To the unemployed new grads... what ARE you doing?

Nurses New Nurse

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  • by BigB_RN
    Specializes in EKG interpretation, LTC, oncology.

You are reading page 4 of To the unemployed new grads... what ARE you doing?

philbee1108

1 Post

I've been a hairdresser forever and haven't been able to get even an oral interview for a nursing position. Luckily I'm still doing some hair while I'm waiting to see about some new grad interviews. the problem is I'm so bored that my own hair keeps getting shorter and shorter, if I don't get a nursing job soon I'll be bald!

aquanurse

1 Post

In CA working at Macy's and putting in apps...thinking about getting licensed in another state...smh

bnmekiki

14 Posts

Specializes in MS.

I know what u r saying. I'v been applying to so many employers for the last six months and I still do not have a job not even an interview. One employer did call me and gave me a mini interview over the phone but that was it. Nothing further just we'll keep your application on for file for six months if it matches our needs we'll give you a call. It's so hard these days to find a good nursing job. I'm starting to panic cuz I have student loans I have to pay. I hope something gives soon.:cool:

eeyorelov

73 Posts

Well after graduating in May 2009, moving back to my home state, I waiting a full year for my first nuring job, and after 4 months and the old "it's just not working out". So here I am again, applying to every job I can find within driving distance. In the mean time I've been doing odd jobs for family for money, volunteer at my church it keep busy. Starting in a few weeks I'm going to start volunteering at the humane society.

Specializes in Hospice, ER.
If you want to find work, there are definitely RN jobs out there. The problem is that SOME people aren't willing to move out of state or commute long distances to get to work and have their hearts set on only one hospital and one particular unit.

Be flexible, be willing to do whatever work you can get. This will get your foot in the door at a facility (whether skilled nursing home, flu clinic, hospital, GI clinic) and then with a year of experience on that unit you'll be more qualified for another position you'd prefer to have.

Be willing to move or commute.

Several big-name hospitals are willing to hire and train new grads at a lesser pay, but will put you on an ICU if you want. Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins, and other big name hospitals do this. This is how I found my 1st job as a new grad, I went right on to a Cardiovascular ICU, although at a lower pay than other offers I received. I also had to move my family of 5 from the west coast to the east to take this job.

Also, when you're in nursing school take advantage of being in your state or national professional organizations. I was a board member of my school's student nursing association and they sent us to all of the state and national conferences. While at these conferences I was able to network a great deal, in fact, that's how I made a contact for my 1st job. TONS of employers go to these conferences trying to recruit new grads.....but you have to be flexible to take some of these jobs, like moving out of state or taking a salary that's a little less that what you were hoping for.

Go volunteer for a hospital or be willing to do CNA work on a unit that you like and once they see how well you work they'll probably be willing to hire you on as an RN.

It's not that jobs aren't available, you just have to do the right things and put yourself in the right position to be the person they decide to hire.

Not so much. Maybe in certain areas, but not in others. I, for one, have been applying to jobs in three different states. I don't care about a long commute. I've applied to jobs where I would have a 1.5 hour drive one way. These jobs are in countless different hospitals, home health companies, different units, etc. I have applied to nearly every unit within a hospital. Med surg, ortho, tele, ICU, CVICU, ER, OR, L&D, postpartum, nursery, peds floors, GI/endoscopy, cath lab, same day surgery, PCU, dialysis, surgicenters, etc. I graduated at the top of my class, received high passes in multiple clinical rotations, and had some previous healthcare experience as a medical assistant before and during nursing school.

There are *some* new grad jobs available, this is true. However these programs/spots are ridiculously competitive and pretty much the only way you get selected even for an interview is if you worked there during school or did a preceptorship there. I know of residency programs with close to or over 1000 applicants but they only are hiring for 20-40 spots. In some hospitals, these spots are basically reserved for certain students that completed a partnership program or something to that extent.

I know unit directors and nursing administrators, however their hands are tied when it comes to helping with new grad job opportunities because of hiring freezes, budget cuts, temporary decisions to hire NO new grads, etc.

