Hi all! I've been on this site for a while now, but haven't posted much. however, i feel like it'll just make me (and hopefully a few others) feel a bit better about this whole job situation if we vent it out together. i just need to complain, and i need people who understand how frustrated and hopeless i'm feeling.
i graduated from a somewhat prestigious university over a year ago, and passed my nclex without a bead of sweat. great grades, great clinical experience, killer references and resume....still can't get a job. i live in the northeast, where things are tight...but still. i work at the grocery store...THE GROCERY STORE! i paid $100,000 to get a degree so that people can supervise how i bag their eggs and talk to me like i'm stupid. i have nothing against my current job - they're great to me and it pays my bills kinda sorta for now - but it's so damn frustrating!
on top of all of this, i'm getting so sick of people constantly saying to me "but i thought we needed nurses!"...when is oprah gonna do a show about all of us who are graduating and finding a completely closed off job market? and now that a second year of nurses are finishing up, us 2008 grads are getting more and more lost.
it's not like i'm not trying - i apply to jobs nearly non stop. i call and ask for nurse managers and recruiters personally, who never answer their phones or my voicemails. i feel like a complete and total failure pretty much all of the time, and don't know what to do. i have at least 15 friends in the same boat, but none of them currently live nearby and i don't have anyone to talk to about these feelings. i cry a lot when i'm alone, but put on a big smile and just tell people i'm staying optimistic and i'm still looking etc. etc.
anyway - if you wanna chime in, please do. i know our families and friends are probably getting sick of listening to us talk about this stuff, so it feels better to talk to strangers who understand. :)
much love and keep the faith, my friends. we're gonna rise above this someday.
I feel you. I recently graduated and was employed at a nursing home in Ohio. My husband and I recently relocated to Metro Atlanta. I just knew finding a job would b e a piece of cake. Needless to say, I'm unemployed and still waiting on my Ga RN license. It's been 2 months and still no license. I'm at the point where I will take anything in the medical field. Can anyone give me some advise or point me in the right direction for a job during the meantime?
"too confident" that's a good one! I don't know why they don't just say 'I don't like you' I had a clinical instructor who said I was 'too jovial' which I am not. whatever. let's just remember this when we have some control or a new nurses livelihood and be more helpful and communicative. let's take this forced vacation and get in shape or something. peace
1) I am jealous of the new grads that already have jobs! It just makes me feel like there is something wrong with me; like I'm lacking something--intellligence, articulation, whatever.
2) One of you might've already mentioned this, but now I'm feeling quite irked every time I hear someone say, "You don't have a job? I thought nurses are in demand!?"
If I got a dollar every time I heard that-- I wouldn't have to look for a job!
I saw a segment on Nightly Business report (that my Dad saved just to show me) about how although the job market is pretty bad, jobs in health care and education remain stable...and they showed someone scrolling down a job list with a bunch of nursing positions. But guess what positions!: "RN III....RN III...RN III...." Oh yeah, really now! I would just love to see a segment on the news about NG RNs. Maybe it'll shut some people up!
Specializes in LTC, PCU, Med/Surg, Hospice, OBGYN.
Bilingual RN (English/Spanish) graduated in May of this year. I've applied to many jobs here in Iowa and in NC, no bites yet. Frustrating because I worked my butt off to get great grades in school, Even got full scholarships my RN year. All this while I worked as a CNA and then as a LPN, married, with 2 kids...ALL that sacrifice while in school! On top of my nursing experience, I also worked in both retail and hospital/IV pharmacy for 8 years prior to going to nursing school.
Recently had a job interview in a more Hispanic populated town and you know why they didn't hire me? Forget my qualifications and skills, forget checking out my references...2 out of the 3 on the interview committee said that they didn't think I would be a good fit for their staff and they couldn't work with me. They got that impression after speaking with me for no more than 30 minutes??!!!??? 1 of them, the Nurse Manager, said it might have been that I was too self confident and it was about my achievements and should have been more patient centered! What? I can't be proud of what I've done so far?!? And I know I spoke about patients and how important their care was to me during the interview! My resident's families even tell me that I am a great nurse with their Moms and Dads and those people don't know what they're missing! (I work PRN only at my current job.)
So yes I'm frustrated because I am sick and tired of people telling me that I shouldn't have problems getting a job because I'm bilingual. Well, they are so WRONG!!!
UPDATE: After losing my home to a flash flood in IA, I had decided to try in NC again but in person, even though I had been denied many a times before because they "don't have any openings for New Grads right now."
After a lot of hard work (networking and using connections) I'm ecstatic to inform you that I have gotten offered a full-time PCU position in a hospital in NC!!!:anpom::anpom:
Thank you all for your prayers! :bowingpur God is GRAND! Also, keep your head up and keep trying. I hope everyone of you also find something soon too!
I'm really proud of you. It's a shame that we bust our butts to get good grades, let alone the stress of nursing school to graduate and still have difficulty finding a job in a field that has so many openings and so called opportunities. I have an interview Monday with a hospice agency, I need all of you guys prayers.
