Wow its really hard to find a job as a NEW GRAD RN...

Nurses New Nurse

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Its very depressing :( , cant find a job here in California.

Keep hopes and be prepared, that is what we can do:)

Ok i agree with most of the comments here...

I graduated in December, 2011, took the nclex a little later in april. That was a big mistake because in the DC/MD/Va area

it is really a tough market. I say if you live in MD or VA first get that instead of DC. You are limited if you only do DC, because too many schools not enough hospitals. I literally would wake up and apply to hospitals everyday, from Southern VA, all the way to Delaware. I would say don't be picky, and pretty much say yes to any thing that says new GRADUATE. Also, if you can be a tech like once a week, volunteer even; get the foot in the door. My only classmates that got jobs were techs. I literally applied to 50 hospitals, I got 5 interviews. Even getting interviews is an accomplishment these days. One thing that really sucked was that since I had my ADN, I was competitng with all the BSN people. I even interviewed at Children's-3 people in one room, had a background check,drug screen only to be told the day before decisions that I would not get hired becasue I didn't have a BSN. I was mad for a month. However, I kept trying it took me 9 months to get the job at INOVA. For interviews, practice with a nurse because they ask a lot of "behavior questions" and scenarios too in most hospitals around here. So, keep your head up and don't give up.

I didn't and it payed off!!!!!!!!!

Specializes in Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN).

I graduated with a BSN over a year ago (May '11), passed the NCLEX with flying colors and only got hired to work in a hospital this past week. And at that, it wasn't in DC/MD/VA - where I already own a home. About 9 months ago I decided to start applying for jobs nationwide in VA hospitals. After getting several job offers that let me get a little choosy, I decided to accept a job with a VA hospital in the deep South because I like the patient population. I figure I'll work there a year, then try to transfer back to NoVA.

For anyone who hasn't considered working at a VA hospital, the salary and benefits for BSN grads are great. You get a competitive starting salary, full medical/dental/vision insurance, and are part of the Federal Employees Retirement System. Oh, and you also get 26 days of annual leave plus 10 federal holidays starting in year 1! And no matter which state holds your RN license, you can work with that license in all 50 states in a VA hospital without having to get your license endorsed into that state.

The only downside is the hiring process. It's unbelievably slow and arcane. Here's a sample:

- Go on USAJOBS.COM and apply for a job

- Wait 2 months with no further information or response to your emails or phone calls

- Get notified out of the blue that you've been accepted for a phone interview

- Wait 2 weeks for interview

- Wait another month with no further feedback after the interview

- Get notified that you've been "selected" to be hired. But no info on salary or start date.

- Go thru another 2 months of serial bureaucracy, including physical, fingerprints, background investigation, security clearance

- Finally get a job offer including a start date and starting salary

Total elapsed time: about 5-6 months.

Hi all,

I haven't read thru all the posts yet but wanted to add my 2 cents for what it's worth. It's not about what you know, so much as its about WHO you know. Starting out at least. Unless you have some great medical background, new RN resumes are a dime a dozen, ESP in my area where nursing schools are pumping out new grads at a high rate. It's all about networking. Make good impressions at your clinical sites and get your name out there. Obviously this is not some steadfast rule but you get my drift. I got my new grad RN position because I had a friend who worked on the unit and she got my foot in the door for an interview, then it was up to me from there. In my case I literally tapped into every resource I had in relation to people I knew at hospitals and had back up plans for my back up plans haha. Best of luck to you all on your job searches :)

Thanks for all the advice everyone has listed.

I'm trying to change jobs in nursing - and it is really, really harder than I expected.

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