This is a reason why I might not of gotten hired, any thoughts?

[bellynursegurl]

After reading numerous things on why people don't get hired. I figured it must be my credit report. After getting laid off in 07, well life wasn't grand for me. After no one would hire me, because my lack of experience as a RN, and running out of savings, I lost everything and had to start over from scratch. I worked hard to do it too. I even worked my butt off to save up to buy a SUV with cash, so I wouldn't ever have to deal with having loans ever again. The banks well they never helped me in my down time. All of this wasn't my fault, it just happened.

It is really sad that something like this would happen. I have great references, am dependable, have certifications, etc. but, nothing seems to be working. I know the economy has a ton to do with it, but it is hard to hear that so and so acquired a position right out of nursing school. No offense, but it really boggles my mind. What I have worked so hard for only seems to be nothing in a hospitals book. When I was in nursing school my instructors always said, once you have a year experience in a hospital you are easy pickings. Not so in my case.

Interviews have been scarce. I have been told I don't have enough experience to do anything new. Or, one time I had an interview at an agency and she scheduled it during her vacation. Then, I had an interview and when she said I had the job, she then said I didn't she just wanted to know what I wanted an hour. It was quite low. She played more games after that.

Has anyone experienced this or know if this could be a fact in finding no jobs in hospitals?

I can't do much with my schedule, I have a four month old, we have that one car, and he works first shift. I really don't want to bother my mother with her having to watch her grandson. She is retired and well enjoying her time to herself. I landed a Per Diem job, but guess what no hours! Sigh... They didn't do a credit check of course, but I know the hospital does.

[Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN]

Not all hospitals do a credit check, I know BIMC does, but the Partners Hospitals don't. I don't know about Caritas, my guess is no, the situation is really horrible.

Most Boston Hospitals want a BSN.

[llg, PhD, RN]

I don't think your credit history has anything to do with it. In this economy, it is tough for anyone to get a job. Those people who are not flexible with their hours and able to fully accommodate the hospitals need for nurses who can be flexible are going to find themselves at the bottom of the hiring list. The people who say they are willing to work any shift (and not be too demanding about money) will be the first ones hired.

You said in the OP that you could not be flexible with your work hours. That alone will take you off the hiring list at many (Most?) hospitals these days.

You said you had saved up money to buy an SUV for cash. Why not use some of that money to buy cheap transportation and some child care? No one needs the more expensive SUV. Then, once you have worked in a job for a few months, you might be able to get the work schedule you would prefer.

[bellynursegurl]

Thanks for your responses and suggestions.

Mind you I don't live in Boston.

I only apply to positions which hours they have for me. So it isn't like I am applying for something that requires full-time work or something that I couldn't do. Most jobs in the hospital that I see (in my area) only have part-time. I don't even ask for much. As a Travel RN, I received top pay rates and a ton of things were paid for. So I don't expect it. As far as the nursing home, if someone wants to take care of 40+ patients for peanuts (or in my case less than I made when I worked in a nursing school as a New Grad, or as a Nurse's Aid) good for them. I have bills to pay and money to save. Just being financially smart about things. I could work as an Administrative Assistant with less responsibility for more than that.

I already bought the SUV last November. The public transportation is lacking here, so bad they even laid off workers and decreased the schedule. No more cheap transportation. I have been there done that, and it just costs you more money in the end. As far as my SUV expensive, not really. There really wasn't a difference with the clunkers I have owned in the past couple of years. It depends on what the MPG is really. Plus, we really don't drive around much, we do walking most of the time, even if it is to the store. As for Day Care no way, I don't think so - now that is just my opinion. Not knocking others for doing it.

On another note. I did get another job, this afternoon. Guess the hospitals don't want to hire me, so I have moved on to other things. There loss I am a great nurse. I wish that the recruiters would be straight up instead of not calling you back and leaving your application on hold for months. You can see the status of your application on their site. Same status since June.

Well, least I can qualify for some kind of student aid/loans since I haven't worked for so long without an income. My husband has been laid off so many times, he just took a job doing anything. I am going to go back to school for my BSN. Wish me luck on that!

[Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN]

I think you are smart to give up your job search. Nursing climate has changed, nurses are loosing their jobs. Sorry if you feel that LTC is not your thing. The nurses I have seen working in one have been excellent and the working conditions have been very family friendly. As far as the pay, you must have been making great pay as traveler. If you got a job in Boston, which would be very hard for you since you don't have a BSN; the pay is great. But as a nurse you would be close to the new grad pay due to 4 years experience.