I had 10 years of experience working as a nurse in a nother country, came back to school in the U.S, graduated this May with exellent GPA plus recommendation letters from previous managers, passed NCLEX at the first try, have had three interview out of many job applications and still haven't had a job yet. I agree that it's bothered me when people says " We need nurses". OMG, tell me how I can have a job.
Here is my story: Want a job in the hospital after 50 million application no success. Decided to try my luck with LTC. I got a job offer. Here comes the sad part: They wanted to hire me in the SNF hall (great experience I thought) but they wanted me to care for 26 patients ranging from fresh hip replacements to feeding tubes, you name it (all by myself) no take back with 1 CNA and 1 MA that can only pass po meds. The pay was 21/hr...I wanted the job and need a job, but under thoses conditions I sd no...God will bless me with something better...I know he will. Hate to turn a job in this economy Have two interviews in two LTC, so we shall see (hopefully not 26 pts)
Having such a great number of patients can be quite frightening at times. I worked as an LPN in LTC for 10yrs before becoming an RN and I know how overwhelming that can be especially to a new grad. However it's not as frightening as it may seem providing you have enough staff to do the work. I've worked with 20-28 patients at times but it was with 1nurse either LPN/RN and 3-4 STNA's. It can be rough at times whenever there are call offs. I think the key to working with high acquity patients is to have a routine down, and by that I mean mapping out your day accordingly just in case of an emergency. It always helps to have another nurse that you can rely upon. You help me out and I will help you out, this will get you thru those tough situations. I'm not sure of the average per hour in your area, but $21 per hour seems rather low for an RN in LTC. On average in Ohio RN's made more money in LTC than at the hospitals. However the hospital is where you get the most experience.
Having such a great number of patients can be quite frightening at times. I worked as an LPN in LTC for 10yrs before becoming an RN and I know how overwhelming that can be especially to a new grad. However it's not as frightening as it may seem providing you have enough staff to do the work. I've worked with 20-28 patients at times but it was with 1nurse either LPN/RN and 3-4 STNA's. It can be rough at times whenever there are call offs. I think the key to working with high acquity patients is to have a routine down, and by that I mean mapping out your day accordingly just in case of an emergency. It always helps to have another nurse that you can rely upon. You help me out and I will help you out, this will get you thru those tough situations. I'm not sure of the average per hour in your area, but $21 per hour seems rather low for an RN in LTC. On average in Ohio RN's made more money in LTC than at the hospitals. However the hospital is where you get the most experience.
I'm in houston, texas and unforunated I was offer one CNA to work with me. I was looking forward to starting this week. Someone will give me a chance without scarying me to death..lol. Wish everyone the best of luck. I am also the product of this horrible economy.
One CNA per 26 patients definitely draws a red flag. All LTC facilities aren't that bad. I recently moved to the metro Atlanta area after many resumes sent out and several interviews I was offered a position as a Case Manager with a hospice agency. I've never done hospice before, but I'm gonna give it a try. The money is great, $27 per hour with weekends off with the exception of taking call once a month. Keep your head up and explore other venues of nursing.
I live in michigan and things are bad here too. I am in my 5th week of nursing school but I've talked to a lot of people who can not find jobs. It is funny, the whole "you will always have a job because their will always be sick people"... thats just silly because the economy is so screwed that it effects EVERY economic aspect of our society. Being from the Detroit area, the bankruptcy of GM and Chysler (because of their crapply made cars... another story though) has caused a lot of people to lose their health care. So even though there will alaways be sick people, the healthcare in this country is horrable and most people don't have it... I don't.
My plan after nursing school is to relocate. I am hoping to work on the navajo reservation for a couple years which allows forgiveness on some of your loans. After that, hopefully I will have enough experience to become a travel nurse. I am not married and have never really even had a girlfriend so I can't see myself getting married, so I will be able to move at will. If we want to be nurses, we need to do whatever it takes to do what we need to do.
One CNA per 26 patients definitely draws a red flag. All LTC facilities aren't that bad. I recently moved to the metro Atlanta area after many resumes sent out and several interviews I was offered a position as a Case Manager with a hospice agency. I've never done hospice before, but I'm gonna give it a try. The money is great, $27 per hour with weekends off with the exception of taking call once a month. Keep your head up and explore other venues of nursing.
How was the job search in the metro area. I have recently begun and wanted to know your thoughts,
:anpom:
Have two interviews in two LTC, so we shall see (hopefully not 26 pts)
jgilforeal
4 Posts
I feel you. I recently graduated and was employed at a nursing home in Ohio. My husband and I recently relocated to Metro Atlanta. I just knew finding a job would b e a piece of cake. Needless to say, I'm unemployed and still waiting on my Ga RN license. It's been 2 months and still no license. I'm at the point where I will take anything in the medical field. Can anyone give me some advise or point me in the right direction for a job during the meantime?