Wow so i won't find a job?!

U.S.A. Illinois

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I'm getting really really worried here! I've been browsing the Illinois nursing thread and seems like landing a job as a new ADN grad is practically impossible! All these prereqs and applying and wanting to be accepted to later not be able to find a job?! Scary.

I just applied n expect response by Nov 25th but I don't know if I'm even excited anymore about my nursing career.

Share your experiences below.

I noticed this Fall that Chicago hospitals say "BSN required." I also just saw "Advanced Certification required as of January 2014 or within 2 yrs of hire." I hadn't seen this before and wondering if this the new Magnet addition :)[/quote']

Yeah I've been seeing this too. And the nurse manager/supervisor from Illinois Masonic told our class that BSN's will be considered for employment but not ADN's.

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I graduated a year and a 1/2 ago with a BSN and I still don't have a nursing job. I get the same "looking for experience" answers. I'm a career changer in her mid 40s so I am beginning to think my chances are nil. I put my school loans on forebearance for 6 months in hopes that I can at least get a part time job on top of my full time old career job. The ability to pay the loans was based on a nursing salary which would be way more than I make now

If I knew that getting a job as a new grad nurse would be impossible I would not have spent all the money obtaining this degree this late in life :(

Of course the schools won't tell you how hard it is up front. They want your money.

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I graduated a year and a 1/2 ago with a BSN and I still don't have a nursing job. I get the same "looking for experience" answers. I'm a career changer in her mid 40s so I am beginning to think my chances are nil. I put my school loans on forebearance for 6 months in hopes that I can at least get a part time job on top of my full time old career job. The ability to pay the loans was based on a nursing salary which would be way more than I make now If I knew that getting a job as a new grad nurse would be impossible I would not have spent all the money obtaining this degree this late in life :( Of course the schools won't tell you how hard it is up front. They want your money.

I'm sorry to hear that you've been a new grad for a year and a half and no job. This is one of the most extreme cases I've heard of!

Have you applied to LTC facilities?! How about home health agencies, or any PRN positions?

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hello everyone,

Although I am not an RN but still LPN, I would like to give You few advices:

First - for those who are looking for a job - did You try all other options like nursing homes, insurance companies , home health, hospice, correctional nursing ? Because they are hiring RNs. Just in last month RSA medical in Napervile hired like 200 nurses, CNAs and other medical staff. Same for nursing homes - there is so many positions not only on the floor. For example MDS coordinator or restorative nurse . But sometimes You have to make first step and show them that You are really interested . What does it mean ? You should spend few bucks and obtain certification in aforementioned areas. It shows to Your prospective employer that You are motivated. And this are good paying jobs.

If You really want to go into hospital - did U take ACLS, PALS certification ? there are so many other depending on specialty that You want to work .

just my 2 cents.

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Dawrhino well said. Lots of opportunity in LTC. I am noticing the emphasis not always being on BSN requirement.

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RSA medical in Naperville sure is hiring RNs but when I was a new grad they offered me 18 dollars an hour. That's not a liveable wage in Chicago and frankly insulting as an RN. The job I accepted paid over 10 dollars per hour more. Furthermore, it's not clinical work so it's doubtful any hospital you would want to move on to work at would care about the experience.

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RSA medical in Naperville sure is hiring RNs but when I was a new grad they offered me 18 dollars an hour. That's not a liveable wage in Chicago and frankly insulting as an RN. The job I accepted paid over 10 dollars per hour more. Furthermore it's not clinical work so it's doubtful any hospital you would want to move on to work at would care about the experience.[/quote']

$18/hr in the Chicagoland area sounds unreasonable. This is a big city, and cost of living is high. Seems like it'll be dismal for when I graduate :/

I'll just try to network as much as I can now ;)

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I'm a nursing student in an ADN program in Chicago as well, and I'm not to much worried about the job market. I have several friends and family members who are employed RNs in the Chicago area, some newly employed. Now you might not land the hospital or unit of your dreams right away, and yes their are a few hospitals that require BSNs, but their are definitely jobs out there, and some come with the stipulation that you earn your BSN within 3 years. Be diligent, find a part time or registry job as a CNA, PCT, LPN while in school that would be open to hiring you after graduation, and network with other nurses to use as employee referrals on applications. Even consult with some of your instructors or your director to utilize some of their connections for employment. Ultimately, the program you're in might not have job placement but they could still offer some assistance in your search because how many graduates land jobs after graduation is a small reflection on their program.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Chicago is only a small part of IL. come downstate

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I'm a nursing student in an ADN program in Chicago as well and I'm not to much worried about the job market. I have several friends and family members who are employed RNs in the Chicago area, some newly employed. Now you might not land the hospital or unit of your dreams right away, and yes their are a few hospitals that require BSNs, but their are definitely jobs out there, and some come with the stipulation that you earn your BSN within 3 years. Be diligent, find a part time or registry job as a CNA, PCT, LPN while in school that would be open to hiring you after graduation, and network with other nurses to use as employee referrals on applications. Even consult with some of your instructors or your director to utilize some of their connections for employment. Ultimately, the program you're in might not have job placement but they could still offer some assistance in your search because how many graduates land jobs after graduation is a small reflection on their program.[/quote']

I thought just like you while I was in school and I'm sorry but I learned how wrong I was the hard way. I had three years of experience as a CNA. Three years in phlebotomy. And one year as an lpn. Plus a previous bachelors degree, and it was almost impossible to find a job as an ADN. Almost all good hospitals in Chicago now require a BSN.

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RSA medical in Naperville sure is hiring RNs but when I was a new grad they offered me 18 dollars an hour. That's not a liveable wage in Chicago and frankly insulting as an RN. The job I accepted paid over 10 dollars per hour more. Furthermore, it's not clinical work so it's doubtful any hospital you would want to move on to work at would care about the experience.

Yes I agree that they offer 18 dollars plus up to 7 dollars more as a bonus. so it is up to 25 dollars and this is for LPNs, for RNs they said it was 2 $ higher. And yes I agree that this is sitting not clinical job but the person was looking for a job for so long that in my opinion any kind of job when U are a new grad is good job just for few months and in mean time one can look for other position. I was just trying to help. And believe me one can live on even 18$ per hour. There are many other people living on much lower hourly jobs ( CNAs for example on 9$) . In my opinion 18 $ per hour is better than 0$. Maybe its just me.

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Yes I agree that they offer 18 dollars plus up to 7 dollars more as a bonus. so it is up to 25 dollars and this is for LPNs for RNs they said it was 2 $ higher. And yes I agree that this is sitting not clinical job but the person was looking for a job for so long that in my opinion any kind of job when U are a new grad is good job just for few months and in mean time one can look for other position. I was just trying to help. And believe me one can live on even 18$ per hour. There are many other people living on much lower hourly jobs ( CNAs for example on 9$) . In my opinion 18 $ per hour is better than 0$. Maybe its just me.[/quote']

Good point dawrhino. And it could also be a stepping stone to a better paying job @(^_^)@

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