Basically you got very spoiled with travel nursing. My understanding travel nurses get paid one flat rate ( nothing extra for experience) since you had very little experience your pay was the same as an highly experience nurse. Since you could function well that means your nursing skills are very good.

When you get your BSN you would be able to work in Boston ( see above) which for the most part they are very ridge with time. More into an admin position which pays less than staff.

[bellynursegurl]

No LTC is definitely my thing, that is where I started right from Nursing School. I must say I loved it. But, I am not going to work for peanuts or play games with recruiters who offer me one thing and then say another. I can't even find a nursing home that has a job in my area.

Maybe 45 minutes away, but I have to research to see if they are good or not. I have been to some not so great places when I worked agency, but that was only in my area. Not sure about the MetroWest side of things.

Just like with Travel Nursing I have been to some pretty bad places, I stuck it out and did well, met some great people. If I didn't have the baby I would jump on that in a millisecond. I can handle three months of craziness and then move on to the next thing. But, permanently? No, I won't do that to my sanity.

Was I spoiled by travel nursing yes, but I am not even expecting close to that. Let me make it clear that I am not going below what I made in a nursing home when I graduated from school, 4 years ago. I am not going to be taken advantage of, because other people let them get away with it.

One thing I learned in travel nursing, is "don't let them get you.". They always try, but it isn't working over this way. I don't think so.

Not sure if anyone knows about business and such, but it is a bad thing to sell yourself short during an economy. When business picks up you will be the one burned in the end. The nurse that chooses to get paid less than what she is worth, when the economy picks up will be kicking herself in the rear, because she settled for less. All the new hires will be making more than her/him and well, her raise probably would not even be close to what they are making.

[Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN]

I see your point, personally I would not be able to sit it out until the economy gets better. I wish you and your baby the best.

[bellynursegurl]

I see your point, personally I would not be able to sit it out until the economy gets better. I wish you and your baby the best.

Thank you.

But, I am not sitting it out I have two jobs, getting paid what I was asking for. Just not in a hospital.

Things always happen for a reason.

Thank you everyone for your positive outlook and suggestions.

[the sparrow]

I have a real problem with doing a credit check for employment, especially in this ecomomy. My credit is good now, but when I was younger I made a couple of minor mistakes that wrecked my credit for 7 long years. This did not mean, though, that I was not a hard worker, a dedicated employee, and a good person. I don't know for sure whether or not this was the reason you didn't get the job, but I know how it feels to wonder. And it sucks.

[bellynursegurl]

Thanks so much for the reply. I kind of found out why. It seems the travel agency I worked for (not mentioning names) removed me from their system. Probably because I didn't want to travel anymore. So without references no one will hire me. I do have my tax return. But, who wants to spend the time to check it, when they can hire someone with references. I do have previous co-workers, managers, etc. But, they don't want that they want to talk to the company.

I have entered myself back into college and will be switching careers while I work at all these agencies. I am apparently not good enough to have a home. Still here "you don't have enough experience" or "you have none at all". Not getting a BSN, because I feel I will just hear the same thing upon graduation.

I was trying to be hopeful, but I gave up.

[bellynursegurl]

Oh I don't want to make anyone feel that they can't get a job in this field. I have friends who are luckier than I, people have tried helping me, I have gone to my college to have career counseling, etc. I wasn't getting anywhere. I just wanted a career helping people, but maybe this wasn't it or meant to be. Things always happen for a reason.

[McMurphy17]

Too bad your search didn't go the way you wanted, but that seems to be par for the course these days. You are right though - things do happen for a reason. This job market is as tight as it's ever been and because the hospitals have the ability right now to be highly selective, the nurses being hired for the types of positions you seem to be looking for are those who are demonstratively the BEST candidates (ie experience, BSN, MSN, etc.). Like hundreds of nurses in the area, you don't fit that profile. That's the reason. Everyone is welcome to their opinoion, of course, but your attitude that, if not for a litany of factors that "weren't your fault", you'd have the Boston area hospital job that fits your narrow exapections, is not realistic, and I feel it is fairly insensitive to those of us also doing our best to find our way in this job market. I wish you luck on whatever path you choose to pursue.