New Grad moving to Oahu

U.S.A. Hawaii

Published

Hello everyone,

I am a new ADN grad moving from TX to Oahu in 5 months. My hunny has received orders to be stationed at Scofield. We are unmarried, so I don't qualify for the debatable "preferential hiring" at Tripler. Does Tripler even hire new grads?

I am very worried about job opportunities. From what I have read, new grad program slots are filled internally, thus requiring me to apply for CNA or clerical jobs before I'm even considered. If this is true, accepting such positions is like shatting (excuse the reference) on the hard work and dedication it took to successfully complete RN school. Unfortunately, from what I have gathered, this is the hard truth.

I also read that home health, hospice and SNF are the most probably options for landing a job. Can anyone provide suggestions that may direct me in finding a job as an RN with no experience, on the island? Any information pertaining to this topic will be of help.

Thank you in advance,

N

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Hi! I'm still pretty new to Hawaii too, but will tell you everything I wish someone had told me before moving here.

- Definitely get your HI license before moving here. HI BON only communicates via snail mail ... which can take some time.

- I have found getting a job here surprisingly difficult. Before moving here I have gotten every single job I've ever applied to (I've been a nurse for almost 10 years). Now while that may be unusual, I haven't even gotten call backs from a lot of jobs I've applied to while here.

- Get a PO box right after you get here, even just for a month. A lot of employers will ignore your job application if you list a mainland address. If you apply to jobs before you get here try to mention somewhere on the application the date you are going to move here

- Be prepared to answer the question of why you're here, how long you're here, if your significant other is military/civilian. I have had to answer some form of these questions during every single interview I've had. Especially when you have an address on base I think people are reluctant to hire you because they assume you'll be leaving the island in 1-2 years.

- All the new grads I've met while here have worked as a secretary and/or tech all during nursing school, then for an additional year (post-grad) before getting into a new nursing role

Sorry for all the bad/discouraging news. I think it's better to know the tough truth going into a move rather than being told you won't have any issues moving here.

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Please don't hate me, but you have to stay in Texas and get a years experience. Or maybe even two years. I lived in Hawaii for 3 years and as an experienced RN with a BSN and varied experience, I had an INCREDIBLY difficult time finding a nursing job. I ended up mostly substitute teaching and working a bit for an agency. As a new grad I think the agency route would be closed to you. And I was only getting 4-8 hours of work per week! My advice is to get into a hospital and get your clinical skills up to speed. Then apply to jobs while you are still employed in Texas. Moving without a job is a recipe for disaster over there. There is a lot of resentment towards Mainlanders and some of it is well deserved. Not everywhere, but enough to make it hard to move there and start out. I am so sorry to have to tell you all of this! If you still move there then there is one small job you should be able to easily get. They give flu shots in the schools each fall and it's Agency work, but fairly easy to get on the list for that. But it's only for a few hours and you'll make about 18-20/hr.

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It is extremely different here, the RN market is saturated therefore the pay is crap unless you work for one of the hospitals and if you are not being relocated for it, you have no chance except a 13 week contract deal with travel nursing. Hospitals here hire their own people, as in known locals.

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Hey what did you end up doing? I am about to graduate from nursing school in GA and literally in the same situation. My boyfriend is being sent there in October.

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