Hi everybody!
Please help me...I am a new RN. I received my BSN in Dec 2007. (I also have a BS in speech pathology and audiology.) I passed the NCLEX in August 2008.
Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find a nursing job and the situation doesn't look good. I've been in contact with my professors at school and I've been told that the new graduates are not able to find job either. My classmate with over 12 years as an EMT and cardiac tech took over 5 months to find a job as a RN. My classmates who have jobs are afraid of losing their jobs because hospitals where I live are downsizing. The nursing agencies tend not to hire new RNs...
I've been told, "Don't apply with us because you'll be wasting your time."
Even the nursing agencies which do hire new RNs are not currently hiring RNs or LPNs. One agency told me that they couldn't refer me to hospitals for CNA positions "because the hospitals only want experienced CNAs."
The hospitals are not hiring either even for their new RN programs...
I speak directly to the DONs to make sure I am getting correct information about openings. I've contacted private schools in my area and they require 5 years of specific experience in pediatrics. I've applied to over 30 places and so far no luck. Even the leads the school of nursing has not led to any interviews. In fact, the places the school told me to contact tell me they do not have openings (so I am not sure why the school even told me to contact those places). I try to follow up on my applications, but no one returns my calls.
Unfortunately, I can't move right now...at least not until June 2009 because of my husband's job and I don't want to pull my daughter out of school before the end of her school year in June. I plan to get my ACLS and try to look into volunteering, but even that is difficult to do when I have a mortgage and loans to pay. Everyone says their is a nursing shortage, but how can that be if my peers and I are having a hard time getting jobs? If you can offer any advice I'd appreciate it very much.
Thanks!
Auntymai
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October 13th, 2008 at 10:51 am
WOW. I’m speechless? In this day and age of the growing nursing shortage.. you’re having that much difficulty finding a job?!
HHmm.
It sounds to me, like it’s a geographical problem, that you’ve already touched on.
In my area, and surrounding areas there are loads of job postings.
Sorry to hear about your tough times. Best of luck.
October 14th, 2008 at 9:38 am
Where do you live? I live in Arizona and the State is short by about 20,000 nurses. I was recently at a conference in Minnesota and overheard a nurse who was from that area stating she was losing her job. I couldn’t believe it. My advice to you is to hang in there and keep doing what you are doing.
October 14th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
I’m amazed also. Here in the Northeast I haven’t heard about these problems; we’re still talking about shortages. Are you applying for a medsurg position or trying to specialize? Are you willing to work in a nursing home or rehabilitation facility or doctor’s office just to get some experience until you get can get into what you really want to do? Hang in there, good luck, we need you!
October 14th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Thanks for the words of encouragement. I live in Hawaii. The economy is really bad over here. Large and small companies that have been business for years are closing at a moments notice. The experts say that it’s not going to get better for at least three or more years. While there are jobs for experienced nurses, no on seems to want to invest in new graduates and that may be because of the lack of resources (lack of money and preceptors) to train new graduates. One of my professors suggested that I move to the mainland to a rural area. I’m afraid I might need to move. I don’t want to move because this where I was born and grew up…I also want my daughter to be close to her grandparents and other close family who live in Hawaii.
I have been applying for nursing homes, doctor’s offices, hospital jobs, temp agencies, insurance companies, etc. I have even applied for LPN, CNA, and personal assistant jobs in hopes of getting “my foot in the door and any type of nursing experience.”
October 14th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
It sounds like you are doing everything right – applying in many different areas (inpatient and outpatient). I know here we have been experiencing a similar situation here (at least in the inpatient world – IL). Much of the problem has been related to decreasing reimbursement by Medicare and other agencies which mean less income for the hospitals and cutbacks to balance income / spending. Its not a good answer, but it is the reality we face now with our economy as well as major issues in healthcare coverage nationwide.
Continue to watch, keep applying where you see openings and network if possible with others who are in the field – they may have a better chance of getting you in as a “known” person rather than a “new grad” without experience.
Once you obtain your ACLS, talk to the instructor about possibly teaching basic CPR – sometimes they are short on instructors, which in most areas is a paid (hourly) job – although it is less than a typical RN hourly wage.
You might also consider talking to any agencies in the area re: health screenings etc.. I know a friend who picked up extra hours doing basic health screenings at various community centers and at Walgreens (taking BP, pulse etc). Pharmaceutical companies and/or local community centers sometimes use agencies to hire nurses to help run this type of screenings / health fairs. Although it would not be a full time job, it might be a way to pick up some basic experience to add to your resume and show a passion for helping those in your local community.
If at all possible, try to follow up with a call to the hiring manager after submitting your resume if you have access to their name. Let them know how interested you are in that particular position. If they are being inundated with resumes, it might make you stand out just a bit more.
Good luck!
October 16th, 2008 at 9:05 am
I was so discouraged to hear your story.
It is much like mine – only I live on the east coast.
I am a new graduate and there is nothing here. Hospitals have closed and there are lots of experienced nurses out of work. Jobs that I have been promised would be open to new graduates are actually given, in the end, to experienced nurses only. I have no way to compete with that. And I have no hope until someone gives me a chance and trains me.
