new grad who didn't get into a specific nursing program

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi all,

I have a question-I am a new grad who didn't get into a new grad program at one of the hospitals near by. It was a tough program to get into. 900 applied, less than 100 got interviewed and I believe 20 got in. Is it ok to email the interviewer and ask why I did not get accepted and if she has any recommendations? I feel it will be beneficial information for future interviews so I can work on my faults. Please let me know your opinions and how I can address it to the interviewer. Thanks all!

Thanks for the replies so far! By the way- not sure if I mentioned, but I did get interviewed which is why I'm so curious. I can always apply to the next program again and be more prepared. It was my first RN interview. I get really nervous w/ interviews- especially panel interviews & case scenario questions. Even though I'm aware that I know the correct answer, I get nervous when I'm put on the spot. Practice does make perfect & I will practice. I hate to say this- but I am shocked about one specific person who got in the program, which makes me think that having connections with people in the hospital can deffinetly help get your foot in the door.

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Oh and I am thankful that I even got an interview because it must have meant my resume/application stood out from the 900+ resumes/apps

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Thanks AWSMFUN! I didn't realized I wrote Nursing Program instead of hospital new grad program. My bad. Unfortunately I can't edit the title, but hopefully readers got the idea by reading the entire post. Thanks though!

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Here's the thing...yes over 800 people did not make it, and in all likelihood your resume was never even seen, or screened out on some very basic criteria. OK it sucks to be a number but it happens.

Here's how to take a second shot after a first rejection.

Ask away. Ask them what can you do in the future to make yourself a better candidate. Why? Because they will look at your resume without the preconceived notion of weeding people out. They will look at it with the thought process of "Why".

Worst case, they look at it and you still get a stock answer or no answer

Middle case, you actually get some feedback that's useful

Best case, you become "qualified" because they actually looked at your resume, another candidate did not show up or did not qualify after the fact, or any one of 100 reasons...and you find yourself being placed at the top of the list.

You have created a personal relationship with HR just because you asked the question!

You also have a 66% chance of getting something more than had you not asked the question in the first place.

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Sure, it can't hurt. But I would not expect even a reply. If you get a reply most likely they have a form letter for that too.

Reality says: they don't remember you at all. Also something to consider, and, you will probably see this as people you know begin getting hired.

Seems it is unwritten law, that probably the majority of those 20 positions were filled with connected NGs, whether it be family/friend of admin/recruiting/docs/nurses/outside political pressure.

Many times it's that student who you know always having to redo skills check-offs, barely able to muster passing each semester, failed a semester, got homework from former students, or even did not pass boards the first time around (maybe all of these even) who, has miraculously managed to be the first of the FT employed, in the unit of their choice. Unfortunately, these will not make a good nurse -- which will reflect poorly on others trying to get jobs at those facilities without concrete connections from your school. And, of course lest I forget, there's the poor patient population.

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