Theala..

Gratz on your house! :)

As a former resident of SoCal, I agree with all you said... To further illustrate, I live in a town of about 1500. My daughter is in a class with 2 teachers, 4 paras, and thirty students. Her school is 4 blocks away and she can walk if she chooses in complete safety. I rent a 2800 sq ft house with a fenced backyard and garage, can have my pets, and my rent and TOTAL utilities amount to less than $500/month. I leave my doors unlocked, walk to the park and the library, and work, which is only 3 blocks away. A gallon of gas is $2.65.  A gallon of milk is $2.50 and a dozen eggs are $0.89  at the grocery... or $1.50 for whole, fresh milk or $0.50 for free-range eggs that saw the chicken just this morning, from a local farmer. :)

And as a new LPN grad (July 30) with only 2 years previous CNA experience under my belt, I'm making about $14.50/hour on average (shift and weekend differentials).

I realize the small-town life isn't for everyone, but for new grads looking for experience and a good start on student loans, I agree with you: look to smaller communities in rural and agricultural areas. You might be (pleasantly) surprised.

forgot to mention in my last post that this was a RN position

1feistymama says ...

Suzy_Milktoast - You just described my DREAM TOWN!!!!  

Mama...

There are lots of towns just like it in this region... Feel free to email me privately, if you like, and I'd be happy to send you some links to facilities in similar towns around here that might be looking for staff, as well as the ones that were at my career fair (and I know none of our recent grads live in a couple of those areas).

I'm in San Diego.  I graduated in Dec. 08.   I can not for the life of me find a New Grad RN job at the hospitals here.  I don't want to move!!!  My husband works here and can't give up his job for me to find a job in another state.  This situation is ridiculous, and I'm sick of explaining to people that I can't find a Nursing Job when there's a "Nursing Shortage".   Uuug!  

Has anyone in SD found New Grad positions recently?  Or know of anyone who hires New Graduates?

Thanks! 

I graduated as a RN in June and took the NCLEX in July and passed. Received my license for the state of New Jersey and then applied for my license for the state of New York as well. Went to school in NJ but live in NY. 

I just got hired last week for a position at a NY hospital near my home. Very near, like 5 minutes!!  I'm very excited. It did take a few months, but when it's your time, it will come around. Think positive.

Good luck to all you new grads looking for work. You'll get a job, don't worry.

MrBrown says ...

Pearl I meant actually joining the military. A BSN joins as an officer. And they accept new grads! Gladly. Best training in the world, officers quarters allowance or quarters! PX and commissary priviliges, free medical for you and your immediate family (sometimes including dependent parents). They will train you to be a CRNA after you meet the qualifications (Sevo can tell you about all that). And they give you your GI Bill which is far better than the one we had from the 60's.

Just a thought. If I were starting out as new nurse and had a BSN, and knowing what I know now, I would join the Navy as a nurse. The Army second, the Air Force third but these are solely my opinion.

I must admit I am considering this more and more each day...and it sounds very appealing to know I will have a reliable job. This new vaccine nurse job didn't give me work this week, so I've only done two days so far. I am so tired of relying on my unemployment benefits. I have to say I am a little reluctant to join only bc it's new and seems a little scary, but each day sounds better and worth it.

Hello fellow nurses.  I understand all your frustrations....especially the new grads.  Be flexible and move if you need to.  The big cities are cutting back so move to small/rural areas if you really want a job.  I left Sacramento, CA and moved to Jackson, TN to attend an accelerated BSN program, finished Dec 2008 and could not get a job in Sacramento.  I decided to stay and work in TN, I had so many job offerings in Med Surg, L&D, ER, ICU, Peds, OR.  The pay was a little lower than California, but they offered me loan repayment with no contract, sign on bonus, flexible schedule, money to buy scrubs/supplies.  I was in school with a friend from Sacramento but she left TN after graduation, she just found a job and started working in October.  Please don't get discourage, move temporary where the jobs are and leave once you have experience.  Also, if you are willing to move, try and get a compact license so it will be easier to transition once you get a job.  Don't let the job hunting experience rob you of your passion for wanting to be a NURSE...

G1TANO says ...

One advise I will offer you in your search as a new grad.RN, try to get involve with an agency that deals with a hospital near you, it is easy you can visit a hospital befriend one of the nurse's there, and ask them who do they use for agency nurses.  Furthermore, once you apply with the agency don't decline weekends, holidays,or night shift at first, this will place you in a higher disposition.   Moreover, as you stated the economy doesn't help either... don't despair.... Remember we all started as a new grad.

Best of wishes on all of your future endeavors!

