Purposeless Ranting just to make myself feel better for a second.

8 So I worked my ass off through nursing school. I had no help financially and very little emotional support, I was on my own. I got so depressed and had so much anxiety I honestly thought I was going to end up in the hospital as a patient myself before graduation. I barely had any free time and ran on very little sleep and very little money. Working 30-40 hours a week plus class plus clinical plus paperwork, add in random disasters like the time a girl ran into my car without car insurance and mine only covered someone else's car if I hit them because its all I could afford, etc etc... Needless to say it was the hardest time in my entire life.

The only reason why I even got through it was because I thought there would be light at the end of the tunnel. Thats what I kept telling myself to keep pushing through. Well. There's not.

I have my BSN. I have a Spanish Minor. I have my BLS. I have strong leadership role participation. I have over 2 years experience as a student nurse in an ICU. It is 6 months post graduation. I cannot find a job.

OH, but others in my class whom have ZERO experience as student nurses and whom did not work nearly as hard as I did land their dream job with no problems.

I know I sound bitter, this is why this is called a purposeless rant. I have to work in a very low-scale nursing home to make ends meet for now.

Most days I just feel like crying and find myself wondering why I worked so hard to be able to have a career I genuinely love when it doesn't even make a difference. I am truly happy for my friends who landed their first job quickly but its just frustrating on my end.

That is all. Last edit by Esme12 on Sep 12, '14
I am sorry for your situation, Courtney. *hugs*Have you considered getting your resume and cover letter professionally reviewed? Maybe they can help you spruce things up a bit in hopes to finding a better job. Keep your hopes up in the mean time and keep applying to jobs. Make some calls, go to HR, use the connections you have with your fellow graduate to try and get in contact with NMs. Hopefully, your newfound RN experience will assist you in finding a job you will be happy with. Best wishes.

Hey Courtney, sounds like you have a case of bitters!! Yeah, I can relate to the getting through nursing school with no support but yourself. I know recent grads have had problems getting into the hospitals because they all want some type of experience. When you say you have been a student nurse in the ICU for 2 years do you mean you did this as an extern? It is hard to get experience when no one will hire you. If you want to ready yourself for the hospital environment it might be wise to look into sub-acute rehab. There is still a lot of medical-surgical type nursing in sub-acute, the patients are still sick and still need a good bit of nursing care, you would be improving your assessment skills as well. In my state most of these are located in the LTC facilities, but being on sub acute will prepare you for general med-surg in the hospital. I know some younger nurses that have had a very difficult time getting into the acute environment, but the ones who were on the sub-acute units have been hired into acute care, so I think it is a very good bridge and it does show you have the necessary skills. BLS is good, ACLS is better, try to get certified, keep up with CEUs to show you are motivated. Keep trucking, the time will come.

I am sorry for your situation. Are you applying for jobs out of your town? Are you applying for jobs outside the hospital?

Quote from RN403I am sorry for your situation, Courtney. *hugs*Have you considered getting your resume and cover letter professionally reviewed? Maybe they can help you spruce things up a bit in hopes to finding a better job.

At least you found a job as a nurse. Eventually you should be able to get the job you want. Try to make a difference to all the poor neglected elderly while you are at the nursing home. Try to brighten their day and it may help lift your spirits as well!Some new grads haven't been able to get a nursing job even after a year or two so you are already better off than others. You are gaining experience and able to pay your bills and student loans so that is what I would concentrate on.

First off, I totally hear the rant and understand. Second..Wow, you have so much to be proud of!!! Forget about the comparison game. I know it sounds old-fashioned but it is pointless and impossible to compare your insides to other people's outsides. In a year or two things will have changed considerably - trust me on that one. In nursing you can't survive without a deep inner core. You seem like you've got a toolbox full of lots of great attributes to get you started on that. You'll need it when the wind starts blowing.Take that nursing home job and toss out the thought of "low-level". When a high-caliber person shows up, the job is not low-level. Not to say it might not be a terrible place, but approach it with the idea of learning skills you can take with you, and you will, even if it's only a "what not to do" lesson.You've got some great credentials and personal qualities going on there, so ((hugs)) hope the rant made you feel better!

Wish there was something I could say to make you feel better, but the truth of the matter is that you have probably been introduced to how much of your working life could be. The workplace is always unfair. To somebody. Typically, the people who work the hardest and really earn their checks are the ones who are abused and dealt with harshly, in all aspects of work. Better to realize this now and learn how to better cope with this reality than to always be making yourself sick over things you can not change. Find the joy in your life and concentrate on that every day. Who knows, once in awhile, you may turn out to be the one who gets the better hand. Good luck.

(((hugs))). I have screamed to heaven what you have posted here many times. Personally, I believe one key is the resume issued as stated by Monkeyhq. It's a void for novice RNs. You have your BSN, so you are ahead of me. Still working on that. Have you tried going into the places that you want to work? Avoid the online application. Not every place is open to this. Some will robotically redirect you to the website, but some are willing to talk and give you their business card or email. We are working *somewhere* and gaining skills and experience. Now, time, talent, and opportunity have to come together. Try not to compare yourself to others as hard as that is. I know it feels so unfair sometimes, but it will really drive you crazy.

I know I sound bitter, this is why this is called a purposeless rant. I have to work in a very low-scale nursing home to make ends meet for now.

I would suggest a visit or two with a psychologist/job coach, perhaps you are coming off bitter/entitled, whatever. this is not an accusation... but address all possibilities.

Ok, so when did you graduate? If it helps, you're not alone...

I agree with all other posters. Sounds like PTSD. You've had a rough couple years, you were looking forward to the Garden of Eden, and you're not there. Take the above posters' advice, and, beef up your physical/emotional health. Make sure you eat well, exercise, have a social life, go out with friends. Eventually the gloom should lift. If not, maybe make a doctors appt.