[guineachick]

I have applied to every hospital within a 30 mile radius of where I live. No calls, no interest. How does one get experience if no one will hire you??? I'm so discouraged.

[SAP2008]

I'd call HR at some of the hospitals and ask specifically what areas they hire new grads and go from there. I've found it to be much easier to get asked in for an interview if I spoke with someone from HR and not just waited for them to call me. Good luck!

[bell83]

Find the direct lines to human resources at those hospitals and make sure to speak with a recruiter to check the status of your application and note when you submitted your application. The reason I say make sure to speak to a recruiter is because sometimes receptionists who do not know any information if you request it may blow you off or give you the standard "wait for a recruiter to contact you." I had this same problem when applying for jobs because hospitals receive so many applications for new graduate positions. It wasn't until I called HR that I got interviews. Also make sure you are applying to programs for new graduates which many hospitals have. If you apply to a regular RN position even if it is not specified experience level they may not consider your application. Good luck with everything!

[jjjoy]

Also, if you can go in person to the HR department, that can help. Some places will just blow you off even though they say they are desparate for nurses, but others will immediately introduce you to a nurse manager and start an informal interview right away. Just submitting applications, though, doesn't seem to generate much of anything, unfortunately.

[ilstu99]

Originally Posted by guineachick

I have applied to every hospital within a 30 mile radius of where I live. No calls, no interest. How does one get experience if no one will hire you??? I'm so discouraged.

I had ho-hum luck with online applications - about a 25% response. However, I had a 100% response to in-person applications. I don't know if that would make any difference in your situation, but it's a thought! I'd probably also have someone (former instructor, advisor, current RN) look over my resume and application before I submitted them to see if they had any suggestions. It's also completely okay to ask an HR rep or recruiter for suggestions, or a reason behind their lack of interest.

I hope you get some great responses, and soon!

[guineachick]

Thank you! The thing is... I'm in the North East and apparently we are the only area without a nursing shortage! Figures! I'm going to go in person next week to all the city hospitals and see where it takes me...

Thanks for all of your responses!!!!!

[november551]

Heh...I applied at 2 different hospitals (across the street from each other) when I graduated. Both of them called me within an hour of walking out of their HR offices to set up interviews. They didn't even give me time to apply anywhere else!! Not to mention the hospital that I ended up at had me interview with 5 different nurse managers; who all said they'd hire me, so I basically had my choice of units to work on. To this day when I see them in the halls they say, "Hey when you gonna come transfer to our unit?!?"

[jessi1106]

Congrats on deciding to go in person!

I avoided HR and went straight to the nurse manager on the unit where I wanted to work. Got an interview, got the job, and have been there almost 11 months now.

Good luck to you, and let us know how it turns out!