Where's this so-called shortage?
- Name: Nhuha Le, 25
- Place: San Jose, Calif.
I graduated from San Jose State University in May and got my registered nurse license in July. I have been searching and applying for an RN position for seven months now and still have not found a nursing job.
I have applied for jobs all over California and also other states such as Texas, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Virginia.
I also applied with travel agencies but had no luck. Most RN job descriptions state "must have at least 1 year of paid or acute care RN experience." Most new grad RN programs either rejected me or did not reply. It is frustrating to graduate with a bachelor's degree and I cannot get an interview or a job.
I am currently working as a caregiver for a home care agency, which doesn't really require any degree. The pay is nothing close to RN pay, and it feels very unsatisfying.
Every time I tell people that I am a nurse and looking for a job, they respond by telling me that it is easy for nurses to find jobs because of the nursing shortage.
The truth is, new nurses are graduating and struggling to find jobs. I want people to know how bad the situation is for us.
