Struggles with finding a nursing job....

Nurses New Nurse

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A nursing degree today is a total waste. You will not get hired due to a lack of new grad programs, oversaturation of new grad RNs and an influx of forgein RNs. You will end up unemployed and in debt without any skills that you can use in any other market. Look it up. google "RN New Grads unemployed". NOBODY WILL HIRE NEW GRADS. The scant new grad opportunities that exist see HUNDREDS if applicants for 10-20 positions. Do not waste your money..........do something else----------the RN ship has sailed----it is over.

Um.. Unfortantely, I think ALL JOBS SHIPS HAS SAILED---not just Nursing. So.., might as well pursue something your passionate about! This is our economy today--doesn't mean it is going to be like this forever. I do understand your frustration--but please know, it is not localized to Nursing--Its everywhere and in every job market. Good Luck to you.

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A lot of times is WHO you know that gets you a job. In this economy it is anyways.

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Specializes in Critical Care Hopeful.
The job market sucks period. The new grad job market is even worse. That being said, it is not exclusive to nursing..its to all new grads.

I completely agree with this. And even IF you can find a job as a new grad you almost always find one that just plain sucks for one reason or another.... usually because you had to compromise and settle on what was offerred you.

At least with nursing, even if you land a job that is not your ideal, you are still helping people and make a difference in someone's life. I graduated from last year with a degree in Information Security.... and I have been looking for a job in the field for years before that too after I got my associates.

As others have said, the job market, especially for new grads, just stinks and it's across the board.

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I start my Nursing program this fall and I'm looking forward to it. As much as you think Nursing has it bad, you should look into education. See in Nursing there are jobs available in certain places in the country - in Education, there are none. You have ivy league grads seeking jobs in OK. Just because you have to actually search for a job doesn't mean that there are none.

But, either way, I hope you get over your frustrations and that you see that you made a wise move for yourself. Gluck. =D

Edit- I'm notoriously known to leave out complete words or phrases when I write so if you see 1 or 30, please forgive me. =D

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Specializes in acute care.

OhYeah:

I know how you feel. I know how you FEEL. I was there not too long ago. I know how it feels to work your behind off in school only to realize that your grades, volunteer, externship and healthcare experience do not matter. You are a new grad. Everyone around me who got a job had a 'hook up'.

I know how it feels to follow up with Recruiters who don't return your phone call and let you know they are looking to place RNs who lost their jobs to closed hospitals. Or Recruiters who talk to you as if you are bothering them.

Why did I waste time being a good student when it didn't matter anyway? I was sick of people asking "did you apply here? or there? or there?"

Instead of replying "What part of EVERYWHERE don't you understand?", I just said, "Yes, yes and yes" I applied all over my state, neighboring states and across the country. I applied to areas I never would have considered before I graduated.

Fortunately, I also had friends/classmates who offered to help me in any way they can. This made a feel a tad better. Just when I thought I reached my lowest point ever, I got a call. I went to the interview and was offered the position. I had no 'hook ups', it was just one of many applications I filled out that day.

Keep your head up (BELIEVE ME!!!!! I know it is easier said then done). Your time will come, so keep applying, etc, even to places you don't think you have a chance. If I didn't apply to this facility, I would still be wondering if I wasted my time in NS.

Good Luck, I'm rooting for you.

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Really?

Who is going to take care of the sick patients at the hospital? Who is going to take care of the baby boomers? MD's, RN's, NP's, etc. will always have a demand because people will always get sick.

I have a roommate who graduated on 2009. She and 75% of her classmates haven't found a job. Go to the newgrad NPs they're also having a hard time finding a job even with years of experience. Just be aware of the situation outside.

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After my ADN, I'm going to pursue my BSN. OK, what you mean to say is "I haven't found a job. I can push off working another two years and hopefully the economy will turn around." (Hey everyone----it's been 3 YEARS since the recession began. We're NOWHERE close to being out of it!)

Yes, there is a DEMAND for nurses, but hiring is very tight now. That's what's confusing people. This "American dream' called nursing really attracts those who want the money it pays. Don't go into the "I did it because I want to help humanity." That line wears thin after a while.

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i know! i totally agree! there are many ppl. who are in nursing school and working extremely hard n 2hear something like this is almost a put-down! negative ppl. shouldn't even being posting threads, seriously

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Closing thread for moderator review due to multiple off-topic and attacking posts.

PLEASE---if you wish to debate political hot-button topics, do it in AN Central where the political forums are located. I don't know where immigration (illegal or otherwise) entered this discussion, but it doesn't belong here in the nursing forums. Thank you.

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Thread reopened. Numerous posts have been removed from view and are no longer available for reading or quoting.

Please try to keep the discussion centered on job hunting tips and strategies.

Immigration discussions did not advance the discussion nor were they particularly helpful to the OP or anyone else who is struggling with the current Job Search climate.

For perspective:

An old rule of thumb was that it takes 1 month of job searching for each 10 thousand per year in annual income. For a 50-60 k starting wage that means 5-6 months of job searching. With our current economy that time frame has been expanded.

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Certainly anyone can recognize that you are probably just venting after making some sacrifices in order to attend NS. And any new grad right now can empathize with your current plight. We all placed heavy bets on nursing as an open avenue, only to arrive at a closed door with our pocketbooks and spirits nearly depleted. By the end of NS, everyone needs some sunshine- and we graduated into a pretty gloomy climate. Indeed, the big money movers are 100% out of stocks and poised to pick up cheap real estate & stock over the next 2-3 years- meaning that they are betting on very rough waters ahead for the rest of us. In the meantime, I am considering law school, training for a marathon, swimming to Alcatraz, take the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), and some other crazy things that I've always wanted to do. Luckily I've been paranoid about the markets since 1999 and saved for this mess. I have been wearing shirts with moth-holes and pants with ink stains for years now - just in case. You won't find me drinking $20 drinks at the UltraLounges- but in my friends backyard drinking a tall boy, maybe. Not to lecture, but there can be a silver lining in a down economy. Cancel all of your cable and other non-essential expenditures, brace for a depression, and start looking for a silver lining in the fact that you have lots of free time now. This Paris Hilton generation is going to endure a painful process of reality shock- be ahead of the pack on this one and adapt now.

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I don't agree with that at all and I don't think that it's fair of you to scare everyone with that kind of talk. I am a new grad (Graduated in May of this year) and I have a job at a hospital and its a nationally known hospital. I did not know anyone and I had no previous medical experience I just searched their jobs online applied and interviewed and got the job. Most of my class has found work and my area has alot of schools. I know that the economy has caused havoc with the job market but to say that the degree is a waste is just not true. There are jobs out there just have faith I found a really good one so it can be done.

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