Florida New RN Needs Job!!!

Nurses New Nurse

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hi to all...i am writing because i am about wits end with the job searching. i worked so hard in school, i had impeccable grades, i had a great reputation as an excellent, intelligent student with all my professors both in lecture and in clinical. now after i passed my boards i am finding it impossible to find a job.

i have sent out i don't know how many applications. i send at least 5-10 a day. i currently live in miami but i have sent applications everywhere from miami up to orlando. that's as far as i can really go in regards to relocating. i have sent personal letters with my resume to nursing recruitment at different hospitals. nothing.

so my question is...does anyone have any suggestions? is anyone aware of hospitals that do hire new grads? i know of some that have the versant program but that would mean i have to wait til january to apply and if i do get accepted, i have to wait til march to work. i cannot afford that right now. i stopped working to go to school full time and can't continue to not work now.

please send me your suggestions :uhoh3:

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I'm also a new RN in Florida. I just recently got position in ICU and I start work in the upcoming weeks. My suggestion to you would be to call the HR departments of hospitals and ask to see what they are looking for and also contact as many nurse recruiters as you can. I've learned that some positions that ask for 1 year of experience may be given to a new grad upon review of your clinical background, etc. Its coming to the end of the year so jobs should began to pick up. I know Florida Hospital are bringing new grads in for December and other hospitals for January like at Parrish Medical. I hope this helps and good luck with your search. Also check out my thread ' Nurse Recruiters in all 50 states' there you can find the e-mail and telephone numbers to many nurse recruiters in FL.

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Thank you so much BSN graduate...I will definitely check it out. I've been sending my applications generally but I have already started to mail them in to the Nursing Recruitment dept specifically of some hospitals. Thank you again and good luck with your new job!! Cherish it!!! :yeah:

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Hi! I am not in Florida but in the same situation regarding looking for an internship/residency. Have you thought about attending nursing job fairs? I have been to 3 in the last few weeks and have met many recruiters face-to-face and have handed out my resume and picked up business cards. Nursing Spectrum/Nurseweek and Advance have job fair events posted on their website. Hope this helps!

Good luck!

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Specializes in Pediatric Cardiology.

I know you probably want to work in a hospital but have you tried nursing homes and other specialties? I am a new grad as well and once I started applying outside the hospital I got a job in pedi home health. Not ideal but a job none the less.

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Hi Jadu1106...I am going to a job fair on Monday actually. I'm excited about that because they have a specific time slot for new grads. So fingers crossed!

And hi PediLove2147! I have applied to all specialties, including home health. But even home health is getting picky. A lot of them are requiring all these classes (alzheimers, OSHA, etc.) just to apply and then who knows if after you spend the money on those courses they hire.

But I haven't given up...I gotta keep trying. I'm going to register for a Critical Care Course for November and I guess just keep trying to make my resume look more inviting in the meantime. I know I'll find something...your suggestions just give me more ideas! Thanks again! :redpinkhe

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I am a new RN grad who graduated in May from a very well known nursing school in Miami...i was in the same boat as you. Fortunately, i am one of the few who finally 2.5 months got interviews and the such and job offers. This is what i learned...it's all about timing and just calling and going at the right time. I devised this game plan about two weeks ago, but i never got to use it...

In addition to applying over the internet, fax your resume, cover letter, and any letter of recommendations to the nurse recruiter at each hospital you are interested in. Make sure you call ahead, and get their name and address everything to them. Then call them or go to HR office and talk to the recruiter. Don't be overly pushy, just show them your interest and enthusiasm. Tell them you applied online and faxed them your resume, cover letter, etc. Then tell them that you realize that they have probably been swamped with calls from new RN's but you are interested in their specific facility, and tell them why. Maybe it's a feeling you get when your there, maybe you know someone there..Try to make yourself stick out. Ask them for their business card, wait a couple days and call again. DO NOT STALK THEM, just try a few phone calls, if no response..wait a bit...a week or two, then politely call again and tell them that you are still interested in their facility and if any positions open up, you would love for them to consider you.