 

This is great advice. I am a LVN who has no experience at all. No agency in their right mind will hire a new grad. I have been turned down by everyone, except but two, but they are on the back burner. I am still technically a CHHA. I renewed my certificates last year. One agency will hire me, I will see, if the hospitals they send me to will hire me as a new grad LVN.  I still have one hospital I will apply to, it is in east los angeles. I have been so busy trying to get into a RN nursing program. I need to get into a hospital asap, so the LVN to RN transition will be easier, especially in this  job market.

That's what I told the agency I applied to. She said that all the new grads are having this problem, even RN with BSN's. She advised me to try to get into a hospital, I told her, I have, but no hospital will hire me, without a year experience, and she said that all the agencies are like that. I said to myself, I better use my LVN now, try to get into a hospital, and hold it down, until I complete my BSN degree, if not, I will be in the same boat with my RN license. I live in Los Angeles California, I cannot live on a CNA salary, $12.00 hrly and time in a half, working perdiem, is not enough, especially if you have to pay for gas, inflated food cost and rent/bills/car.etc. I work part-time now, I get $204.00 biweekly in unemployment benefits, and plus, I don't have use my gas to go to work. That works for me, until I find a good LVN job. God Bless everyone in this same boat!!!

 Thanks everyone, it is difficult. I have applied to many LVN positions, and keep getting NO_ NO_, you have to have one year experience. I applied to Providence Healthcare, they said that they do have a new grad program, but you have to catch them when they have an opening. Now I have a profile on their website, they will keep me posted, when they start up again. They start all their new grad LVN's  on their sub-acute floor. Just receive my Continue education booklet, here in California, all the license nurses receive one, when they are about to renew their license, great!!!, its that time again, I have not even used  my license yet.

G1TANO says ...

My prayers & best wishes are with you, don't despair, keep focus for you & that little one next to you in your pic.

 

Thank you, that little one is 20 now, in college to be a RN and has a boyfriend now, but she still needs me though LOL!!!  

Great news everyone, I think everyone prayers here been answered.  Here is the news!!!. Recently,  at the NAHCR conference, the topic was on New grads are finding the job hunt tough.  The topic was The majority of hospitals across the country have no space for new grads, they said the entire healthcare arena is being impacted by the recession, But the main problem is what to do with our new grad nursing grads, there is no question the classes of 2008, and 2009 were hit the hardest , but the 2010 grads may well find themselves feeling the same pinch. Here is the good news for me. Transition Programs here in California.  The California Department of Labor is applyling  for $250 million in U.S. Department of Labor funding to assist with training for nurses and other healthcare providers. Nearly, $5 million would go toward nursing; some of the funding would be used for training for new grads unable to find jobs. Delores Jones, MN, RN executive director of the California Institute for For Nursing & Health Care (  CINHC), has been holding meetings across the state to address the lack of job issues. She is fighting for us,  she said "Up to 40 percent of 2009 new grads may not be able to find jobs in acute care and there are still 2008 grads not working, she said,  in quotations, "We can't afford to lose them".  I remember when I graduated with the whole entire nursing department as a CNA, we all had lighted candles in our hands when we walked down the alle. Nurses are the true lights in the world. God bless everyone!!!

 Thank you, its been hard getting them  through school. I have one more year for the 17 year old, SAT's this year, getting her to prepare for them is the hard part LOL!!!

Just an idea here, and I know relocation is not for everyone, but in Northeast Ohio new grads and others are not having any trouble finding jobs. We just hired 5 new grads on my unit and other units in the hospital are hiring also. The Cleveland, Akron, Canton area have a lot of jobs

Anyone in the Boston area looking for a Nursing job? Take a look at this site: Boston Nursing Jobs

Hi Ladies and Gentlemen,

I graduated in January of this year. I had worked part time for a major hospital all through my nursing school and thought that was a foot in the door. It took 8 months for me to even get a single interview. I've since had 2 more... yes, THREE interviews in nine months. I have sent out 123 resumes. I had previous healthcare experience as a CNA and MA. My grades and GPA were excellent. However... the thing I keep being told is, "we are going with someone who has more experience."

As someone else said, how on earth can you get experience if no one will give you any? I've applied to schools, to LTC, to suburbs, inner-city, everywhere... I am beginning to fear I will become less marketable the further away I get from my graduation date.  I cannot afford to go back to school, my debt is piling up from the loans I took to go to school already. I have applied even in places like Arizona, Texas, small southern states... I stopped applying outside because I cannot afford to move anymore. My savings are nearly obliterated. I've asked for volunteer opportunities and I can't even get that.

Boston Medical Ctr just laid off 44 nurses. I do not see a single ray of hope.