New Grad RN Jobs?

Blink75 · Mar 25, 2014

I graduated from nursing school in IA in Nov. 2013. A few weeks before my graduation date my husband was offered and accepted a position in Naples for a manufacturing company. A week after graduation we were moving to Florida. Once we were settled in and had license plates for our vehicles, and drivers licenses ourselves, I applied to the FL Board of Nursing to sit for my NCLEX-RN. I took my NCLEX in early February 2014. I knew I wanted an internship/residency if I was going to be working in acute care, so the beginning of March I applied to the Lee Memorial internship program. 3 interviews later, (for the same position) I got an offer, and I'm doing my paperwork and physical tomorrow.

Don't lose hope, it can happen! :) Florida needs good nurses badly.

Noir911 · Mar 28, 2014

Hi, I know this is an older post, but I am an RN trained in Canada with no experience. I am licensed in Minnesota, but have no desire to work there. I have applied for the Florida license, but can't be issued one until I have a job offer and get a social security number. I have spoken to a recruiter at Punta Gorda who said he was very interested, but haven't heard from the unit director...very frustrating...I've also considered internship programs/new grad programs, but have been told by recruiters that they often aren't paid positions while being trained and a job isn't guaranteed at the end, which doesn't work for me as I would be moving to take the position and would have to support myself. so my question is does anyone have any suggestions of hospitals willing to hire nurses with no experience? I have tried Florida hospital, Florida Baptist, and some one the smaller hospitals, but getting a lot of 'not hired' or 'perusing other candidates' emails. any suggestions would be very much appreciated. I'm willing to go anywhere. Thanks so much!

Blink75 · Mar 28, 2014

The Lee Memorial Health Systems RN internship is a paid internship. They have a posting on their website the 1-5 of each month where you can apply. Good Luck! Their hospitals are located in the Ft. Myers area on the west coast of S. FL.

Noir911 · Mar 29, 2014

Thank you so much Blink75. I really appreciate it!

jallen326 · Mar 29, 2014

I moved from Ohio about 12 years ago and I was able to secure a travel assignment after 1.5 years of nursing experience in a hospital setting. I must say that a lot has changed since then and it is a lot more competitive. Depending on the area of Florida and the demand for nurses it would be wise to ask around. I have been in Miami for a while now and I am ready to leave the congestion of traffic, among other things. Also being bilingual would be plus down here. Best of luck to you.

Ahua12 · Apr 16, 2014

Hi Blink75,

I am curious to hear how your internship is going? I am currently a new RN working in a acute stroke rehab unit in West Australia but moving to Cape Coral area in Nov/Dec. I am applying to take my NCLEX and if I pass will be applying for a RN internship at Lee Memorial Health Systems. Any advise on getting a internship would be greatly appreciated. Good luck with your new job! Cheers

Blink75 · Apr 23, 2014

Ahua12 It's going great! There is definitely a lot of information thrown at you the first week of orientation. I hit the floor with my preceptor for the first time this past weekend, and it was great. Still a lot to learn, but as a nurse, you never stop learning.

As for advice for getting into the internship, just be confident and be yourself during your interviews. Almost everyone who applies is a new RN so none of us really had RN experience. Kind of makes the playing field level for everyone. You have to make yourself stand out somehow. For me, it was the fact that I had worked at the same LTC facility for 4 years prior to us moving to Fl. (loyal) They make you sign a 2 year contract, because they don't want to invest all this time/money into your training, then have you bail out on them. Think about things/experiences that set you apart from other people who may be applying, and PRAY! I never prayed so much as I did the weeks I was going through interviews and waiting to find out if I got the job!! LOL

Good Luck to you on your NCLEX. Cape Coral, and SW FL in general is a beautiful place to live! We really need good nurses down here!

HeyNurse2014, ASN, RN · Apr 27, 2014

I'm familiar with Brevard county. Just east of Orlando and know for Cape Canaveral (NASA) and Cocoa Beach.

What many don't know is the local community college churns out approx. 60 new RN's each spring (Cocoa) and 60 each summer (Palm Bay). They also have a campus in the north end of the county that features the LPN (EMT) to RN transition program. Also in Cocoa is the (USF) University of South Florida BSN nursing program.

All I'm saying is with the local schools graduating between 150 and 200 brand new nurses each year it makes you wonder just who is getting jobs. It's the experienced nurses... not the new grads.

Blink75 · Apr 30, 2014

Yes, that is why I was so worried about this intern position, there are a bazillion nursing schools down here in SWFL, and all of those nursing students have had most, if not all of their clinical time in one of the Lee Memorial Hospitals.

I got lucky, I passed my NCLEX in February, applied in March, and was hired for April internship. I guess I should not say I got lucky, I worked hard for this, and I earned it. Without having clinical time at any of the hospitals down here or having recommendations from any of the instructors at any of the various nursing schools/programs down here.