I find it hard to believe that there is an actual shortage of nurses anywhere on the east coast.
I wish I could move to Arizona – but, just like you, my husband’s job is not mobile, and he’s the only one supporting our family!
I’m going down to my state’s Board of Nursing today to see what their advice will be.
October 24th, 2008 at 10:23 am
I don’t know where you live but in Louisville KY you could find MANY jobs for new grads. I just graduated 2 months ago and had several job offers… considering that I had never worked in a hospital before that’s pretty good!!!!
October 25th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
I was in a similar situation a few months ago. I graduated in 08/08 & passed NCLEX. A month before graduation, my husband was offered a job in New England. In my home state, I had already gotten 2 job offers w/i 10 days of filling out applications, but was told that the area where we were moving to was terrible for new grads. I heard stories of new RNs waiting an average of 6-9 months post-graduation before even getting an INTERVIEW, let alone a job (this included hospitals, nursing homes, and home care)! Many new grads were working as NAs in jobs they’d gotten while in nursing school.
I started calling hospitals, asking to speak with their nurse recruiters. I heard the same stories from them – “we’re flooded with applications”, “we aren’t accepting any new RNs”, “call us back when you have a little experience”. It was so different from the Midwest! I started looking into taking positions that would basically require me staying in a hotel room for several nights out of the week because they were so far away from our new town, working for nursing homes, doing home-care, any kind of public health nursing… nothing was open.
Finally, about a week before we moved, I was told by a nurse recruiter to send her an email once I got in the area. The first Monday of being in our new town I emailed her, reminding her of who I was & our conversation, and sent along my resume and cover letter (I can’t say enough about having a good cover letter – make sure you invest in one with specifics about that hospital!!!). She emailed me back, only to express her regret that nothing was available.
I responded and told her that I understood, but that I really wanted to work for their organization, that I had heard so many good things about it (I listed some specifics that I’d gotten from the news), and that I would be happy to come in at any time for any position, even as a NA or a volunteer, because I really wanted to work for that organization. I tried to make it more about wanting to be with the organization rather than, “Please – I’m desperate, I need a job, and I’ll take one anywhere!!!”. She emailed back and said she was really impressed by how dedicated I seemed to the organization, and she would be sure to include all of our emails in my application file, should anything open up.
A few hours later, I get a call from one of their “sister” hospitals. She had forwarded my information and they decided to interview me, even though they had closed all of their new RN positions. They had me come in the next day, and 40 minutes after leaving the interview, I was offered the job. It is not in my favorite area of nursing, but I was so grateful just to get it that I accepted without hesitation. A few hours before going into the interview, I had met a new RN in our housing complex. She had graduated in 12/07, and here it was, 08/08, and she’d gotten nothing, not even an interview.
I hope that somehow, my story will make you realize that there is hope – eventually, a position will open up! Don’t be afraid to go into an HR department, even if you’ve already called and were told that nothing was available. Presenting yourself in person will make you stand out, it’ll show you’re very interested, and again, make sure you do research about the specifics for that organization – what advances, awards, construction, have they been doing? If at all possible, mention that when talking with nurse recruiters and tell them that that is part of why you want to work for them. I hope this helps!
October 25th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Wow — good luck in Hawaii. I hope you do not have to move far from your home/family. I guess I take for granted living in Florida. All of my friends who graduated in May had their choice of nursing jobs here in Tampa, with one of them being accepted straight into her dream job in peds! I won’t complain anymore about low salaries here in Tampa!
The economy is so scary. Keep doing what you are doing — it must be hard to stay positive and proactive with so much rejection but you are doing everything correctly! Best of luck!
November 11th, 2008 at 12:20 am
I’m in the same position in California. Ultimately it appears I’m going to have to explore alternate career opportunities and hope that in a few years the market might change. I wish this information was made more public especially in highly impacted areas like California, New York and Hawaii. I fell bad for students in school now or taking pre-requisites to get into nursing school thinking they have a secure job future.
November 13th, 2008 at 7:27 am
I live in California and a new RN grad, passed my board Oct 2, 2008. It’s been 1 1/2 month and haven’t found a job. I applied to many hospitals and rehabs. I had 2 interviews but no job offer. I thought it would be easy for me to find a job even as a new RN grad because I have 8 years experience working as LVN/LPN in nursing homes. But until now I’m still here working at my job. It’s tough out there.
December 30th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Unfortnately I know exactly what you are going through. I live in Ohio, near Coumbus. I graduated in May of 08, and just now am getting offers. I am hearing that one of the big issues is that there are so many nursing schools opening up that the hopitals are just flooded with new grad RNs, and have no more room for us. I believe there is a nursing shortage, however not for new grads, only experienced nurses. Now, let me mention that my offers have been in 3 different states!!!! I have no desire to relocate, but have no choice it seems. Texas has many new grad positions open. They actually do all expenses paid onsites as well. My other ffers were in NC and KY. I really hope you find something near you. If not email me at [email protected] and I will be happy to point you to where I’ve found luck.
Good luck!!!!!