Frustrated New Grad

U.S.A. Florida

Published

Hello, I am a newly licensed RN who just moved to the Tampa area. My husband's job was transferred from Illinois to the Tampa area, and my family lives here. I do have my RN license for Florida. I am having a really hard time finding a job. I have a Bachelor's Degree in criminal justice, an Associate's in Nursing, and 2 years CNA experience at a Top-100 Magnet Hospital. I have applied to several residency programs (Florida Hospital-Tampa, Florida Hospital- Orlando, Bayfront in St. Pete, St. Joe's) and hundreds of open RN positions. I have heard Lakeland hires new grads, but I haven't heard anything from them after submitting an application. I am becoming increasingly frustrated with the job search. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions of places that might hire a newly licensed RN?? Thank you.

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I believe your problem is AS degree. They want BSN for new grads and it does not matter if you have a bachelor in something else.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Have you applied for non-hospital positions that are less likely to have a BSN degree requirement? Florida is the land of nursing homes and physical rehab centers.

There are pain clinics, doctors offices, hospices, home health companies, jails, prisons, private duty agencies, group homes, assisted living facilities, and other non-hospital healthcare employers that would be more apt to give a new grad a chance at a job.

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St. Joesph is hiring right now, just recently had a interview but they are looking at internal applicants first. St. Joseph-south will be opening soon so the recruiter told me that he was told to "over hire" because many of the senior nurses will be transferring there. Baycare is the only hospital that would accept ASN degrees, everywhere else wants BSN. Just keep applying and don't give up. Good luck! I work for Baycare that's how i scored and interview.

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Thank you all for the advice. I applied to a couple nursing homes that I found on Indeed. Is there a website besides those like Indeed, Monster, Simply Hired, etc that has a lot of nursing home/clinic jobs posted? I haven't heard from St. Joseph's yet either way, keeping my fingers crossed that I'm still in the running! Best of luck to you as well Cruzan!!

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Bayfront has their Nurse residency posted now. I'm so desperate for a job I applied to florida hospital orlando, their Nurse Residency is posted now & they both hire ASN. Good Luck! Will keep you posted.

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Thank you for the advice about Bayfront. I applied to the Orlando one too, I'm hoping to catch a break somewhere, will keep you posted as well!

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The problem is not BSN either as there are PLENTY of those around looking for a job. The problem is you don't know someone on the inside unfortunately. I wish you luck, and start networking. You never know who knows who.

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Hello, I am a newly licensed RN who just moved to the Tampa area. My husband's job was transferred from Illinois to the Tampa area, and my family lives here. I do have my RN license for Florida. I am having a really hard time finding a job. I have a Bachelor's Degree in criminal justice, an Associate's in Nursing, and 2 years CNA experience at a Top-100 Magnet Hospital. I have applied to several residency programs (Florida Hospital-Tampa, Florida Hospital- Orlando, Bayfront in St. Pete, St. Joe's) and hundreds of open RN positions. I have heard Lakeland hires new grads, but I haven't heard anything from them after submitting an application. I am becoming increasingly frustrated with the job search. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions of places that might hire a newly licensed RN?? Thank you.

You should get additional certification acls and pals that is what im doing I got my license last month and haven't heard anything back :(

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That is a good idea shay, that you for the tip! Still haven't heard back from any of the over 450 jobs I've applied to :(

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That's is discouraging I have been an lpn for seven years and just got my rn last month my job only wants to increase my pay one dollar in a nursing home where the work is ten times harder I want a hospital job so I gain some new skills I feel like im going to have to move to get a decent job I have bills to pay .

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Im up at four am stressing which residency programs are you all applying for all the one's I see say bsn required

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