Re: New Grad...A must read!!!

Sorry, but I've heard all of the above. Keep trying! You might try something like acute rehab & go from there to acute care.

Re: New Grad...A must read!!!

What a nice post. Very thoughtful and informative. What advice to you have for new graduates in regards to finding a job. I am graduating with an ADN this december and applying to a Rn-BSN program in NYC. I take my NCLEX by february/early march. I quit my full time job and went part time thinking I would have a good chance at landing a job when I graduate. Now, I see the NYC hospitals are saturated and turning away ADN. I have started my job search already and it seems so bleak. My clinical professor said that there are jobs in other states, which is quite depressing to think that I need make another sacrifice by relocating far from family and friends for a job. As I type this post I am studying for my exam and part me thinks it is futile. I have heard many colleagues say if you get a job in a nursing home, hospitals won't hire you. Any advise as to what I should do? This whole situation is quite depressing.

Re: New Grad...A must read!!!

Just keep trying & don't give up. I know it's really frustrating. Sometimes it takes a while. I know a lot of people who have had luck with the skilled to acute rehab to acute care (that's what I did in 1981, when I was a new grad & the job situation was similar). You may try to get a job in acute care as a nurse aide or unit secretary, even environmental services, so you'd already be a facility employee when you graduate. Also, nurture contacts when you do your preceptorship section of clinical--that can be really helpful.
Just an observation: I don't know about New York, but in CA, your chances of finding a job as a new grad with a BSN are even lower than with an ADN (antidotal evidence & observation in acute care in the San Francisco & Monterey Bay areas as well as lots of contact with nursing students and new grads).

Re: New Grad...A must read!!!

Originally Posted by naomi1280

My clinical professor said that there are jobs in other states, which is quite depressing to think that I need make another sacrifice by relocating far from family and friends for a job.

I live in CA and it is also very difficult to find new grad spots here. From what I have heard, every state seems to have the same issue going on, so don't just pack the kids with visions of a greener pasture. There are jobs out there, we are all just having to fight for them.

Originally Posted by naomi1280

I have heard many colleagues say if you get a job in a nursing home, hospitals won't hire you. Any advise as to what I should do? This whole situation is quite depressing.

I don't think that statement holds true in the present situation. I too took a job at an LTC part-time. Try to stay in the sub-acute. I have been on 2 interviews since then and the feedback I have received has been positive that I have been working in the nursing field. I think that everyone understands the situation we have as they are getting 100's of apps from new grads, so an LTC job (especially short-term) no longer has the same negative appeal.

I have also put in hundreds of apps online. Here is what is working for me: Write personalized cover letters (When you see a job posting, call the specific hospital HR and find out who is in charge of hiring for that position. Write a SPECIFIC cover letter: Dear Specific name, I am applying to specific hospital, specific unit yadda yadda) THEN submit your online app with cover letter.
Call that specific person to follow-up with them about a week later.
Email or call your clinical professors. I sent an email about a specific position (NICU) that I am trying for. I asked if they had any suggestions or knew of a specific contact at the facility. Not only did they give me a name, but one wrote me a letter of recommendation, and another called the facility for me. (I went for my interview monday, I am sooo excited)

Do NOT just throw out 100's of apps. Instead of spending that time throwing coins in every fountain, focus on the depts that you are interested in (try float pool too) only, and spend that time making it personal and calling weekly to check in. You have to make yourself stand out. And lastly, try not to spend too much time on these 'I can't find a job' posts because you must stay positive.
Best of luck and love from Cali!

Re: New Grad...A must read!!!

CAN ANYONE TELL ME HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE IN REALITY FOR THE Tennessee board of nursing to mail the new license that i have applied for by endorsement?
Every time i email to the board for anything they never tell me exactly what i want and they are very rude.

PLEASE SOMEBODY TELL ME

Re: New Grad...A must read!!!

"many many positions..."
I'm calling BS on this post. There are no jobs in LTC or ANYWHERE in Washington for new grads!!!
We should all be on the pre-nursing school section of this site right now dissuading the poor innocents from even attempting to get into nursing to begin with.

Re: New Grad...A must read!!!

One of my classmates was checking out the SF Bay area prior to graduating in Dec '08. She was flat out told by HR at area hospitals that the economy had changed the market. Examples she was given included part time nurses with experience were going back to full time and nurses delaying retirement.

It seemed that the people assessing the hiring needs found that the huge losses in home equity and stock portfolios and possible unemployment of spouses/life partners changed the needs in that market.

I think there still is a shortage, but right now the hospitals would rather hire experienced than put $40-80K into training each new grad they hire.

Re: New Grad...A must read!!!

Originally Posted by SunDazed

One of my classmates was checking out the SF Bay area prior to graduating in Dec '08. She was flat out told by HR at area hospitals that the economy had changed the market. Examples she was given included part time nurses with experience were going back to full time and nurses delaying retirement.

It seemed that the people assessing the hiring needs found that the huge losses in home equity and stock portfolios and possible unemployment of spouses/life partners changed the needs in that market.

I think there still is a shortage, but right now the hospitals would rather hire experienced than put $40-80K into training each new grad they hire.

This is sad but true!!!! Has your friend found a job yet??!?!?!? I'm still looking and it seems that wherever I have applied, they give preference to those who precepted there or had some type of fat a** connection to the hospital. SO FRUSTRATING!!!! BUT gotta keep our heads up!!!! Like my friends tell me, the "RIGHT JOB WILL FIND YOU...." I really do hope so.....i'm thinking positive and maybe GOD has a better plan for me and those who haven't landed jobs yet. You know that saying, "when one door closes, another one/a better one opens...." just be patient...

Re: New Grad...A must read!!!

[quote=smn2009;3923768]Sistasoul:


"Additionally, hospitals in Arizona, Texas, Washington and others have many, many positions that seek an RN with "less than 1 year experience." Again, I am not sure where you all live; but you might want to consider applying for RN positions out-of-state in order to get a job."

I don't know where this information is coming from. I have seen in several posts how Arizona is looking for people. Let me assure that is far from true. I live in Tucson and it looks like none of the hospitals are going to have their new-grad programs this January because of contracted people who were not picked up by their contracted hospital. These other hospitals therefore felt obligated to give them what would have been open new-grad positions. I have a friend in Phoenix who was just plain lucky and got a job at a SNiF. Let me reiterate. Arizona is not open to new grads. As everywhere else they want experienced only. I am here in Arizona and have applied to, and am now praying that, I will be accepted into the Samaritan Health critical care internship program. SNiF's here, as elsewhere are only taking experienced nurses also, or are just not hiring at all. Good luck to all in your search. I will keep you all in my prayers, as I hope you will keep me in yours.

Re: New Grad...A must read!!!

I haven't been here for quite sometime now. After reading all the post, it made me realize that the problem is not only here in California, but everywhere else. Just like everyone else who doesn't have enough acute experience, i'm still hopeful that one day, there will be a newly grad program awaiting for me in a hospital. However, as California HUGE budget deficit seems to be getting worse day by day, my hope of landing a hospital job is going down the drain. Some say by next year, there will be a hospital opening for newly RN grads...is this really true? Even if its true, how many openings will they have? Is it enough to accomodate the number of RN graduates? Probably not. Correct me if I am wrong but nowadays, we need inside connections in order for them to pull out our file and even be considered for a position. Do you really think that nurse recruiters will go thru each application one by one... Sorry for being to pessimist.