This is what my mom who used to be the director of human resources at a home health agency told me to do. Faxing is great, bc then it get's put directly on the recruiter's desk. Just make sure you address the fax to the recruiter, using their specific name, Faxes are alot easier to look at, and if it's on ur desk, your more likely to look it or catch a glance, instead of having to pull up apps on the computer.

Try those tricks, and good luck. With persistence you will find something, just try and have patience even if it's hard.

I was in your shoes, so i can sympathize. Good luck!

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Specializes in Home Health- LTAC- Telemetry-.
Hi Jadu1106...I am going to a job fair on Monday actually. I'm excited about that because they have a specific time slot for new grads. So fingers crossed!

And hi PediLove2147! I have applied to all specialties, including home health. But even home health is getting picky. A lot of them are requiring all these classes (alzheimers, OSHA, etc.) just to apply and then who knows if after you spend the money on those courses they hire.

But I haven't given up...I gotta keep trying. I'm going to register for a Critical Care Course for November and I guess just keep trying to make my resume look more inviting in the meantime. I know I'll find something...your suggestions just give me more ideas! Thanks again! :redpinkhe

I am also a new grad in miami who stopped working to finish school... I had sent I think 200 aplications to every job out in the market... never even got a call... I finally got a home health job, not my dream job but at least I will get some of that experience everyone is asking for. The classes required are three, 20 dollars each, it is worth taking them, and you can take them one at a time since the money is tight...Good luck

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Specializes in Public Health Nurse.

Just attended a job fair this October at the Broward Convention Center, supposedly welcoming new graduates.....well, I am sorry to say it was a joke. I spent gas for nothing.... I was excited about going, because I felt once I met these recruiters I may get at least an interview, but what a disappointment, they were not looking for new graduates, rather, for those with at least one year of experience....how can we get the experience, when we are not getting hired? Sigh....

I did get a coffee much, a tote, a lunch bag, and plenty of pens and hand sanitizers, but it would have been nice to have a job so that I can use these :shy:

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I also applied to around 75 jobs, the ONLY two who offered me positions, were two of the hospitals where I had clinical rotations.

Since I was there for clinicals, for those two positions I also FAXED my resume and cover letter, AND CALLED THE FLOOR where the position was open, and spoke to the Nurse Manager, letting them know I had been there during school, how much I loved it there etc etc etc.

BOTH of those places offered me a position, and of course I took one.

I wished I had not wasted time filling out all of the other applications.

At first I only wanted a hospital close to home and not one where I'd had clinicals (they were much farther), but beggars can't be choosers and the drive is only three days a week.

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Specializes in Public Health Nurse.
I also applied to around 75 jobs, the ONLY two who offered me positions, were two of the hospitals where I had clinical rotations.

Since I was there for clinicals, for those two positions I also FAXED my resume and cover letter, AND CALLED THE FLOOR where the position was open, and spoke to the Nurse Manager, letting them know I had been there during school, how much I loved it there etc etc etc.

BOTH of those places offered me a position, and of course I took one.

I wished I had not wasted time filling out all of the other applications.

At first I only wanted a hospital close to home and not one where I'd had clinicals (they were much farther), but beggars can't be choosers and the drive is only three days a week.

I so happen to have filled an online application online today to a hospital that will probably take me 45 - 60 mins to get there.....did not want to go that far...but I am willing to travel.

Hard to get the phone number of the floor where the unit is at. The hospital does not provide those numbers.

I am keeping the faith.

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to SENSUALBLISSINFL, they didn't say in the ad if it was med surg or oncology etc?

i called the main number and said, such and such unit please- they transferred the call-- when phone was answered i asked to speak to the Nurse manager on that floor, they said ok may i ask why, and i said, it's about the job posting you have, and they transferred me.

my drive is 30 miles BUT it is only 3 days a week, and we drive when most others are off the road, due to our 12 hour shifts, so it's not bad :) i wish u the best.

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