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Patience is not my strong suit (vent)
I am starting to get very frustrated.
There is an alleged nursing shortage. But there is no money to pay nurses. Nobody is fixing that-- just constantly throwing federal funding to nursing schools to help them expand their programs to include more students.
The hospitals are not hiring new grads at the moment-- CMMC and Mid Coast both only hired a handful (Mid Coast had over 150 applicants for 5 positions; CMMC only hired 2 of us who weren't already employed at CMMC as non-nurses previous to graduation).
How are we supposed to become experienced nurses if nobody will hire a new grad unless you already worked with the facility as a nursing assistant or billing rep?!? Hospice House doesn't have an nursing openings.
I can't even work as a nursing assistant because it is not allowed for an RN to work below the RN license as a CNA.
DAGNABBIT.
I have to go find some cheese to have with my whine... maybe my dog will join me in this pity party for one.
Me:37 MH:38
TTC since Oct 2011
BFP/Beta#1: 13 6/20/12; Beta#2: 20 6/22/12;
MC/Beta#3: 9 6/27/12 BFP#2/Beta#1: 9/21/12
S/PAIFW
Re: Patience is not my strong suit (vent)
Are any of the VNAs hiring? Is there a temp agency for nurses? I'm sorry it's been such a process
Do any of the camps need nurses for the summer?
It's not a question of hiring nurses-- it's a question of hiring NEW nurses. Look at almost every position; they all require a minimum of one year experience.
I can't find any camps. The ones that we knew of earlier in the season were either a) devoid of any doctor's supervision (a little dangerous when you're talking insulin injections, since people die from incorrect insulin administration); b) required living on site; or c) had an application deadline prior to my finding out from CMMC that I didn't get hired by them.
It doesn't help that Maine is 2 years behind the rest of the nation in health care trends-- so if things are still bad in places like Mass and CT, Maine will still be bad for another 2 years. Boogertyboo. I love Maine, but I don't like its limited employment options.
My sister was basically in the same boat as you, but she is a teacher and we all know that there isn't a shortage there. But all of her interviews came back that she needed more experience. You can't get experience if you can't get a job.
So she's moving to South Korea in July where they will give her a job teaching english. I'm not impressed.
Actually, that's a great opportunity for her! I almost did that exact same thing after I graduated college and was finding it hard to get a teaching job! My friend's mom actually ran a program to recruit American teachers to teach English in South Korea.
I didn't do it, though, because I decided to stay and move in with my then boyfriend. I always regretted that decision. LOL
Unfortunately, can't do anything similar as a nurse. At some point, I'd love to do Doctors Without Borders (they take nurses, especially ones who speak French-- the international language of medicine), but they DEFINITELY require experience and since I want to have kids some time in the next 3 years, I don't think that is an option anyhow!
I didn't look up the jobs... I just didn't know what else you had looked at. I know some camps end up needing RNs later on-- at least a few years ago when I was working in the camp world, they would need someone last minute... so I wasn't sure if there was anything posted (but I totally hear you on not having an MD present- that would make me nervous).
The minimum job experience thing can definitely be a challenge... I'm sorry it's so awful.
Man, I am so bummed that you are going through this right now- this job market bites it! I can only imagine how frustrating this must be, especially after coming off of the high of working your @ss off and doing so well in your program. It really sucks that it's such a catch-22 to get into a position. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and sending lots of good juju that you find something soon. If nothing else, you can work on your infant care skills with Sprinkles this summer while we're up!
Hang in there Daniele!
The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware; joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware. -Henry Miller
http://cookthehumbletable.blogspot.com/
That sucks!! I'm sorry you're having such a frustrating go of it especially after working so hard to become a nurse. Not cool, employers! I HATE the vicious "you need experience but no one will give you experience" cycle.
This is actually what's keeping me from going to nursing school.
I would second the rec for nursing homes, though, based on what I've heard from my nurse friends.
**JOB DUST**
I would TOTALLY take a job on a SNF! I just can't find any that are hiring new grads right now-- or any nurses. I want to be an ICU nurse, and a SNF is the only kind of nursing home that will further my experience in that direction.
The nearest nursing home to me that is hiring new grads-- that I can find, at any rate-- is in Farmington, an hour away up bad roads. And their reputation for safety is below the national average (which is not a very high average to begin with). I may still end up applying there, but man-- an hour away in bad weather on bad roads, especially if I am 8 months pregnant (since we can start TTC as soon as I have a job with benefits).... it isn't necessarily a good idea.
This is where patience comes in. I got a call 30 minutes ago saying that once again, a job I applied for requires one year of experience despite not saying so in the description... *sigh* "Just keep swimming...."
This...I was going to suggest schools, but I imagine there aren't a ton of openings. To me, it seems like a pretty sweet job that most wouldn't leave once they were in...but, I really don't know.
I know a girl who was a nurse working through a company where she was basically a traveling temp - she would travel and live all over filling in when nurses were out on leave or where facilities couldn't hire permanent staff for whatever reason. She LOVED it, but I don't know that it would be an ideal situation for most.
We do a school nurse rotation as part of our maternity section of school. School nurses require a certain amount of experience as well as certification/membership in the school nurses professional association...
Traveling nurses also require previous experience.
It is expensive to have a new grad because you have to pay for at least 3 months orientation...
Thanks, though, Ladies!
What about the VA? Are there any facilities near where you live? I've seen them advertise on tv, so they must be hiring, right?!
VA isn't hiring new grads-- they don't have the funding and they already promised jobs to two of their CNAs who graduated nursing school this year and they have no money to hire them! It's bad all over...
@ Megan: Rockland is a bit far-- especially for a 12 hour shift and with gas being what it is. We have been driving MH's little beat up Civic everywhere because it gets twice the gas mileage my Forester gets.
I'm sure something will eventually come up-- I just am not a patient panda. I like to implement my plans asap and get really frustrated when I've got everything lined up and have to wait on someone else to help me finish implementing my plan.
Don't they know my ovaries are ticking??
There is a place in Portland called "Health Dialogue" and I think they work for insurance companies as a hotline type thing. People can call and talk to a nurse with questions, concerns. MIL used to work there. Like Jes said...just trying to get you a job!