I feel like this is the question that has been asked of me, accompanied by looks of amazement. I graduated in March 2011 and in the two years I have been licensed I have only worked a total of 6 months. I've relocated, I've done long term care. I've volunteered. I've applied everywhere in California, prisons included. I've gone to the rural areas. I've asked friends of friends to put in words for me. One bright light in this dark tunnel is that I did get an interview with the county for L&D and was dancing with joy when she said she'd like to hire me. Unfortunately, the county didn't have a position for her. So that was that. Davitas has been ignoring me, too.
It's been hell to be out of work. No one who isn't in this position seems to get it. And no, my nurse practitioner mother can't get me a job with any doctors as their office nurse. The suggestions people come up with! I'm ready to give up and be a waitress. I feel so discouraged. I don't understand how others are getting opportunities and job offers in my area and I miss them or they are closed to me. I've activated my network, tried to make new ones. Gone to job fairs and stuck my neck out. Made follow up calls.
2+ years now. I must be doing something wrong. I'm so discouraged. So much money for an education and success seems so elusive to me. I know I'm not alone. But I need to know that I will be able to find a job some place, a job where I will thrive.
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
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. :/
All I know is my pithy 6 months of experience puts me in a much better position than I was when I was a new grad. I went to a job fair in LA a few weeks ago and it almost resembled the Hunger Games with all the hungry new grads. It's a very competitive market out there and I am not quite sure what I can do to make myself more competitive. It's too bad nursing school doesn't require a full year of work, like a preceptorship, almost like a medical residency, before awarding degrees or a full nursing license. Like in medicine, you can't practice as a physician on your own unless you finish a residency. that way new grads not *new grads*. So those who graduate school can hit the ground running and be as functional as a nurse with a full year experience. It's like hospitals are trying to do that with RN residencies but there needs to be enough residencies for nearly ALL graduate nurses. I admit that I couldn't walk on to any hospital floor in nearly any specialty and be able to function as a seasoned nurse in 6 weeks. Or in 2 weeks like orientation for new hires on my first job (lucky I got 8 weeks but still was let go because they couldn't afford to keep training me). I wish nursing school could actually bridge that gap that new grads have from the experienced nurses so hospitals don't make policies not to hire inexperienced nurses.
sunmaidliz, I agree wholeheartedly! I have often wondered why nurses don't have residency programs.
I graduated "only" 4 months ago, got my license a month after that, and I am having no luck finding a job. I am so demoralized and depressed and just plain ****** off about the nursing situation for new grads.
Same thing here! After countless applications and a BSN, I am employed. But not as a RN. I work for a financial institution as an administrative assistant. I still have some hopes to work as a nurse, but that hope is fading. I will probably end up working in finance and real estate. Not a bad option if I can make at least the same pay as a nurse.
I think Ca I the most difficult state to land a job as a new grad nurse. I got a call yesterday and as soon as I mentioned that I'm a new grad, the recruiter told me she can't help me b/c she wants someone with experience. Seeing how long a few of you guys waited to get a job, I might just starting looking into other ventures. I apply to many positions that are suitable for a new grad but not getting any call from them. CONNETIONS TO UPPER MANAGEMENT = EXPERIENCE.
Same boat here. I've been a nurse since 2007. I started off in CCU and then took to traveling. I worked in the ICU's at some of the biggest trauma centers in NY. Then in 2010 my traveling agency went bankrupt, and so did I. I lost everything and spent 6 months on unemployment. I was offered a job at a small town in Oklahoma, so I took it. I worked there for 3 years before my manager decided she needed me to work in the ER, I agreed but told her I didn't want to do it full-time. An entire year of 60 hours a week later, and I was a mess. Every time I asked to go back to ICU I got the runaround, and I was completely burnt out and not sure how much more I could take. I was miserable, depressed, had lost my compassion, and began to question why I ever got into nursing. I knew it was time to call it quits. I moved back to NY (where nursing jobs are nonexistent) and started working at UPS, doing the same job I did before I ever got caught up in the "nursing money-making scheme" I was sold on. And from what I hear, things are only going to get worse after Obamacare goes into full effect (with regards to nurses' wages and patient to nurse ratios) so maybe it's all a blessing in disguise. Good luck to you all, we sure are in some rough times.
THANK YOU !! I have gotten the same questions by nurse managers- why are you not working by now?? why cant you get a job? what have you been doing this whole time? TRYING TO FIND A JOB like is that so hard to wrap your brain around. some people are so oblivious how hard it is to get your foot in the door. nurse managers need to read the things posted on this website and do more research on new graduates who cant find work.. its really sad that they are expected to be professionals but have no idea what is going on in this world. the economy sucks no one can find jobs. if your a nurse manager and you get a new grad come to your office would it kill you to show some sympathy . Its a brutal world out there just got to bite your tongue and keep applying. eventually someone will be desperate enough to hire a new graduate.
OrganizedChaos, LVN
1 Article; 6,883 Posts
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. :/