Upset

[sarbell]

I graduated with my associate RN just this last may. I passed my boards early July. I am so discouraged because I haven't heard back from any of the places I have applied at. I worked as LPN for nine months before I went back to school. My stomach is just sick and I am up at night worrying about this. My husband and I purchased a new home. I thought it would be a lot easier to get a job and here I sit day to day applying and calling nurse recruiters and them never calling me back. I am am tired and I am worried. What does it take to get a simple interview? I am in the St.Paul Mn area.

[nursecass]

First of all, congrats on graduating and passing your boards!

I'm so sorry you are having such difficulties. I had some of the same issues when I was looking for jobs before I graduated/moved. It is incredibly frustrating, especially when we are hearing from so many angles that nurses are needed everywhere.

My advice: Keep applying. When you apply somewhere, give them one week, then call about your application. If that doesn't work, go down to the HR office of the place, with printed application in hand, and wait to talk to a nurse recruiter.

Or you can take this as a sign and try to apply at other hospitals. I did the above with 2 different hospitals where I am living now, and STILL didn't have the recruiter talk to me. After the run around for 4 months (my last semester in school), I finally applied in another nearby city. The called me right away (same day my app went in), paid for me to fly out for interviews, and were wonderful!

Needless to say, now that I live here I am very glad that I DIDN'T get hired at the other hospitals-they are all over the news about horrible working conditions, poor patient care/outcomes, etc, and the unit I'm on now is in the 99% for patient satisfaction, and I absolutely LOVE going to work! So keep trying, check out more facilities (even if that means a bit of a commute if you are willing), and good luck!

[rn-jane]

Just keep trying! Congrats on your passing your boards!

By the way welcome to all nurses!

:wlcmggrp:

[greenergrass, BSN, RN]

Wow...sorry to hear this is happening. It sounds like it's causing you a lot of stress & frustration.

Some questions (you don't have to answer them...they are for your thought process):

• Did you apply to positions that were posted as open for new graduates?
  
• Is there something in your background that is keeping the facilities from calling you? - sorry have to put it out there.
  
• Are you applying to places where you did your clinicals? (I ask this for a VERY specific reason - as a manager, I carefully watched the students & pre-selected the ones I wanted during clinicals)?
  
• Finally, have you considered alternative employment (other than hospitals to get you started if the well is dry for a while)?

I certainly hope this is just a temporary situation that is testing your patience & endurance.

Whatever the situation, here's hoping that the final result will find you looking back with happiness that the best situation was waiting for you all along!

[vernRN]

Congratulations on passing the NCLEX. Don't give up, keep putting your application in anywhere you are interested in applying. Eventually, you will start getting some responses.

[Ms.RN]

i graduated with my associate rn just this last may. i passed my boards early july. i am so discouraged because i haven't heard back from any of the places i have applied at. i worked as lpn for nine months before i went back to school. my stomach is just sick and i am up at night worrying about this. my husband and i purchased a new home. i thought it would be a lot easier to get a job and here i sit day to day applying and calling nurse recruiters and them never calling me back. i am am tired and i am worried. what does it take to get a simple interview? i am in the st.paul mn area.

i suggest to attend a job fair. they have nurse managers from all departments there and they immediately interviewed applicants. i think its a short cut too so that you dont have to go through human resources department first then to the managers. i attended a job fair and a nurse manager who interviewed me forwarded my resume to other nurse managers and i had phone calls from different managers to set up a date for job interview.

[hellerd2003, RN]

I graduated with my associate RN just this last may. I passed my boards early July. I am so discouraged because I haven't heard back from any of the places I have applied at. I worked as LPN for nine months before I went back to school. My stomach is just sick and I am up at night worrying about this. My husband and I purchased a new home. I thought it would be a lot easier to get a job and here I sit day to day applying and calling nurse recruiters and them never calling me back. I am am tired and I am worried. What does it take to get a simple interview? I am in the St.Paul Mn area.

St. Paul MN is a highly saturated market (lots of schools), and if you're only applying to specific units, in specific areas, you will have problems. I moved from MN because I wanted more job flexibility. You might have to broaden your scope, or drive a bit further, but the jobs are out there. Also-- are you looking for full-time, or per diem? If your husband carries your benefits, perhaps taking per diems at two different hospitals (if you need full-time), or taking a part-time position in an area you like might be in your best interests.

Also, if you're only applying for a certain shift, that will also hold you back. Even with LPN experience, new hires generally get the night or evening shifts.

Good luck to you! You'll find a job soon, I'm sure.

[Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN]

What about the place you worked as a LPN? Usually I don't recommend home care to a new grad but with you LPN experience may places may be willing to hire you.

With the LPN background, I would think you would go to the head of the line.

Last point, most budgets start on October 1, you may see more openings after October 1st.

[Vito Andolini]

The key is to sidestep HR. Try to meet the people who actually do the hiring. You could drop in on the floor where you think you might like to work and see if the Nurse Manager is in or you could go to a couple of Open House Job Fairs, as suggested above. You can say you were in the neighborhood and you are so very eager to start work and you should have your resume with you and be dressed for an interview. Do NOT badmouth HR in any way.

HR so often acts as if they exist for the express purpose of NOT hooking up applicants with hiring managers.

What areas are you interested in?

Congrats, good luck.

[neurorn6]

Welcome to the wonderfully world of nursing. Congrats on a great acheivement. Now, just hang in there and stay focused. YOU WILL GET A JOB. Sometimes you have to pull out all the stops. Promote yourself. You have to go into the process with a can do attitude. Resubmit your application, make phone calls, send notes occassionally to remind them that you are still interested. Be flexible, be willing to take a position on nights, or float or even PRN to get your foot in the door. Promote yourself as an experienced nurse (after all you were an LPN first). Sign up and yes pay for ACLS, TNCC out of you own pocket. You can take it off at tax time. Make them want to hire you. Be your own cheering section. Be flexible. Good luck!

[greenergrass, BSN, RN]

You're getting some really good advice here!

Probably the #1 tip I've seen so far:

Promote Yourself!

Never operate from a position of weakness. Know your strengths, capitalize on them & sell strong.

[rn/writer, RN]

Find out the name of the managers of the units where you would like to work. Do as much research as you can about the hospitals and the particular units. Are they well known for a specific procedure or type of care? Is there something you find attractive (teaching hospital, religious affiliation, magnet status)? If possible, talk to someone who works there to find out more.

Once you have this information, write a letter directly to the manager. Express your enthusiasm for anything you have found that makes you want to work there. List your own skills and attributes, including non-clinical abilities such as fluency in a second language or other experiences that would give you a leg up over another candidate.

Have someone proofread both your resume and your cover letter until they are flawless.

Send the resume and letter to the manager via email and snail mail.

If you haven't heard anything after a week, follow up with another email or phone call. Be unfailingly polite and professional in every form of contact.

This approach has the advantage of getting you in front of the person who is in a position to hire you. HR often views their department as the "first line of defense" in protecting beleaguered managers and can easily filter out people a department head or supervisor might have been willing to consider.

If you do get a positive response, the manager can contact HR and facilitate things from their end. You will then, in effect, be fast-tracked through the hiring process.

Be absolutely sure to send written thanks for any interviews you have. Even if they don't hire you, professional gestures like this keep the door open for the future.

I know a number of people for whom this plan has worked.

I wish you the best.