Most new-grad GN/RN jobs filled by techs in St. Louis (2010)

[in2ICU]

Hi - I am a nursing student in my last semester of school in St. Louis, MO (BSN graduation in September). I have been a tech for a little over 1 year working for a major area hospital. Luckily I have landed a job in the unit where I work, but many of my peers are not so fortunate.

Sometimes in nursing school the administration frowns on students working - saying that they need to focus on their studies. Well, this is going to lead to no experience and no job! I know a person in the HR department at my hospital and was told that they mostly hire from within - and experience is the #1 factor to at least be considered for a position. The majority of new grad nurses worked as techs for the hospital - so they were already "in the system" and knew the ins and outs of the workplace. At my hospital, I was told that number is around 75% (GN positions filled by techs who currently work there).

My advice to all of you nursing students in St. Louis - get a hospital job! Even if you have to start out as a unit secretary (which would be great, by the way) before you start nursing school (during pre-reqs), then you could switch to a PCT/SNT or PCA once you finish your first clinical semester. I hope this helps some of you make a critical decision that will put things in your favor when applying as a new grad! Good luck!

[Donald11]

I am not sure about the training. I am pretty sure that when you start, someone goes along with you. In fact, I remmeber back when I was in high school, my mother was supervising a new RN who was just hired. And in regards to transportation, yes, you must supply your own. But you are generally reimbursed. But as long as you don't work per-diem, you do get paid for the time it takes to go from one patient to the next. If you are per-diem, you only get paid per visit, so your not being paid while traveling.

[KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN]

Alot of home health companies want their RN's to have experience before they hire them..at least a years worth.