Still No Job offers

[dec2008houRNgrad]

Okay, so I am confused! I am a Dec. 2008 RN grad in Houston, and have been applying to every hospital in the Houston area. I finally get a break and am called in for an interview only to find out the day of, that all the Intern positions are filled and they are cancelling all remaining interviews.... Hmmmm, not sure if I believe that one. What puzzles me the most is Hospitals want RN's w/ experience so how the heck is one able to gain experience w/o being offered a position. I also went to a local job fair where I was told the same thing by most of the exhibitors there. So needless to say I am becoming discouraged and really bothered by the houston hospitals protocols for hiring RN's. BTW I am not only an RN grad, I've been in health care for 9 yrs (Administrative) but am very familiar with all aspects of how things are run. I would think that would be a plus vs. someone who has no experience in health care yet I know of several people who got Intern positions w/ only Nursing School as their only experience in health care. What Gives?????!!!!!!???????

BTW, I passed NCLEX and have my license.

[NewNurse626]

it is a very open job market for our profession right now .. but it does not mean that you only look for jobs in the hospitals, there are ltc facilities that will hire new grads .. it just depends on the choice you want to make if you are willing to work for an ltc for the meantime, while applying for hospitals once you gain the experience ... it would be to your advantage.... i myself just graduated last april from my bsn degree and went on to pass my nclex exam this january... am presently employed in an ltc, for competitive pay i might add... and im looking to expand my horizon to the hospital in the year but .. for now to gain a little experience and gain floor time ... which is helpful before the hospital where the staff will eat you alive if you dont have experience .. opt for the ltc....

:yeah:yay ltc!! that is exactly what i am doing!!!

[EfabellaRN]

thats a very good first step which will lead to bigger steps .. dont be so quick to brush off the LTC experience and prefer a hospital... because everything you do in a hospital you do in an LTC..... the only major difference is that in the hospitals .. there are so called premium "areas" like the OR, the DR, and ER.... but use the LTC as your stepping stone to gain to begin experience in the hospital .... it will look good on your resume to have at least 1 full year experience in an LTC with a sub acute unit when you apply for a hospital giving you a better rate and a choice of shifts to work rather than starting from scratch in a hospital ..... because with the LTC , it gives you a chance to seee the medication, and to handle patients without the stress of hospital type work .... when you feel good and comfortable that you are familiar with the meds and the process of nursing as it relates to the paperwork .... then approach the hospital and they will hire you in a heartbeat... guaranteed....

[NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN]

Despite a previous poster's statement that there are pages and pages of RN jobs as hospitals in California, the market has been hit very hard here too. Many hospitals in California have cancelled New Graduate training programs right now because of the economy. It's cheaper to higher nurses with experience.

Any job in this economy is a good job. Forget the specialty unit that you always wanted to work in. I'm not saying stop applying for those jobs, but consider other opportunities. The less conventional job can be just as well.

I worked less conventional jobs as an LVN that I loved. Prison, a group home for developmentally disabled and assisted living. Fun jobs really.

In any case, get a job in a different setting, but don't stop applying for your dream! Your persistence will pay off eventually.

[NeosynephRN]

I am in the area and I have to say with this economy I have seen the number of intern postitions decline by a ton. It is hard to get on as a new grad so many hospitals hiring experienced only. Be persistant, try to talk to NM on floors that you are interested in and see if they have a way to get you in! Do not just look to a specialty, but maybe look at less desirable (to you) floors in a hospital you want to work in and maybe that will get your foot in the door. Good Luck