NEW GRAD RN needs HELP!!

el · Sep 15, 2000

I am suprised that they haven't grabbed you. In New Jersey, we are in such a crunch for RN's that we are starting new grads in the ED and on the units. Personally, I am still a big believer in the importance of getting some general nursing knowledge and general knowledge of hospital policies by starting out putting some time in on a Med/Surg unit. I highly recommend that, and if you meet with a Manager of a floor who doesn't seem interested, ask if there are any other areas or floors that are looking for RN's, chances are she may help by forwarding your resume to another Manager that is also looking for help. Good Luck.

sunfire · Sep 16, 2000

Im sure you will find a job soon. I am from the Chicago area and I see ads in the papers all the time for nurses, including new grads. In fact at the hospital where I work, we are hiring new nurses all of the time. It doesn't matter if they have never worked before (sometimes they make the best nurses).

John_G · Sep 18, 2000

Hiya jasmine!!

you can get a job just about anyday of the week in long term care (nursing homes). This may not be your area of interest (sure wasn't mine) but some experience is better than none. Take a job there and keep looking else where. Don't get discouraged, something will turn up!!

tinkertoys · Sep 19, 2000

Jasmine...

John_G is right. Long term care is a good place to look for work, especially if you can get into a skilled facility. Do your homework - visit as though you were going to going to bring a loved one to stay there. Watch the staff, take note of the patients... are they clean, happy, well taken care of? If it looks good, set up an interview.

I work in a skilled care facility. We have both "nursing home pts" and patients needing skilled nursing care, many of whom are seriously ill. We treat a wide range of pt problems, have a great deal of autonomy regarding pt care - our doctors trust our judgement. In a skilled facility like mine, you can hone your skills, improve your critical thinking, learn to trust your nursing judgement. You don't have to work in a hospital to be a "real nurse". Even if you discover that long term care just isn't for you, you will have gained valuable experience.

GOOD LUCK!

shami · Sep 19, 2000

Jasmine,

I am also a new grad RN. I've been working less than six months. In my state(HI), many hospitals have periodic New Grad RN programs, to provide us with a more thorough orientation. Maybe one of the hopitals in your area may soon be recruiting, check to see if they have something like that. However regarding going straight into a position like ICU may be quite a challenge. I currently work, and stared in a med-surg unit and am barely surviving. It can be very overwhelming, but it is providing me a good foundation (I think ) Best of luck to you.

Fellow New Grad, Shami

joj · Sep 21, 2000

Jasmine, don't give up! Many employers wpould LOVE to have you, as evidenced by NINE grads from my univ. who went to the units. Several of us felt we needed the MED SURG background before moving up. TWO grads were nabbed to be trained as operating room nurses! Hang in there sweetie!

Originally posted by el:
I am suprised that they haven't grabbed you. In New Jersey, we are in such a crunch for RN's that we are starting new grads in the ED and on the units. Personally, I am still a big believer in the importance of getting some general nursing knowledge and general knowledge of hospital policies by starting out putting some time in on a Med/Surg unit. I highly recommend that, and if you meet with a Manager of a floor who doesn't seem interested, ask if there are any other areas or floors that are looking for RN's, chances are she may help by forwarding your resume to another Manager that is also looking for help. Good Luck.

applegal · Sep 22, 2000

Originally posted by Jasmine:
Hello

I recently took my NCLEX and have received my license. Now I've been sending resumes out and have received a couple of calls for interviews. My problem is that I dont have any work experience. I dedicated my time to school, and never worked. It seems that this is a problem to recruiters and managers. The interviews seem to go well but I receive no calls for job offers. Im scheduled for 2 interviews next week. One in the Maternity department and the other in the Neuro/ICU. I feel that I would love working in ICU but are afraid that they wont even consider me because I'm a new grad. I know the as a new grad orientation will be overwhelming regardless of previous work experience. Im just wondering, since I dont have much experience with interviews, how can I make my point across to employers that I would be a good candidate to hire? I feel Im very motivated, and a quick learner and from the bottom of my heart believe to me a very caring person and very eager to start my nursing career. I sometimes think that they see me as someone so young that wont be responsible, and I wish there would be a way where they dont focus on how young I appear. Im from the Illinois.

