Update on jobs for new grads in NYC (Hunter,NYU,SUNY Downstate)

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I've been trying to find an answer to my question these past couple of months (since it's still in question what the job market is like for new grads from nursing schools).

I've been seeing a trend that it is A LOT harder to find jobs as a new grad from nursing school but havent heard personal stories.

I'm from NYC and I dont plan on moving/working outside NYC so i'd like to hear from people who work in NYC Hospitals or who have graduated from the above schools and have experience in finding or not finding jobs.

A few months ago I started volunteering at a hospital. The volunteer department was extremely unorganized. I started volunteering and wasnt sure what to do, where to go, who to talk to. Well, I volunteered for a few weeks and stopped for a few weeks.

While volunteering, I had the opportunity to talk to a few nurses. One was just hired (but had a connection through a family member at the hospital) told me that a batch of new nurses just got hired (but they might have a lot of volunteer experience, might have been on a new-hire waiting list, might have worked at the hospital before or maybe they have experience and are new to the hospital).

I stopped volunteering for a few weeks because I had no one to watch my daughter. When I came back, I wanted to speak to the director so that I can be assigned to a floor and hopefully build a relationship with a MD or healthcare professional so that later I may ask for a recommendation letter. While I sat and waited for her, the receptionist was 80 yrs old and hard of hearing. She pronounced my name wrong and I had to explain and remind her 3x of why I was there. When the director came in, I asked her if I could speak with her when she had a moment. I waited another half hour and another volunteer came in and asked me what I was waiting for (60 yr old woman who liked telling people what to do). She reminded the director someone was waiting for. Another half hour I waited and she had a word with one of the other volunteers. She walked out and told me I look like I should be jogging (meanwhile all of the staff and other volunteers wore sneakers since everyone is on their feet all day except for her who sits in an office all day).

After I spoke with her, she told me that she didnt need volunteers anymore and booked an appointment with her august 28th (After the summer was over meanwhile I waited to volunteer for that hospital for almost a month). I left and waited in the room since I had paid a baby sitter for my child (and I wasnt going to leave after just being there 2 hours). So I ran an errand with a HS girl who thinks her Sh!t dont stink. When I came back, another useless (90 yr old man) volunteer sat in my seat and had his newspaper next to him. I asked him if the seat was taken, he said yes. So I sat on the inside and was screamed at by another receptionist who was overweight and just wanted to be the boss. She demanded I not sit there and that area is only to eat lunch (how was I supposed to know that and where am I supposed to sit?)

After going through the trouble of commuting there and finding a babysitter, the director told me I can go home. I told her I need 300 hours of volunteer experience. She said just come back the 15th, I told her dont you mean the 28th and she was like yea yea yea.

While sitting there, I saw MANY MANY MANY new people coming in for interviews, coming in for orientation and some people didnt even have a locker to put their belongings in. I left and called another nearby hospital. When I called, the woman asked why I wanted to be a nurse, I told her my reasons, she then told me I dont sound excited. I told her I didnt know what she was talking about and continued to discuss why I would like to volunteer there, she then stopped me by saying that I really dont sound excited and that I dont even sound like a person she would hire. She told me to call other hospitals and I did, guess what, no need for volunteers.

My main point is there are SO many people looking for volunteer and work for free so what would it be like for people trying to find a job for money? And since there are so many people looking to get into healthcare, maybe the healthcare system is a big bubble about to burst?

I was treated like crap and wasnt even needed. There was a time when there was a shortage of nurses (and even volunteers) and it seems like there are so many people trying to get in that i'm not even sure if I should look into nursing anymore. Maybe the way now in days is just to build your own business so that you're dependent only upon yourself.

Any thoughts on jobs now in days, the mentality/environment for employers? I'm not going to beg on my hands and knees for a job in nursing, even yet a volunteer position.

Thanks for reading and your opinion/response/story!

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical, Telemetry, Geriatrics.

I live in the SF Bay Area and I can definitely relate to your story. I've been emailing and calling for volunteer opportunities because there are very very few open positions for new grads. However, it seems like that's the case for volunteering positions as well. I have been told that they do not need volunteers at the moment. I went to a job fair in San Jose and some nurses who've been out of school for 1-2 years haven't been able to find volunteer positions at flu clinics.

The nurses on the panel suggested we look into rural areas in California. I have done my research but they don't want us New Grads either. The nurses on the panel said if all else fails, we should go back to school and get our MSN. However, I'm pretty sure all masters programs are flooded with applicants as well. Maybe we should just join the military?

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I couldent do that, I have a family here and my husband/daughter needs me. Unfortunatly Nursing Jobs only lead you to nursing jobs. Maybe I can teach myself some sort of trade where i'm not dependent on others for $$. I have a BA in Chemistry which is also useless in today's society. Owning a business is the way to do or taking care of children/other people (getting a home lisence to care for little kids or babies)

http://ccld.ca.gov/PG513.htm

being a nurse is a super + for some families because they want their children in good hands

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Specializes in Ortho, Med-Surg, Tele, Case Management.

To answer your question Manhattanite, I'm also from the NYC area and I graduated from nursing school over 2 years ago and it's been really hard finding a job. Every facility wants people with experience and it's also getting tough finding a volunteer position these days :down:

My sister and I have been thinking about starting up our own business during these hard times and interestingly enough, she had suggested to me of opening up a daycare center. Now that I'm thinking of it, and what you said about being a nurse is a plus for families because they feel more secure with leaving their children in the hands of a healthcare professional, the more I'm thinking it's a good idea. At least when I apply for jobs in the future, I can use this as experience working with children that can be transferred to a nursing job :nurse:

So have you started looking into this new venture yet and do you have any tips for us? :)

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Hey guys,

i am also from nyc and have been lookin for awhile graduate in 2009 and passed in may 2011, and havent the worse time finding work, so i decided to babysit and i did get a job because i am a license professional. I love it cuz it looks good on your resume caring for children..connects to pediatrics ya kno go for it i did.. But honestly i still need work,

oo and i landed a volunteer work at nyu look into it i applied in july and heard from them in sept smh yes it is hard but it can happen ...and yes i do always feel like im in the way 100 percent of the time, but its a resume builder so im volunteering and babysitting im prayin it work soon.

But hhc is a crap of poo, lincoln hired me in august 2011 and then after chasing them for 2 months to start they tell me its a hiring freeze on employment, so now im lost cuz like a ass i had quit my job at bank of america, i hated that job anyway, finance is boring, smh so babysittin at least keeps me in the same range of things.. Good luck ladies, but i also am not trying to leave nyc my man n fam is here and he works and so that helps keep some of my big bills paid but jeezz im the one with the credentials and degree. Sucks

keep ya head up hope the first of the yr we all get lucky !!

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