New grad looking for internships in San Diego

Apply to all the hospitals online. Follow-up with a phone call to the recruiter. If the recruiter forwards your resume to specific units find out the name of the nurse manager for the unit(s) and hand-deliver a copy of your resume and cover letter, along with an additional letter addressed to that units nurse manager. Include letters of recommendation and a copy of your license, cpr, acls, etc. A resume sent to a unit by the recruiter may just sit there on the NM's virtual desk top. It helps to stand out by hand-delivering your info. I did not ask to see the NM (I am sure they are busy) I just left my envelope in their mail slot on their office door. Some recruiters may frown on this so I just called the units to get the NM's names. I spent a month applying and talking to recruiters before I did this and it was only then, did I get an interview. (and got the job)

There is a huge nursing shortage - but for experienced nurses. A hospital can only fill so many slots with inexperienced nurses and the new grad market is saturated in San Diego. Most large metropolitan areas and areas that are desirable to live in are saturated and competitive. I am sure NICU is even more so.

Most of my friends back home got new grad jobs via knowing someone. Connections can go along way in landing a good job and nursing is not immune to this. I didn't know a soul when I moved to SD and I am thankful I finally got an offer that is challenging.

Good luck!

Have you tried the Naval Hospital?

http://www-nmcsd.med.navy.mil/command/jobs.cfm