by BosNsgStudent

I am a 5th year senior from Northeastern and it seems that there are ZERO jobs for new grads in Boston. My first choice is Southern California but they don't seem to have any new grad jobs either! I am already wayy into the panicking stage. I have 2 years of PCA experience at Mass General and a summer at Martha's Vineyard Hospital. This doesn't help though when the only openings are for experienced nurses only! Any advice??

Re: Possible to get a job??

My advice is apply anyway and then call the manager. Where I am working at now there were/are no openings for a new grad, yet I applied and went to the manager on the floor. The position I applied to went to an experienced nurse but she had another one and gave me that one. Its going quite well.

Re: Possible to get a job??

There are a lot of new graduate programs in southern california...but there is also a lot of competition. do a google search for hospitals in southern california, call their HR and ask about new grad programs, usually they will tell you to apply online, send a resume, or apply at a later time. you can also go to this website http://www.versant.org/item.asp?id=52 which is a RN residency program (sounds amazing) and you can call up those hospitals. I'm a new grad new to socal also.

Re: Possible to get a job??

Did you check out Sharp Memorial Hosp in CA? I know they did have a new grad program, not sure if the application deadline has passed or not. Versant has a great program, and are mainly in the south and western part of the country. I'm in the same boat as you, passed the NCLEX in Sept, but no job yet. I have started applying out of state at this point.

Re: Possible to get a job??

Hi there. I'm an RN from Boston also so I understand your frustration. I graduated in May of '08 and finally just started my first hospital position as an RN after 9 months and hundreds of apps. The market is really tough here right now....I commute to New Hampshire and my hospital is hiring, so is Portsmouth Regional.

Re: Possible to get a job??

Thanks SarahBeth for that info. I leave in Worcester and i am willing to move any area to get a job.

Re: Possible to get a job??

Hey, how was the summer on the vinyard? I was just looking into it. Anything you can tell me about it?

Re: Possible to get a job??

Working on MV for the summer is a GREAT experience. If you're looking at RN jobs at the hospital, get an ER position, the floor can be more like a nursing home, but in the busy season the ER is very fast-paced and fun to work in! The hospital provides housing to travel nurses/temporary nursing staff (but double check with them for the details on that)- cost of living there is very high. But outside of work living on the vineyard during the summer is like a 24/7 vacation- I definitely recommend it!

Re: Possible to get a job??

i am a first year student in a 2 yr RN program and saw there were summer student nurse positions. How did you get in? Any advice?

Re: Possible to get a job??

Ohh ok. Well my school has connections with them, so that's how I got an interview, and then I guess they just liked me. They weren't sure if they were going to run the student nurse program this summer but now 2 of my roommates from last year are going back, so I know they are but I'm not sure how many positions they'll have open. Other than that I don't really have any advice to give you, but let them know you're willing to work nights and weekends (they require both). Good luck!