What if I don't go to work?

richardjboro1 · Jul 22, 2008

JBeau, I find that very difficult to believe. I've NEVER been able to get a recruiter on the phone in the 7 1/2 months I've been calling. If you look on their website all their positions are staff nurse II or require previous experience, or are internal positions.

Please re-read the posts as NO ONE has called you a liar.

Actually, the first post says very difficult to believe. To me, reading on the internet, That sounds like someone saying, "you're a liar" in not so many words. Maybe we both took it wrong... LOL.

SarasotaRN2b · Jul 22, 2008

After reading the posts, I did notice something. Jbeau, you were asking for possibilities when you graduate next August (2009?) while both OctoberBride and Ladybugsea are looking now. A lot can happen in a year. At this point they may have a hiring freeze, but it can be totally open come the time you graduate.

Kris

paganoid · Jul 22, 2008

Thanks for calling me a liar, OB.
I am sorry your experience has been different, but yours IS NOT applicable to everyone's, and it is very offensive to call someone a liar when they, well, AREN'T.

She didn't call you a liar. She said, "I find that very hard to believe."

They don't mean the same thing.

clhRN2b2010 · Jul 22, 2008

Wow...I am really planning on moving back to the NE after graduation. I had heard from other friends that it was chalenging, but this is shocking. I live currently in Balt/DC area, where there are plenty of new grad positions.

As much as we hate it here, it sounds like I will be sticking around for even longer after graduation-gaining experiance!

Winnie04 · Jul 22, 2008

Hi there,

fellow new grad here who has been looking for a job in MA, wanted to chime in with my experience- many nurse recruiters have said that their new grad classes this summer AND fall have already been filled with internal applicants, and the person I spoke with at Children's said they were even having difficulty finding positions for all their internal applicants, and she implied that I shouldn't even bother applying right now. I hope for you, JBeau that things will change by next year.

It seems extra important to network- my advice is to ask ANYONE you know who works in a hospital if they will forward your resume to any nurse managers they know. This is the only way I was able to get an interview.

jjjoy, LPN · Jul 22, 2008

It was like that when I graduated some years back... my local area had recently had many nursing layoffs, so new grads were competing with experienced nurses who needed jobs (in other words, hospitals didn't have to offer substancially higher wages to woo experienced nurses who could up and running in just a few weeks' time). Many classmates had to persist week after week and month after month to get a hospital position. Many continued working as nursing assistants til a position opened up.

It's hard to change one's mindset because one has probably heard for so long that nurses are in demand. And the bottleneck will likely dissipate at some point such that next year's class or the year after may not have such a problem getting jobs right out of school. Unfortunately, you have to deal with this tight new grad job market. And if relocating isn't an option, then dogged persistence will be necessary.

Target a hospital and/or a few specific units. Try to make contact with whoever does the hiring - often a unit manager is reponsible for hiring decisions for their unit. Ask for an informational interview if they say they aren't hiring. Ask to shadow one day. Call back every few weeks, telling them that you'd love to work there and were hoping that an opening had come available. If there's a friendly HR person, be friendly with them and stay in contact. If you're more than just another resume, they might be willing to give you a heads up when something comes up.

At the best, something comes available and you're in a position to get the first offer. But even without a job offer, you stand to benefit from the opportunity to get some advice from some nurse managers and get more exposure to different work environments (such as by shadowing).

Good luck!!