Why so hard to find a job?

Nurses New Nurse

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Specializes in OBGYN, Post Partum.

I passed the boards 5 weeks ago, and still haven't heard back from all the applications I've sent out. With all the talk of nursing shortages, why is it so hard to get a job? Could I be doing something wrong? Did anyone else have trouble getting a job?

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Specializes in Telemetry, CCU.

What areas are you applying to? Some units have an extremely low turnover, you might have a better chance going into med-surg or another higher turnover unit to get your foot in the door, then transfer to what you want after a year. Also, I'm not sure what the market is like in San Diego, have your classmates also been having trouble?

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Transplant, Education.
I passed the boards 5 weeks ago, and still haven't heard back from all the applications I've sent out. With all the talk of nursing shortages, why is it so hard to get a job? Could I be doing something wrong? Did anyone else have trouble getting a job?

Have you tried calling to follow up on your applications & remind HR depts that you are still interested? Did you work as an aide/tech anywhere that you may be able to get your foot in the door? Just some ideas.

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Specializes in Med/Surg & Hospice & Dialysis.

This time of the year is very busy for HR with all of the new grads. I applied several different places and it took weeks to get any feed back on them. A classmate went to a job fair and was offered a position. She gave me the manager's contact info. I gave her a call and got an interview right away.

Try to find someone that can direct you to a contact person.

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Specializes in ICU.

I found that I had to call the Nurse Recruiters back in order to get an interview set up. The one place I really wanted to work interviewed me on a Tuesday and said they would call me on Friday. At 4:30 pm on that Friday knowing I couldn't stand to wait the weekend to find out, I called. They were very happy I called and in fact I did get the job. They like to see people who are enthusiastic to work in their hospital. They get so busy, keep calling to check in.

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I feel your frustration, I passed my boards 3 weeks ago and have been applying for about 6 weeks, I am finally getting responses, but I have had to make my calls to follow up after appling online. I'm in NJ and we have alot of new grads, unless you know someone or worked for the hospital you can't get local. I'll have to travel up to a hour to find work.

Good Luck

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it costs close to $30k to train a new grad, so they spend the $ on travelers instead..so there's a nursing shortage, but it's healthcare industry created.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Keep in mind that the OP (original poster) created this thread seven months ago in January 2008, and has since found a job working 12 hour shifts. Therefore, she may no longer be in need of any new advice regarding job hunting.

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I also feel your pain, I got my licence 3 months ago and have been applying ever since. I am an LPN and have applied to hospitals, nursing homes, homehealth care and mental health facilities, the only calls that I get back are ones telling me that LPN's need 1 year employment experience before they can be hired. I have even started to look in outside of the county that I live in. I am desperate and really need a job now. I am wondering, as desperate as it may sound, am I allowed to as a licenced LPN to just go ahead and work as a PCT?

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Specializes in LTC, Med-Surg, IMCU/Tele, HH/CM.

I hear all of you. . . I got passed NCLEX the first week of July and I still don't have a job! I only got a few responses to applications, one nursing home in the town I live in and 3 hospitals from different states. I am interviewing next week out of state and am hoping to get that position because it's a New Grad Residency program and pays the same as I would have made here, COL is a little higher tho.

When you do get a nibble, just push for the position. Make it known that you will go above and beyond what most new grads do to get that job. I am willing to move halfway across the country to get a position I want, and I know not everyone can do that but it's just an example. You may have to drive an hour to get to work, or move to another city in your state. Keep looking and you'll find something, or at least that's what I've been telling myself over and over again!

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Specializes in Med Surg, Ortho.
it costs close to $30k to train a new grad, so they spend the $ on travelers instead..so there's a nursing shortage, but it's healthcare industry created.

Are you serious? I'm out of orientation now and my pay for the 8 weeks of oriention hasn't been near that much. Can you break down and give me a better idea of why it costs this much? Other than normal pay, I think they paid for my Kaplan nclex review, that's about it.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

They are also paying the person who is preceptoring you for that time, the nurse educator who does your classroom orientation, the human resources department to process all the required paperwork and you. Remember that you are not considered in the staffing numbers while you're on orientation (meaning that you aren't carrying a full patient load and neither is your preceptor) and they are also making contributions to your pension plan, employment insurance, health insurance and any other benefits you qualify for upon hire. On my unit, the cost of orientation for a new grad is over $60K. If they quit before they've worked a single shift (which happens a lot more often than you might realize) the money has essentially been flushed down the hopper.

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