Thanks in advance for anyone who wishes to comment or advice me on this.

Jasmine

suzanne_58 · Sep 22, 2000

Hi Jasmine!

Just a bit of advice, why not try something a bit slower, such as, a nursing home, home health etc. Get your feet wet without drowning. Believe me, it is the best way to go. Or, if your area has some type of fellowship program, try that. It will let you try different areas of practice and you can find what you would like to do. I was an L.P.N. for 9 years and just got my R.N. myself. I am working on the same floor that I did as an L.P.N. and the new responsibilities are quite different.

With this nurse shortage, you will come up with something. But, don't limit yourself to doing a very high stressed area at first. That is a good way to get burnt your first year.

Good luck

Suzanne

Originally posted by Jasmine:
Hello

I recently took my NCLEX and have received my license. Now I've been sending resumes out and have received a couple of calls for interviews. My problem is that I dont have any work experience. I dedicated my time to school, and never worked. It seems that this is a problem to recruiters and managers. The interviews seem to go well but I receive no calls for job offers. Im scheduled for 2 interviews next week. One in the Maternity department and the other in the Neuro/ICU. I feel that I would love working in ICU but are afraid that they wont even consider me because I'm a new grad. I know the as a new grad orientation will be overwhelming regardless of previous work experience. Im just wondering, since I dont have much experience with interviews, how can I make my point across to employers that I would be a good candidate to hire? I feel Im very motivated, and a quick learner and from the bottom of my heart believe to me a very caring person and very eager to start my nursing career. I sometimes think that they see me as someone so young that wont be responsible, and I wish there would be a way where they dont focus on how young I appear. Im from the Illinois.

Thanks in advance for anyone who wishes to comment or advice me on this.

Jasmine

applegal · Sep 22, 2000

Jasmine:

It's only a matter of time before your hired. Be patient and be picky.. Don't take the first job your offered until you get the scoop on the unit/floor. Get a feel from the nurses working there on patient/nsg ratio, if nsg manger is supportive etc... Med/Surg is a good place to start to establish a good foundation, yet ICU's jump right into all the high tech aspects of critical care. Either way, be it Med Surg or ICU, your going to deal with stress. It's all in how you handle/process the challenges you'll be presented with. Your search is just the beginning...hang in there..they need you more than you know..You got the goods so just be yourself during the interview..

Jasmine[/b]

PINKYE1 · Sep 22, 2000

First of all, congrats!! The job hunt is on. May I suggest initially going into med-surg to give you the foundation, training and skills to be able to move into more specialized areas. You need that base to start and that area will also give you some insight as to which direction you'll steer you career. After a year or so of med-surg, you'll have a good idea of your strong/weak points, and a definitive goal in mind. Feel free to contact me, I'm in corrections. Good luck>

Jasmine · Sep 23, 2000

Its me again. I just wanted to thank everyone for their comments. Its true, its a good idea to establish a good foundation on the general floor first. Sometimes its discouraging though because you think that you'll have to go through another orientation type, once you move to your desired specialty. My ultimate desire is to be in OB. I also wanted to tell everyone, that I might just have a job, in the Neuro general floor, its almost like med-surg but it is a little different and from what I saw also a little harder since patients are just coming out of the neuro/ICU.They have called me to offer it, I just need to complete some tests and Im set I just hope I havent made a mistake in accepting it. Has anyone ever worked in a neuro general floor and if so, how similar or different is it from med-surg? Working in the ICU would definetly be extremely overwhelming and stressful.I accepted the interview to see what exactly the manager said it involved. Maybe I would even consider the ICU once I feel more comfortable. But anyways.. Thankssss All you've been very helpful I really appreciate it. I just hope this job is for sure because Im very excited and cant wait to start gaining that experience.

Jasmine