None of this is exaggeration, it's the truth. Yes, there are a few new grad jobs out there, most of which are given to preceptorship students, fellowship students, etc. I would be interested to find out the proportion of how many new grads are looking for jobs and how many new grad positions there are actually are.

Maxrn09

2 Posts

Aloha from Maui...I am a new grad(june 2009) and I am working as a private home care nurse, i say i am functioning as a RN but I dont know how employers look at it...I worked for 6 months in a LTC facility. I have that year of experience technically and I am still trying to get into a hospital for that golden year of experience...and I agree with previous posters..there are no new grad jobs out there...its absolutely ridiculous in my opinion...hire me and i will be a loyal long term employee...i just dont get it. I am making a decent living and God always provides... I think the only reason i am working now is 20 years as an aide behind me.i am trying to be patient and just breathe and not become too anxious but i am feeling like everyone else out there....hanging loose as best as i can!

Specializes in Hemodialysis.

I totally agree. I packed up my family of 6 and sold my house to move away to attend school. I purposely didn't "settle" here to open up that flexibility. Sure I love it here and would stay but I surely wouldn't like it so much if I couldn't find work. I'm going wherever the job offers take me. I'll be starting the search in a couple of months and I only extended my lease for 6 months with the condition that I could opt out without penalty. Got to start somewhere. I'd hate to sit on my education for years without finding a job and losing my skills.

cane*nurse

12 Posts

I graduated May 2010 & *got licensed in FL in July. I started applying to jobs 4 months before graduation thinking I would be ahead of the game. Little did I know that there aren't many jobs out there for new grads. I would love to work in ER or PICU but I've applied to every position available. I have applied in multiple states and even cities that I had never even heard of. I've even applied to CNA jobs and NOTHING! I moved to CA after I did my NCLEX thinking I would have a better chance of finding a job here. I haven't even had ONE nursing interview. I am ACLS certified and recently got the TNCC verification. I plan on doing PALS and ENPC as soon as I can afford it. Besides applying to what feels like a gazillion jobs and occasionally breaking down and crying for a few minutes...I've been babysitting, cleaning houses, volunteering with the Red Cross, and I'm about to start a temporary full time job with a marketing firm and maybe pick up a part time at Starbucks. I am happiest when I am busy and my day is completely full of things to do, so this last few months without a steady job have been hell for me. Even though I have not found a RN position I will keep trying and hopefully soon something amazing will happen. 2010 was pretty crappy for me so I'm really looking forward to all the blessings coming my way in 2011. All I know is that I didn't come this far to give up and being an nurse is what I love so I will keep trying. Even if it means I have to keep working odd jobs to pay those big 'ol nursing school loans. Hang in there my fellow nurses, this too shall pass!! :)

freeflowchi

63 Posts

Working as a manager in a spa getting all of the massages, facials and jacuzzi time I can until the hospitals start hiring again. ;0)

Oh yeah, and taking a skills refresher course at my old school, completing CEU's and waiting for now. It has taken me a while to recover from not getting a position in 2009. 3.8 GPA, excellent clinicals, recommendations, networked, etc. Sometimes, you just have to get by until something opens up for you.

Good luck everyone! Keep your heads up and do NOT listen to the naysayers who will tell you here on this site that it was your fault for being too picky, lazy or unwilling to move.

We will succeed.

galeon

20 Posts

I worked as temporary/part time in a medical office doing front office job and just recently became unemployed. I really hope to get an RN job soon though.

Specializes in Ambulatory Care, Case Manager.

When I went to one of the job fairs, I was told by one of the Kaiser recruiters that they will not have New Grad hospital positions until another year and a half. If you want to work at a Kaiser clinic, you need to have at least one year of nursing experience; it doesn't have to be hospital.

jtanga

413 Posts

Volunteering as assistant clinical instructor.. wee i got an offer, to be a full time clinical instructor :D

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