Stress of finding a job

shouldabeenabarista · Sep 20, 2011

I feel your pain-I am in similar situation job seeking. Don't apologize for your frustration- there are tons of us feeling it too.

BTW- where is this nursing shortage they talk about? Maybe you and I should go there and apply ha ha :idea:

magnoliophyte · Sep 20, 2011

You're not alone out there, I've been having the same problem. Graduated in May 2011 and haven't had any interviews or even a callback. Even reaching out to rural areas has lead to nothing but dead-ends and rejections. It gets harder and harder to stay positive but we really must, somehow...

I'm at the point where I think in circles about it almost all day. The dominating theme in my life is wishing I could work as an RN, anywhere doing anything. I've even tried going for government jobs that would be shipping me off to who-knows-where--things that for most people are totally unreasonable and I still don't have any luck.

And at the end of each day I wind up right back where I started, concluding that I must just keep trying because really, what else is there to do?

I try to keep myself busy with hobbies that take my mind off of the blues in the meanwhile...but that's getting harder too, since I'm now at the point where I'm using chump-change that I get from donating blood plasma to pay for gasoline and food.

And that's really the thing, we just have to keep our thoughts from getting too negative, since these economic storm-clouds are not likely to clear or even break in the slightest for the next decade, maybe longer.

NENE RN · Sep 20, 2011

I currently work at a hospital (for almost 4 years as a tech) and still do not have a position lined up. Almost every job that I have applied for I have kicked out of the system. The people I know that have been offered jobs knows someone higher up...mom, aunt, bff is someone or knows someone even higher. I have about 2 weeks before I take my boards and it is really hard to stay positive when others you know who work at your or surrounding hospitals already have jobs lined up. I have been thinking of pushing my test back because I will not have a job. Again I am trying to stay positive. Thinking that I stayed at a place (trying to be loyal) when I should have moved on.:smackingf

carolmaccas66, BSN, RN · Sep 20, 2011

Try all the nursing agencies near you. Some might be able to get you a position where a hospital will train you to their standards, or apply also to places you wouldn't think of, maybe doctor's offices, specialists, schools, etc.

Also I have said this for a long time, but I have always had to move to get my experience and work as a RN - you and ur hubby should consider moving. If he can't, look at sharing with someone in a city where you can get work for a year just to get the experience. I have had to do this, and it isn't the best situation, but it's only for a year and ur hubby should wait for u if he wants to support you.

If nursing is really what you want, you will have to move. And it's not so bad, you can explore a new city/area and make new, perhaps life long friends.

I hope u make the right decision for you, and I would discuss with your hubby and ask for his support.

Good luck

SweetseRN · Sep 20, 2011

I have been there! It took me almost 3 months out of school to land the right job. Yes, I drove my family INSANE!!! When you call places to remind them of your application you have to find the right people to call, you need to call the nurse managers on the floors directly...I know some folks who called HR departments and got the numbers for all of the nurse managers in a particular hospital and called them directly. It worked wonders. You have to be aggressive in this job market. Do not give up! 2 months is not that long. I applied and applied and suddenly I was swamped with interviews but I only needed one to find the job I really wanted. Don't give up.

wrst · Sep 20, 2011

I was an RN in philippines for 9 months. I came here in USA (CA) 17 yrs ago but landed clerical jobs. I eventually braved the RN licensure exam and passed last month. I thought that was the biggest hurdle. Its only been less than a month that i've been looking for jobs online. Having had seen some of the posts here by RN's who's been licensed longer than me somewhat makes me hopeful knowing that I am not alone -- but not hopeful in the fact of finding a job soon. Best of luck to all of us.

wrst · Sep 20, 2011

To SweetseRN:

Where do you work? YOu're so lucky. I envy you.

I have been wrking as a clerical staff a multi-departmental gov't agency. We have a hospital dept. I emailed their nurse recruiter in our hospital asking what luck I have to get an RN job. I waited for a week, no reply. I re-emailed again today to follow up. I hope to see her reply sometime this week or I will go crazy. : )

agldragonRN · Sep 20, 2011

it's been 2 months since i got licensed in nj and i still can't land a job :'( i've applied everywhere! nursing homes, hospitals, surgi-centers. ahhhh!!!!!! everyone wants someone with experience but no one wants to allow me to gain any experience! and it's not like i have zero expirence. i worked in a hospital for a year as a pct and did two interships in another hospital. i also have great recommendations. it just seems like i don't know the right people. everyone keeps telling me it's all about marketing and talking to people at the hospitals but all i get when i talk to people that i know at the hospitals they just say put me down as a reference. i can't be mad at them for that either. what do i expect?? for them to march my resume to their bff in hr??? it's just so disheartening because i really love nursing and i know this is what i was meant to do with my life and his crappy job market is preventing me from doing it. i'm so sad and disheartened and really needed to vent. i apologize for being a killjoy but if i said this to my husband one more time he might invest in permenant ear plugs.

it's really hard to find an rn job in new jersey. thank god my job upgraded me from lpn to rn so i did not have to worry about looking for an rn job. i applied to all hospitals here in central new jersey for new grad rn and i only got one phone interview and that's with lpn experience. i don't think they counted my lpn ltc experience. even my prn gig at another ltc i would not have gotten the job if not for my friend who works there already and "friends" with the don.

do you have a bsn? i noticed they would give you more chance if you have a bsn.

MombearNurse · Sep 20, 2011

I have been thinking of pushing my test back because I will not have a job. Again I am trying to stay positive. Thinking that I stayed at a place (trying to be loyal) when I should have moved on.:smackingf

I would not recommend waiting to take the NCLEX. I applied for a job before I took the exam and they barely looked at my resume. I recently applied at the same facility and was told to expect a job offer:yeah:. They obviously prefer to hire someone with a license even a new grad. Good luck and just be persistent. I graduated in May and took the exam in July. It has been an emotional and depressing 4 months! :uhoh3:

OhioRn11 · Sep 20, 2011

I could have written this post myself. I graduated in June, passed my NCLEX in July and have been applying for jobs daily since then. I think I have at least 200-300 applications out there by now. I've applied to places an hour and a half away. I get up every day and apply for jobs. I make phone calls, I have gone in person to apply, I've mailed applications on fancy resume paper... not one single interview. It's so frustrating!! I'm trying to stay positive but it's so hard!!

FLmomof5 · Sep 20, 2011

I got my license in FL in Feb 2011. I searched in both FL and SC (where my hubby works). For the first couple of months I got nothing. Finally, a fellow classmate in FL said her LTC/SNF was hiring. I got a job there. Worked there for 2 months, the place was insane and getting worse. I quit with proper notice.

I sent out resumes in FL and didn't hear anything, but in SC...where I finally have my endorsement (didn't have the endorsement in the spring when I was applying there....), I got an offer from a SNF and have an interview in a local hospital for a Med/Surg position.

Have you had anyone review your resume? Did you personalize a cover letter? (BTW, the Med/Surg NM admitted that she didn't read my cover letter! :lol2: )

There are jobs out there. Don't be too proud to not accept a position in LTC, SNF or Home Health. Good luck to you! :nurse:

(BTW, if you have a BSN, you may look at USAjobs.com and see if you can get hired by the military as a civilian nurse or by the VA.)