What places have you applied at? Were you working during school, if so was it in nursing? Good luck in the search!!!

Don't lose hope Deb!!! Always stay positive... You'll find a job eventually. If you really want to work now, why not get a part time job? But keep on applying to various hospitals. And when you finally find one, then quit the part time. I wish you well in your career! I hope you get in the hospital soon! Good luck to you!

You are not alone and it's not you. I had the same issue in NY. I contacted the Gov's office and the Dept of Labor. I was pissed and started leaving messages in Albany. They returned my calls and e-mails. Unemployment agencies and state labor agencies will try and help you. I work for the state now. All I can say is keep on truckin'. Change your method too. If it's not working this way try it that way. AND the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Makes some calls and keep talking to everyone about it.

How about agency nursing.   They might not want to send you to a hospital as a new grad.........but what about placement for a long term temp job at an md office.   It would get you some experience.   The md offices that use staffing agencies around here staff for the big practices like with Emory and Piedmont in Atlanta.  These places dont like to hire full time at first until they 'know they like you' and can see your working abilities <like being a responsible employee and stuff like that>.    

You could try MONSTER JOB SEARCH or click on the web search, RN jobs in your area, you can select a 5,10, 25 or 50 mile radius. Fill out questions and post your resume. They contact you  through e-mail giving you updates on who is hiring in your area. I just accepted a perdium job this way as an LPN making $23/hr. GOOD LUCK! Don't discouraged, sometimes alittle wait ends up well worth it in the end! Being a new nurse is not a curse, agency and hospital like that you have not been 'tainted'. You may try going back every week to places that you would like to work at until they know you by first name! Does this work? Yes, I recieved one of those dear Dena letters that they would hold my application on file. I did not take "NO'" for an anwer. I went back once a week for 4 weeks to Human Resource. They called me for an interview after I told them by the time my weekly visits reach a year, they'll know all my family bdays and anniversaries! The end result, I have been there for almost 5 years. Shortly after my evaluation, the lady that did my interview said she was'SO SORRY THAT SHE DID NOT LOOK AT MY RESUME MORE CLOSELY THE 1ST TIME! I smiledand told her that I forgive her! So carry on with the search and let us know how you are doing!

The biggest problems I'm having are all listed here, a LOT of the hospitals are in hiring freezes, and I think I've decided that you have to know someone who works in the hospital in order to get in.  Ive had two interviews at the hospital where I went to school, no luck yet.  I recently contacted a former instructor who is going to try to help me get a job there.  I am on monster.com, job.com, and jobfox.com. All of them send me a ton of RN positions every day, most are travel jobs, APN jobs, or experience required jobs, ALL the rest, I apply to whether they are med surg, telemetry, nursing home, agency, peds, labor and delivery or any other specialty that remotely interests me (which is pretty much all of them).  My developmentally disabled brother lives with me, so relocating and uprooting him out of his programs would be really crappy, not to mention difficult, that's why I've tried so hard to wait it out, and stay in the Chicagoland area.  Two of the hospitals that I went to for clinical do not hire new grads. I've been interviewed by two agencies, neither of which hire new grads. I've been called by four others, and before they even schedule the interview, I ask them if they hire new grads and they said no. ( I was burned a few weeks back- hired by an agency and then unhired within 24 hours and it SUCKED)  Also, today I emailed my preceptor in Labor and Delivery where i did my role transition clinical, and asked her for the names and emails of the unit manager, and every nurse we worked with, so that I can try to get a job that way.  I am bound and determined to get a job by January 31st, even if I have to drive to Indiana to do so!. I HAVE thought about working as a cashier, or some other part time job, I just havent been quite tha desperate until now. Thank you all for your help and input. Even more is appreciated!!! Love you all!

wow! This is really worrisome that it seems that a lot of fresh grads can't seem to find a job these days... I fear that I can't find a job as well after taking the NCLEX. I pray that we will be provided with employment soon... Good luck to all!

no, you dont sound trite, i AM looking for ANY position, in any hospital, any shift, who will hire a new grad.  yes, even agency, or nursing home, just not travel.

Congrats on your new job!!! Keep us up to date on how it goes..

I live in NJ and graduated nursing school last May. I have passed NCLEX and I'm willing to take any entry level job, anywhere, any shift just to get the expierence. I am on career builder, Monster, I look for jobs on here ect. I can not get a job, not even calls for interviews. How can I get expierence if no one is willing to hire me? Not only is this frustrating and depressing, but my student loans are now due and I can't pay them. I feel like I've done all this work to get ahead and now all I'm doing is falling behind. I have even applied for nursing assistant jobs just to get me in the door.....still nothing. Any advice would be greatly appreaciated.

Karyl

I've been searching everywhere myself. Wish me luck.

dchamberlain says ...

