Employability of new grad nurses in Georgia - Page 3

During Summer 2010, I had the opportunity to complete the nurse extern program summer after junior nursing year @ Gwinnett Medical. They have a nurse residency program too and I was told priority would go to externs that were in the program. I graduate in MAY 2011 and will apply to the residency program hopefully I will get it.

I would suggest looking at Wellstar. I know Kennestone ER has a new grad program too.

Also another route is to consider the Air Force reserve once you complete your training you will become "gold" even as a new grad!!

LMK if you have any questions

BTW wellstar has a chat session with nursing recuiters on Tuesday and Thurs

Hey 2bLeonurse I was looking into the Gwinnett medical externship for this summer. Can you tell me more about it?

I am a new grad from a school in the Atlanta area and recently obtained a job in a level II trauma center's ER outside of the Atlanta area. I work as a tech at Wellstar until I start at my new job, but my advice for those who haven't graduated yet is to go ahead and get a tech job. The recruiter handling the new grad residency positions told me that anyone who already works there is pretty much guaranteed a spot in the new grad program. However, they are going to be hiring very few if any new grads in women's services, probably none in the ER or ICU unless you are a tech in one of those areas. So if your heart is set on one of those areas, and you're not willing to take any position, you may want to look elsewhere. Keep in mind if you do take a new grad position you will be required to sign a 2-yr contract. This is all exactly what the recruiter told me directly. I live a good ways away from Atlanta, and it just wasn't worth it to me to have to drive so far to work in an area that wasn't what I really wanted. I figured I would just keep working as a tech until I got what I wanted; I am lucky enough to have the means to make that choice. I know some don't. However, if you are willing to live outside Atlanta, (much lower cost of living anyway), or are willing to drive and just take the pay cut, it IS easier to get a job in the more rural hospitals in Georgia. The one I have been hired to does not have a formal new grad program, but they offer a very lengthy and generous orientation. Some will skimp you on orientation, though, so be careful. A friend of mine started at a 70 bed hospital outside Atlanta and was given 8 weeks of orientation for med surg. She's doing fine, but 8 weeks is kind of short IMO.

Be persistent when you apply - call them over and over (give them a few days- a week to call back of course) until you hear back and keep reiterating how interested you are in working there. Send a thank you note after the interview. Have answers prepared to the standard interview questions; it makes you look more confident. Whatever happens, though, keep trying! There is a job for you somewhere!

I am a new graduate RN with a BSN. I was just hired at CHOA. It wasn't hard at all but I do have 7 years experience as a tech. I just applied to a Staff Nurse position that didn't have a specified number of years experience required.

I took me a while to find a job as a new RN. After doing a lot of searching I finally found one. I hope things turn around there is only so long that new grads cant be hired until older nurses retire or find new jobs. Good luck!

How bad is it here in Georgia for new grads? Could your classmates find jobs too?

Were you a tech at CHOA or in peds? Just curious! Congrats on the job!

I'm here in Atlanta and quite a few of my classmates already have jobs. Many were hired right into the units where they had practicum: 4-5 into Mother/Baby at Northside, 6-8 at Piedmont (Surgical Services, CCU, ICU, Mother/Baby), a couple at Grady, 8-9 at CHOA (Yay! That's where I will be , and some hospitals are just now holding interviews(Emory, Gwinnett Medical) so I'm sure more will be placed soon! I'm sure there are more places but I can't remember them all now...