Why can't you get a job?

I think its time to move/relocate. The job market in you neck of the woods is definitely one of the most saturated in the country from my present understanding.

I'm sorry about your dilemma

I think you also have to know where you want to work. Sure, as a new grad, I don't have many choices, but If I applied to a job that doesn't sound appealing to me, it's not gonna help even if I get an interview or a job. I would dread to go to work everyday. So I would work on the resume, cover letter, have your friends/professors/colleagues read it. Then think about where you really want to work. Do you really want to work in a hospital 12 hour shift, a doctor's office, health department, or correctional facilities. I know it's not buyer's market right now, but if you are clear where you want to work, it will show up on your cover letter, and interview. Finding a job is kinda like finding a mate. You must set your standards, and only the job that matches your experience and education will get you an interview or even an offer.

I've already relocated. Twice. Cannot afford to move again when unemployed.

I've tried flu clinics, I've done long term care. I've even had a nurse recruiter/friend of mine look at my resume and go with me on my interview skills. She's pushed me to some interviews and I didn't get accepted to the positions. Twice. She has since stopped helping me. When I was in nursing school, we toured the cancer infusion center and it became my dream job. 12 hour shifts, no nights weekend or holidays. It was a beautiful facility. I would love it. Requires about 5 years experience. I would love to work at a place I love... and I finally did break down and started looking at waitress positions. The question is: why do you want to leave nursing? You can get a job like that! Made me feel like a loser.

You are doing nothing wrong, you are wonderful and a tough fighter. The reason you are not getting a job is because hospitals have decided that they don't need to train new nurses, they want somebody else to do this job. Since they are now completely for profit corporations they don't see any role in being a public entity (even though they receive gov. moneys for that). So these corporations are failing you. You did your part, you shelled out tens of thousands of dollars, you made the commitment and the vows to become a RN (the toughest job out there). But these greedy bastards are just laughing all the way to the bank while they should be training you. This will change soon as the economy gets better and they no longer are able to hire travelers as they do now. Good luck, we are all in the same miserable boat.

I don't have a job yet so I signed up with maxim healthcare to do flu clinic in September. Anything like that in CA you can start with?

I'm in the same boat. My first job met a difficult end and I have now been out of work for 6 months. I don't know what to do. I am enrolled in BSN classes for this fall and I'm not sure I even want to do it. Everything about nursing seems so unprofessional. I have seen so much drama, politics, back stabbing, favoritism and other miserable pointless behaviors that it blows my mind. I thought we were adults and professionals. I should not have to know your family or kiss the proverbial backside to be blessed with a job. I just want to be trained, become a good nurse, serve my patients and go home close to on time. Marcos - I wish your interpretations were incorrect but it is sooo on point. I would also like to know how new grad jobs can ask for or require 1-3 years of experience? Check the job boards, it's insane. Entry level jobs are non existent and if you can find a new grad job they want BSN minimum, 20 continuing education credits, ACLS, PALS, specialty certification AND 1 or more years of experience. Why does my ADN count for nothing? It's blowing my mind. Sorry for the rant, I'm reaching the maybe I'll start waitress point also.

Guys, you're not alone. We got the same situations here in chicago. I hope that proper authority will do something about it, we can not afford to wait more years to start practice our chosen profession and the economy to go back on its track, hoping there's a group to start out there to lobby in the congress or proper authority to inform them regarding the hiring situations in Newly Grad RNs so that to put an end on this suffering. Nursing is not a joke, we invested time, effort and a lot of money and in the end we will just land in unrelated job.

Guys you're not alone. We got the same situations here in chicago. I hope that proper authority will do something about it, we can not afford to wait more years to start practice our chosen profession and the economy to go back on its track, hoping there's a group to start out there to lobby in the congress or proper authority to inform them regarding the hiring situations in Newly Grad RNs so that to put an end on this suffering. Nursing is not a joke, we invested time, effort and a lot of money and in the end we will just land in unrelated job.[/quote']

Amen!

I feel for you. I got my ADN in 2008, in Boston, and finally found my first job 10 months later, 250 miles from home. My husband's father was a very old stroke survivor, and my mother was diagnosed with cancer 2 weeks after I graduated, so moving farther wasn't an option.

Anyway, some interviewers asked me straight out "What have you been doing since graduation." I was working full-time at the same call center job I had when I started school, and volunteering in an ER. The question felt like an accusation, especially since most of my classmates werw having an equally hard tike finding jobs. I applied at clinics, nursing homes (one hired me, then sent me home after 45 minutes because the job was cancelled) and every hospital job in my state that did not require a BSN or experience and didn't say "no new grads", which led to 2 interviews at a rural hospital that did not hire me.

Most non-nurses, and even some practicing nurses, have no idea how bad the new grad job market is.

The job market is tough. The job market in California is very, very tough due a confluence of conditions, (a) many, many nursing schools, (b) great pay, and © ratios... it's so easy to find experienced nurses from out of state that new grads have a tough time competing.

After 2 years of looking and not working as a nurse, I'm concerned that you're probably being viewed as stale and quickly passed over in favor of newer new grads for the few positions that arise.

Some of my cohort found unpaid internships at local hospitals sponsored by the community college which, after a fashion, led to full-time employment (though being a med-surg nurse for free was pretty tough to swallow).

I found success by going rural... very, very rural... hours from anywhere at a teeny microhospital. With experience, I was finally able to climb the ladder to a good job.

I hate being an LVN, it gets me nowhere. I have worked in MULTIPLE nursing homes. I have learned I HATE LTC. High stress, high nurse-to patient ratio, low pay off. I have done corrections, I like it well enough but all I did was pass meds. I also have done private duty nursing. I like it to a point then I get irritated. I have applied who knows how many times to hospitals. But I always get rejected for applicants with "more experience". It's a never ending story, come back when you have more experience. But how do I get experience if no one hires me??? Right now I'm inbetween jobs because I didn't mesh well with my pedi PDN client. Woo. :/