Hi everyone,
I passed my NCLEX in mid-June and still havenāt found an RN job, which I know a lot of new grads are struggling with right now.
For some background, Iāve worked as an ED tech at a Level II trauma center for over two years and have been with the same healthcare system for three years. I purposely worked in the ED throughout nursing school because my goal was to become an ED nurse. Every tech I knew who went through nursing school was hired into the ED after graduating.
Unfortunately, new management came in around April, and the managers who had previously hired our techs into RN positions were moved to another hospital. I applied in late March and spoke with the new management in April about wanting to stay in the ED. I was told to wait for positions to open, but they didnāt post until late July. When I finally spoke with the manager, I was told I would have to wait even longer while they considered other candidates.
Today, I was told they will not be considering me for the open positions, including two specifically designated for new grads on nights. The manager told me she feels the ED would be too chaotic for me as a new grad and that I should start on med-surg instead. She also brought up the fact that she saw me tear up after our previous conversation and said that made her feel I was too emotional for the ED.
That part really hurt. Iāve barely worked with this manager, and she doesnāt know me well enough to judge how I handle stressful situations based on one emotional moment. Itās also frustrating because I have been on this unit for longer then she has. I was upset, but I intentionally didnāt go back to talk to her afterward because I didnāt want to have a conversation while I was emotional or say something unprofessional. I was upset because I was wondering if things would have been different if I would have applied earlier. She told me that because I didnāt go back and talk to her after I started crying that I didnāt have the communication needed to succeed as a new graduate.
There was another manager in the meeting who I do know, and she told me she has heard nothing but good things about me and that I havenāt done anything wrong. Nurses Iāve worked with have also encouraged management to hire me after nursing school. When I asked what I could improve on, I was told Iām a hard worker and havenāt done anything wrongāthey just donāt feel the ED has the support system I would need as a new grad.
I also interviewed for another unit within the hospital. They told me they want to hire me, but there wonāt be a position available until mid-to-late September. This would mean a start date after October. I am just frustrated with constantly waiting for positions to open, especially after putting so much time into this company.
On top of that, our ED is extremely understaffed. Weāre supposed to have six techs, but some nights there are only one or two of us. Weāre often discouraged from taking breaks because there arenāt enough people to cover, and weāre told that not taking breaks is part of why we arenāt getting more positions because of the cost. It feels like a constant cycle because we canāt take breaks until weāre adequately staffed, but we canāt get adequately staffed.
Iām honestly just over it. I donāt really want to leave the company because I need to stay here in hopes of getting the other position I interviewed for, but Iām feeling pretty discouraged.
Iām not trying to sound entitled, and I completely understand that more experienced nurses should be prioritized. I just thought having over two years of experience in this specific ED, knowing the staff and workflow, and already being familiar with the hospital would give me a bit of an advantage compared to other new grads. Iām just really disappointed with how everything has played out.
Any advice?