Just passed NCLEX Oct. Having Troubling finding a Job

i think it's hard for a new grad to get a job because of the ecomony here in vegas. many of the hospitals have stopped hiring new grads and some hospitals are laying off nurses. i have a friend who passed RN boards last august and just got a job last week. she put in applications everywhere ,but the hospitals just arn't hriring like they did. i don't think being forgien trained has any bearing. it's just the ecomony.

don't give up and keep trying.

I'm sorry I can't help you out! I'm just about to start the nursing program and these stories scare me! But I just wanted to tell you CONGRATS on passing the NCLEX!!! That's a great accomplishment! Just keep doing what you can to find a job!

I'm a new grad here in LV and got a couple of job offers before i graduated and was able to choose where I wanted to go. These came from clinical placements. The unit managers got to know me and I actively pursued them. Don't bother with HR here. You have to call and set up appointments directly with unit managers. That way, even if a new grad position isn't posted yet, or even created, they can make one for you. I've had several friends in my class who've had positions "created" for them after getting to know unit managers. It's true that many hospitals out here have curtailed hiring new grads in noncritical areas. EDs are still good places to try to get a new grad position. At my hospital these ED new grad positions are never posted on HR website because my UM has no problem filling them with aggressive new grads who take the initiative to call him.

I was also looking at the paper the other day and saw that North VIsta was hiring. I know they take new grads in their geropsych unit. It's a place to start at least. But really go to any recruiting fairs you can and contact UMs directly, no HR.

D

A lot of people say that new grads should contact the UM but what if you don't know the names of the unit managers in the first place? Do I just go and drop by every floor in a hospital and ask to speak to the UM? Wouldn't that make me stalker of some sort? As much as I would love to be aggressive about it, I don't want to come off as obnoxious or demanding. and what is the point of having a HR department if they don't work together with the UM?

No you will not seem obnoxious. If done correctly you will appear professional, independent, and enthusiastic. Simply call each unit and ask the name of the Unit Manager, if they ask why, just state that you want to contact her/him. RNs, not just knew grads do this all the time. Maybe they have lots of experience and just want to switch hospital systems so they will talk to a UM first to see if they'd fit there. Although some of the hospitals are laying off or cutting back overtime hours with some floor staff, there are still high demand areas. I work ER and we are the moneymakers for our hospital as we are now responsible for the bulk of admissions. We do hire new grads. We do it in cycles to give the preceptors a rest. And don't drop in, always call first and set up an appointment. Also HR sucks out here. It's true. When you put in an application it does not automatically go to the UM. HR holds it and the UM will call up and say "Send me 5 apps with at least 1 yr experience, etc." Then the HR randomly picks 5 (usually the most recent) to send. If you contact and meet with a UM, even if a new grad position isn't posted, they can create one for you, then officially request your file from HR. Also some UMs like to pick new grads at job fairs too where they can meet and judge your personality. You just have to be persistent in a polite manner.

Good luck
D

congratulations on finding a job!

now I'm in your spot... I graduated this December from nursing school in Nebraska and just moved to Vegas. I have my R.N. license but Can't find a job!!! When applying on-line one of the "screening" questions is "have you graduated within the last year?"... then I get a "sorry you don't meet the minimal requirements."

any suggestions?