Is it possible to find a new grad RN job without healthcare experience?

Nurses New Nurse

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I am feeling a bit discouraged. I graduate in April and I have no healthcare experience. I am currently a waitress (have been for the past 5 years since high school) and I am volunteering at a cancer center at one of the local hospitals, but other than that, I have no healthcare experience. My plan is to apply everywhere, including clinics, LTC facilities, etc. If anybody has any advice that would me wonderful. Thank you

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why are you feeling discouraged already? there are GN positions all over that open a few times/year! when you're searching for a job, put 'graduate nurse' in the search bar and quite a few positions should pop up. just keep checking job boards!

btw, im in the same shoes as you (as far as looking for GN positions).

you may not have healthcare experience, but you do have customer service experience and have volunteer hours! you'd be surprised, but a lot of people are impressed with volunteer hours more than anything!

keep your head up and enjoy graduation! apply to jobs, but make passing the boards priority. if you have to continue working where you are now for a few months, so be it! you've accomplished something great. you'll find that it takes a little time to find just the right job!

do not be discouraged! (:

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Thank you for your positive words! Maybe I am worrying a bit too early. I am definitely preparing myself for anything though, that way I am not surprised if it takes me a while to get a job. Again, thank you.

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I was really worried as well and even had a total breakdown and freakout about not finding anything this weekend and 4 days later I have two job offers! I'm also in an area that people told me i wouldn't find anything so stay positive! The worst case scenario of you NEVER being and employed RN is also NEVER going to happen. Good luck!

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Thank you for your positive words! Maybe I am worrying a bit too early. I am definitely preparing myself for anything though that way I am not surprised if it takes me a while to get a job. Again, thank you.[/quote']

you're so welcome! keep your spirits high, you'll be fine.

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Yep! It's tough, sure, but not impossible. Something WILL come up. It may not be your dream job, but it'll get you experience till you can get your dream job! I, too, have zero healthcare experience and managed to get a job! Took me 7 months, but I'm now working on a med surge/oncology floor at the local hospital!

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I was really worried as well and even had a total breakdown and freakout about not finding anything this weekend and 4 days later I have two job offers! I'm also in an area that people told me i wouldn't find anything so stay positive! The worst case scenario of you NEVER being and employed RN is also NEVER going to happen. Good luck!

Thank you :) That is a good point. I know that eventually it will happen as long as I work hard and stay positive. Congrats by the way! That is amazing.

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Yep! It's tough, sure, but not impossible. Something WILL come up. It may not be your dream job, but it'll get you experience till you can get your dream job! I, too, have zero healthcare experience and managed to get a job! Took me 7 months, but I'm now working on a med surge/oncology floor at the local hospital!

Thank you!! That sounds like a great floor to start out in. Congrats and thank you for the encouragement :)

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I don't have any experience and just got my first job, graduated in December, NCLEX in January and start in March...

If you're able to look outside the box, you might have more luck. I looked in small towns that required a relocation. I got 2 interviews doing this and accepted what sounds to me to be the better fit for me -- actually it sounds like anything better than I could have gotten had I stayed in my area. So my advice is look outside the box and be courageous :)

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