****Highly decorated RN new grad can't find a job...Any advice???****

hi, i graduated from an accredited nursing school with a bsn in december 2008. i have passed the nclex exam. i have applied to over 60 positions in 13 hospitals in both south carolina & north carolina. if i hear back from any of them, i receive a "flush" letter saying i have been turned down for the position because i have no experience. i have applied to numerous nursing home, long term care and dialysis facilities in a 60 mile radius of my home. i was the president of our school's student nurses association(sna), a member of sigma theta tau international and in the top ten of our class academically. i was on the dean's list for several semesters and on the national dean's list for 2 years. i have two bachelor's degrees and over 10 years of management and sales experience in addition to my bns degree. my wife is a physician and owns her own practice. i have been working as a nurse prn in her office but have limited hospital experience. i have contacted several former professors, my preceptor as well as many friends and acquaintances in the hospital. they have been little help. i feel that have a good relationship with all of the people that i contacted; however, if i hear back from them all it may be responses like "hang in there", "it's tough all over", "i'm sorry" and "it will probably better in the fall". most of my emails and phone calls are met with silence. i am sure will improve over time but i need a job now. i am sure this post sounds like a "me too" post. it may be but i am strong, driven, able bodied, competitive and ready to work hard now! i am willing to work most anywhere in the southeastern u.s. (preferably north carolina, south carolina, georgia, tennessee, virginia or alabama) in a hospital setting so i may "get my foot in the door" and acquire some nursing experience. if someone is willing to hire me as a traveling nurse (in which room & board are covered), i will be willing to go anywhere in the united states. thank you all for your time and willingness to listen & consider my situation. dan hunt upstate south carolina
Continue to look for a job in areas that have work to offer and get ready to relocate. If you need money now, then take a job, any job, to keep yourself off the streets. Good luck.
Dallas, Texas is hiring new grads and they are hiring RNs period. I know you didn't mention Texas in your list of places you were willing to work, but I still decided to put the input. A lot of the jobs I've seen have been hiring new grads. So just keep your faith, and I'll say a prayer for you.
Thanks so much! I know Dallas is a great area. I have friends in Grapevine and Southlake. I will consider this. Do you recommend a particular hospital?
Texas is hiring new grads.. it is a great place to be right now. I can vouch for Houston specifically. THis is where you would have no problem getting a job. You will have to get creative to get a job with no experience in your part of the country. You just have to hang in there and keep trying. Have you heard if any of your fellow classmates have been hired? IF so, where? Try those places.. maybe you have already, but try again. LIke I said, just keep doing what you're doing in your area. If you want to fan out.. just get on mapquest and start picking large cities in the area you are willing to go. Get online and search for hospitals in those cities/towns and start applying. Then call a day later and talk to the recruiters. YOu really have to keep calling the recruiters and asking if they have ANYTHING. Also, don't down play your experience that you have at your spouse's office. That is experience! Play it up. It will help you to land a job.
Most employers do not care if you were" highly decorated' as a student. All your attributes sound wonderful but have little to do with getting a job.Things are tough allover. best of luck.
hi dan, and welcome to allnurse's.i'm going to ask you a question...something for you to consider on your own time (i am not looking for a response.).the title of your thread, describes you as a "highly decorated" rn...you also describe yourself as confident and competitive (which are highly desirable qualities).is there any possible way you may be projecting yourself in a way that may repel some folks?do you sound overly-eager, arrogant, presumptuous and/or overly-confident, in trying to market yourself?again, these are only questions you can answer.i'm surprised that ltc facilities haven't even hired you.it really is a competitive market out there for new grads today.perhaps you could 'volunteer' your time as an RN, so the prospective employer could assess your potential w/o any investment?i've known new grads who have done that, with success.anyway, i have nothing more to add...you've gotten excellent advice, and i wish you well.leslie
Quote from leslie :-Dhi dan, and welcome to allnurse's.is there any possible way you may be projecting yourself in a way that may repel some folks?do you sound overly-eager, arrogant, presumptuous and/or overly-confident, in trying to market yourself?again, these are only questions you can answer.i'm surprised that ltc facilities haven't even hired you.you've gotten excellent advice, and i wish you well.leslie
i wish you lots of good luck in the job market. the nurses who posted above are right. the hospitals really don't care if you are "highly decorated". Once you go to school and graduate, that chapter is closed , the hospitals only care if you can sign RN after your name.... the job market for new grads these days is very tight and they have their pick of people who will fit their needs.... they don't look at your school records , they look at you. The hospital where i work now i am on a panel that hires new nurses and i can tell you i don't care how you did at school. I talk to you and 20 others and ask you questions and if you impress us .. you got the job. there's plenty to pick and choose from. Our panel saying it " you can talk the talk .. can you walk the walk?" i am sure you will find a job soon, please keep us posted on how you are doing !!
I know that Duke is/was hiring new grads. I am surprised to hear that you weren't able to find a job in North Carolina.
When I started applying for jobs I focused heavily on listing my clinical time as experience and listed specifically tasks and patients I had managed during school. A little more focus on this should give you more of an "experienced" look, then coupled with your achievements in school.Also letters of recommendation from instructors on your clinical experience and knowledge are always a bonus.Best of luck!Tait
My first reaction was military vet looking for a job. In my world "highly decorated" refers to service personnel with a rack of medals.
Thanks for the post. I looked at the Duke Medical Center web site earlier today. I did not see any RN jobs listed that did not require experience. I don't know any one there to ask if there is anything "off the books". I have hit the WNC market (Asheville, Brevard, & Hendersonville) heavier than the rest of the state (due to my location and network).