Thanks to getting my RN license I may be jobless and homeless

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I was working as a student nurse tech at a large hospital. I notified the lead charge nurse that was doing to schedule, the date I was taking boards and that I needed time off for this. When she was notified that I passed boards she said she had no idea I was taking boards and that I could no longer work since I passed the nclex. See my other post..there seems to be no jobs for new graduate nurses.

I am lucky enough to already do those things! Haha. I was raised that way. Hard work, helping out and always being pleasant have gotten me pretty far already. I also was raised that theres always something you can do. If not helping out on the floor, then in finding a job as a new (even two years late) grad. I am pretty persistant, am willing to back up my all my applications with hard work, and will avoid taking no for an answer at all costs. With that being said, I hope that my future in nursing will be bright.

We got a little off track with this post. But as I said, there is always something you can do. I know that some hospitals still offer internships for nusres to be. I know that you have graduated, but I am sure when you apply if you explain how you've found the job market slim, and you are willing to work your hiney off, they will appreciate and reward your hard work with a position. Not to mention internships are a great way to network. They don't pay, but you can waitress or work at target for the 6 or so months you do the internship. It might feel like backpedaling, but internships frequently equal jobs. It can't hurt to try.

Good Luck!

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Just curious...and as the original poster(expo4u)hasn't had another post since sometime in April: Expo4u, did you ever find a job as an RN? Thanks!

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I'm in MO, just graduated May 16th, worked one year as a Nurse Intern on a Tele floor, been on 4 interviews since Feb, and have not be job offered. I will sit for boards in early July, as I am waiting for my ATT from the BON. I have since decided to go back to the corporate world, since I left there with 14 years experience prior to going to nursing school full time.

I have put in literally over 50 applications, even as a PCT and a CNA, only to be told I am "over qualified" for those positions. But nobody in the hospitals are hiring new grads. I went to a school that I signed a 3 year contract to agree to work for their hospital system after graduation and they can not even get me a position, as they have hired all the new grads they are willing to take for now. I've even tried Hospice and the Community Blood Bank and been told the same thing, they are not hiring new grads. I've tried LTC's and they are willing to hire new grad LPN's, but not new grad RN's, and especially one with a BSN.

Now, I got an interview at a very prestigous Railroad company in their corporate office, possibly making more money than I would as a new grad and I'm jumping on the chance. If anything, I'll go back to nursing by the end of the year, hopefully, find a hospital whose willing to train a new grad on the weekends or something. Right now, I can't worry about that, as I am almost 2 months behind on my mortgage, since my savings ran out in mid-May, when I "thought" I would have a RN job lined up after graduation.

I feel like the last 2 1/2 years have been a complete waste of time, and now I'm 24K in debt from student loans, when before I didnt have a lick of student loan debt, and had a very stable job making 55K a year, working M-F.

Nursing will ALWAYS be there, however, may HOUSE may not be.

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Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.

nurse2be:

I am so sorry to hear of your plight. It's obvious you're intelligent and appears you have done all the right things. It just sounds the timing sucks and it's so unfortunate for those who started school 2+ years ago anticipating a hot job market and then the bottom drops out.

It's fortunate it sounds like things may be working out for you in the interim and I truly wish you the best of luck at your job interview and SOON!

I think sometimes life just takes funny twists and turns that we don't understand, but hopefully in the end, it will all work out for the best.

Please let us know how things are going and how the interview works out!!

:icon_hug:

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I am a new grad in the Philadelphia area. I lost my job in an area hospital as a nurses aid due to getting my RN license. I knew that this was a possibility but was hoping that positions would open up at my hospital. No one in this area will even talk to you unless you have that number! So I took the gamble. Now I am waitressing! Anyway, I just contacted the local news and suggested they do a story on this. They said it was an excellent idea and will be contacting me. Schools in this area are planning on doubling enrollment! They are going to produce more RN's that can't pay back their student loans! going to make economy worse!

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nurse2be:

I am so sorry to hear of your plight. It's obvious you're intelligent and appears you have done all the right things. It just sounds the timing sucks and it's so unfortunate for those who started school 2+ years ago anticipating a hot job market and then the bottom drops out.

It's fortunate it sounds like things may be working out for you in the interim and I truly wish you the best of luck at your job interview and SOON!

I think sometimes life just takes funny twists and turns that we don't understand, but hopefully in the end, it will all work out for the best.

Please let us know how things are going and how the interview works out!!

:icon_hug:

I wanted to report back that I did land a RN job. I took and passed boards on July 8. I had an interview with a Level I Trauma teaching hospital for the ICU on July 9. I interviewed and was job offered within THREE HOURS after the interview. I start on August 3 and I am also part of their New Grad Residency Program. I am so happy and excited! Did I mention I was offered the Weekend Alt option? However, due to my son being in school during the week, I did not accept that option, but did accept a night position.

This hospital has a very established reputation for having hands on experience that will make a nurse marketable anywhere in the country having work there. The skills learned at this hospital is invaluable! I am so happy and blessed to have been offered a position in the ICU, no less.

I want to say to everyone out here that is still looking, DO NOT GIVE UP! I had gone on 4 interviews for a RN job, then went on 4 interviews in the corporate world before I landed this job. I was told by the nurse recruiter that the ICU manager was very impressed with my interview skills! Well, maybe because I've had so much practice? :lol2:

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Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.

nurse2be:

Congrats!! I'm really happy to hear this!! And congrats for passing boards!! QUITE the accomplishment!!

I hope things worked out okay financially for you in the interim -- hopefully you didn't lose your house -- or worse -- while waiting for things to work out?!?!

Good luck also in your new position. I hope you find nursing to be all that you hoped it would be and that your new employer is as grateful to have you on board! May you also have wonderful preceptors and mentors!

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nurse2be:

Congrats!! I'm really happy to hear this!! And congrats for passing boards!! QUITE the accomplishment!!

I hope things worked out okay financially for you in the interim -- hopefully you didn't lose your house -- or worse -- while waiting for things to work out?!?!

Good luck also in your new position. I hope you find nursing to be all that you hoped it would be and that your new employer is as grateful to have you on board! May you also have wonderful preceptors and mentors!

Thanks WDWPixie!

Thanks to my family and friends, I am making it financially the best I can. Thanks to my church for paying my utilities and avoiding disconnect. My son's father has also helped me out as well. I have applied for financial assistance from the state and also applied for foodstamps. I have pawned jewelry that was special to me. My first paycheck will come about August 21 and with the state finanical assistance, I will be able to make it until then.

The mortgage company has assigned my case to a loss mitigation counselor. They were just waiting on me to get a job. I go for Occupational Health on July 27 and I get my offer letter then. Once I get the letter, the counselor wants me to fax it in and she will go from there. I am hoping I can get the loan remodified since it's a FHA and then start with lower payments in September. Or they may put the last 3 months on the end of the loan and then I start fresh in September with the original loan. Either way, it looks like I'll be able to keep my house. I am so happy about that.

It's been a rough 2 1/2 months. Just not knowing where my next meal will come from has really humbled me. And I think I needed that in order to prepare me for the patient population that I will be dealing with in my new career. I think it was God's will that I got a position at this hospital. I prayed really hard about it, and asked God to place me in a RN job with an organization that is a good fit for me. And two days later, I get a call from the nurse recruiter.

I am living proof that it CAN happen.

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Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.
I am living proof that it CAN happen.

ARGH!! Your reply exhausts me just reading it!! Your story is certainly one of perseverance and belief in yourself and a destiny that is often out of our realm to understand.

I truly wish you happiness and success in your new career!!:bowingpur :redbeathe :bowingpur :redbeathe :bowingpur

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