job." Good luck!!

[MiaNJ]

First off, find out when local facilities will be hiring new grads again. Then, don't just sit back and count the days till you can apply. That's the time to interview unit managers about their unit & what they'd recommend someone in your position to do. That's the time to ask about shadowing on various units and deciding on a few "choice" units/facilities you want to make an extra effort to pursue. If you find a unit that you are interested in, offer to work as an NA until the next hiring wave. (Many of my classmates worked as NAs after graduation for several months until a new grad opening came up.) Call the unit manager back every few weeks and let them know you are *still* interested in working on their unit. Go in person to the HR department and talk to a nursing recruiter. Call the recruiter back every few weeks and let them know you are *still* available. Some people will be rude. Just cross them off your list of potentially helpful allies and try to contact a different HR department or unit manager.

In some locations, there's an overabundance of new grads and not enough structured orientation programs to absorb them. Even if you do all the work above and don't land a job and end up deciding to move a place with better opportunities, the experience and contacts of the process can still be valuable to you.

It can be quite a shift of mindset to go from "nurses are in demand, a job is always available, they'll be knocking on your door" to "gotta strategize and expect to take several months to land a good starting job." Good luck!!

Thanks, I will be calling all the hospitals again. I've tried most of them at least twice now. It has a been a frustrating ordeal. I've even written cover letters. But I don't have any medical background or nursing background, or externships on my resume.

I actually tried getting a job as a CNA before I passed NCLEX and was told that I had to have a CNA license in my state to work, even though I had completed nursing school. That would involve another application, test, high fee, and waiting time. I could've done it but didn't have the extra money to pay both for NCLEX and NCLEX preparation, plus another licensing fee at the time.

Now I can probably work as a CNA with my RN license, but will they look down at me or laugh that an RN is working as a CNA? I have heard some of my fellow classmates did that and weren't offered an RN job at the facility. I think it depends on the place.

But I guess if I don't find anything soon, I may have to do that and just ignore the remarks.

But I'll try the hospitals again, and try others even farther away.

[linzz]

Just wondering, here in Canada, we keep hearing that things have slowed down in the US economy. You have a BSN, you would be in demand up here in most provinces even without experience. Are you able to relocate, if so, it might be a good idea in order to use your valuable education. Don't let the troubles of your area get you down, your skills are needed very much and if you can relocate you should so you can get on with your career.

[MiaNJ]

Just wondering, here in Canada, we keep hearing that things have slowed down in the US economy. You have a BSN, you would be in demand up here in most provinces even without experience. Are you able to relocate, if so, it might be a good idea in order to use your valuable education. Don't let the troubles of your area get you down, your skills are needed very much and if you can relocate you should so you can get on with your career.

I don't know if I would be able to relocate to Canada. It's a different country, and wouldn't I need a visa to work? Also, the NCLEX RN test we take here isn't valid for Canada, is it? I thought it was only a test for the U.S.

[linzz]

Yes, it would take some time and effort to move to Canada but for now if you can't find anything in your local area or state, maybe you might have to go to another state but I bet you will find a job in your area in the next six months and won't have to leave. Good luck and know that your skills are very valuable and someone will realize that soon.