I am in the Chicagoland area, and I have been job hunting since JULY!!!! I graduated in June 2008, with aBSN and I still can't believe I am not employed. I know the economy is bad, but nurses are supposedly not affected. I have found that Advanced Practice Nurses, and Associate Degree Nurses are being hired, and BSN nurses are not. I'm not sure for the reason behind this trend, but it is SO frustrating.  Nursing has been my dream since I was a child, and I'm almost ready to give up, and go work at Ace Hardware... ALMOST. If any of you are in my area, and know of jobs available who will hire a new grad, please PLEASE contact me!!! Thanks so much.

Deb C. RN

Have you tried Advocate health care? I noticed that they were hiring in several locations for different positions. I'm on the job hunt as well. I just graduated in Dec. and still have to take the NCLEX. They are also having career fairs, but they will be in march.  The website for one is www.advanceweb.com/jobfairs It's held in Tinley park. And for the other one it's in Lincolnshire (you have to check nurse.com). Good luck with the hunt. Keep me posted.

I'm so frustrated, too! I can't find a RN job ANYWHERE!!! i have applied to about 50 jobs, not one phone call back. I am a new grad and have no experience, I think that may be a problem:(

I have been an RN for five years, and cannot find a job working as a nurse.    I am over 50 years old and  have never worked in a hospital.   I got hired right out of nursing school working for a hospice company as an RN Hospice  Case Manager,    did that for almost three years and then tried Nursing homes for appx.  about a year and a half.    I resigned from my position last March working in a nursing home here in Oregon to open my own Adult Foster Care Home,     Not realizing that I would not be able to find work again as a nurse when the business did not work out.   Not enough capitol to keep it going.  Was very lucky to get it open in the first place.  Had a good experience with it,  just could not make a living at it.......  so. here I am.... out of work.    I have not been able to get many applications in anywhere,   am reaching roadblocks,  with the requirements being at least one year of Med/Surg expericence or "Acute" care.   Am seeing that one come up a lot.   How is someone supposed to get that kind of experience it you can't even get your foot in the door?    I would really like to write a book on this subject like somebody already discussed in this post.    I don't know if the general public knows how bad it is for nurses trying to find work right now.  I know many RN's that DO HAVE HOSPITAL EXPERICENCE  !      And..... still cannot find work,  most have been nurses for many years,  Some have been looking for more than 8 months now.....So,  new grads,, you are not alone.  

What is the solution to all this?      I know I am ready to give up.  Don't know what else to do at my age.   At least you younger folks have more time, with age being a factor.   When my husband passed away 10 years ago, thought this would be a good career to take me into retirement, but  guess that is not the case in this economy.     I have tried applying at Medical offices/ MD's offices,  Hospice,   Home health and more.     I even put out my own ad  ,   "RN,   for Hire"  ,   did get a few calls for that at less than Min.  wage pay, and I would have to pay my own taxes....Also:   I have no  health insurance, and cannot get COBRA anymore,  .... 

You know the really bad part is,  I am still paying off my student loans.   I would never, ever, advise anyone to go into nursing at this time until someone can assure that there will be enough jobs for the amount of graduates in this field.  

Has anyone thought of bringing this issue up with the media?   I did contact State Board  and they advised me to go back to school and get an advanced degree.   A BSN or MSN,  ...nice.   but I don't think I will live long enough to pay off those loans. 

I cannot get unemployment because of the business I had,    If I don't find a job working for at least Min.  Wage by next summer,     I will be homeless.  

Love reading all these posts,  thanks for the words of encouragement.  

Lori

No,   I did not go to nursing school to open the Foster Home,  just a "dream"  I have had for a long time,   long before nursing school.

I used my own money to open and had to do so many repairs to  the home I owned: that is where a lot of the money went. Also,  I was not working and it takes a while to get your business license and open.  I  tried to get small business loans and inquired about grants, without any luck.  They are not as easy to get as are advertised.  There were no "great deals" on small business loans offered to me and I was told I had too much money for a grant.   There might have been more opportunities if I had been able to actually stay open longer as far as grants go.  Sometimes once you are open and run a business like that, and have residents, (or children), I have seen others get grant money for things like a wheelchair ramp and stuff. 

When I graduated;  I tried to get hired right out of nursing school in a hospital and at agencies and did not .  I had a high GPA , was a good student and love learning.  I had letters from my teachers that I brought with me on interviews:   just never got hired:  Maybe the colleges should have more classes on how to conduct yourself on an interview and things like that,  it might have helped me.  ( I am talking about over five years ago now, this was before the recession).  

Anyway:   I took the first  job offer that came a long for financial reasons.   I just didn't have 6 months or a year to wait and  find work:  when hospice hired me,  I accepted it.  

I  have an opportunity to move in with family out of state next summer if I still cannot find work,: and look for a job as a nurse in another state, now that I have sold my home.  It is just  hard to accept the help;  I have always supported myself.   

If you have enough money of your own I would go for the daycare,  it is a good business to get into.   Having a partner is the best way I believe to start a new business,  since I failed on my own,  I would never try it again without a partner.  It was easier to run the business though being a nurse and having experience.

I am not very many credits away from getting another degree, so I might go back to school as well and try another profession, am not sure what I will do next.  I try and Just take things one day at a time. 

Thank you for responding to my post and best wishes to you.