Will I Still be Considered a New Grad?

Nurses Job Hunt

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Hey All,

I graduated with my ADN May 2012 , became licensed in August 2012, and have had no luck with jobs. I decided to pursue my BSN to make use of my time while job hunting.

I'm worried that by the time I get my BSN (expected December 2013) I won't qualify for new grad programs anymore since it will be a year and four months since I became licensed & and a year and seven months since my graduation from the ADN program.

I understand it will depend on what hospitals consider 'new grad' but just want to hear if anyone has any insight/experience with this..

You haven't had a job as an RN, either ADN or BSN, yet. Is that correct? You're still a new grad either way. Unless you have obligations locking you into whatever geographical area you currently inhabit, I'd consider relocating when you're done with the BSN.

I'd suggest finding a metropolitan area (NYC, LA, Chicago, Boston, Seattle, St. Louis, Atlanta) that fits your personality and start searching there. Heck, these days there are so many online applications that you could apply to several hospitals in several cities and see who gets back to you. Make sure you let them know that you want to relocate and become a part of their healthcare family. you just have to impress on the HR folks and any Nurse Managers you meet that you are a good investment. Good luck!

You will still be a new grad. You just need to have a good answer to why you havent worked in so long since becoming licensed... which going back to school is a great answer.

-Although I went to a job interview at a state facility and she didnt even look to see if I had worked as an RN she just used the date I got my NCLEX passed and used that as the exxperience??? But I am sure this is rare!!

Specializes in Critical Care, Education.
. . . I'd consider relocating when you're done with the BSN.

I'd suggest finding a metropolitan area (NYC, LA, Chicago, Boston, Seattle, St. Louis, Atlanta) that fits your personality and start searching there. Heck, these days there are so many online applications that you could apply to several hospitals in several cities and see who gets back to you. Make sure you let them know that you want to relocate and become a part of their healthcare family. you just have to impress on the HR folks and any Nurse Managers you meet that you are a good investment. Good luck!

hmm - all of those areas are deluged with local new BSNs at least twice a year. Since they have to comb through a bazillion different applications for every new grad job, hospitals are not supporting or encouraging re-location. Under these circumstances, they are unlikely to look twice at anyone who is not already licensed and ready to go.

So - please don't make a decision and take on more student loan debt based on a perception of 'golden opportunities' in some other area of the country.

FWIW, in my organization, "new grad" means anyone with

A lot of places will consider you an "old new grad," which makes you less desirable (employment-wise) than the people who have graduated more recently. I agree that you might want to consider relocating, if possible, to find a job and agree with the caution about taking on more student debt.

I just got an RN job today and I graduated with an Associate's Degree in Nursing on December 2011 and was licensed on Feb 2012 last year. Don't lose hope. Keep on applying to those jobs and don't get discouraged. About the ADN-BSN part, I'm actually enrolled in a program and I finish this June. The interviewer didn't ask me about it so I don't know if it affected their decision or not. Good Luck!

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