Advice-FL- NEW GRAD ICU

[DeepBreath]

Hello all,

I am writing this post because I am interested in working in ICU as a new grad and pretty much have my mind set on that.

I am still in school for my BSN, I graduate in May 2015.

Only issue is, I have applied for 3 nursing scholarships in which gives you a stipend if you agree to work for 2 years. I do not care for the stipend, I just want a job offer!

All these scholarships have not chosen me. Two of them I was interviewed for. One of them, (the first one) said I did not answer the questions as good as other candidates. I will admit I was not prepared for that interview.

The next one I did prepare, much more!, and thought the interview went fairly well but was not chosen.

The last one I applied for did not even offer me an interview.

Before nursing interviews, I have always been awesome at interviewing and usually get offered the position.

My resume is okay I have a above a 3.5 gpa, work part time as a cashier for the past 5 years now, and have over 200 volunteer hours for a local hospital in the past 3 years along with other volunteer gig (church). I am a part of my nursing class E-board and a member of the SNA for my state..

I really don't know why I am not being chosen. I plan to go to the career center at my school so they can over look my resume format. In the future I am going to print out business cards and create cover letters even though these scholarships or just general jon inquiry do not ask for one.

In every interview I always come with a folder with extra resumes to provide and a pen/ paper to write down info.

Essentially, I am just looking for any advice on how to get a job as a new grad and especially in the ICU. I am willing to move out of FL just for experience in this area. Is it better for a new grad to apply in a rural area or a certain state that has a better hiring market than S. FL?

Thank you in advance and for reading all of that.

My ego is being completely shot lately.

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

Unfortunately, you may not be chosen simply because there are tons of applicants. Also, find out if they gave the scholarship internally. I haven't really heard of them calling it "scholarships" and instead just call it tuition reimbursement where they pay X amount towards your tuition if you agree to work for X amount of years. Simply put, the odds are against you normally and learn to accept that you will interview a lot and may be rejected even if it went really well. If you can get into that mindset of not taking it too personally, the better it will be.

The more flexible you are the better odds of you being hired and that includes being able to relocate.

I would start trying to get a nursing assistant job now in a hospital that may be more willing to hire internally. Even if it is not the ICU right now, I would try to get the foot in the door and work there for six months or more. Other options include unit clerk/ward clerk, patient transporter, patient care tech, nursing extern, etc. Look for jobs with those names. Work hard at the job and try to keep a positive attitude. Seriously. The more positive and the more you like the work the better people will remember you as a good coworker.

If your hospital has a preceptorship, try to get into an ICU and work hard. Try to get your preceptor to write a letter of recommendation. Start gathering letters 2 months before the last semester of your clinical instructors. I recommend trying to get four or five letters of recommendation from your clinical instructors along with 1 from a coworker and 1 from a supervisor. I wouldn't submit all but you can have a bunch to go through.

Keep the resume simple.

After you're done with nursing school, consdier ACLS. Shop around though. It can be hit and miss and it can cost an arm and a leg. The average price is about 100-150 dollars but if you work at hospital, some will make it cheaper. My former job charged 5 bucks for ACLS and PALS which is the cost of the card. A lot of places will send you to ACLS and a basic EKG class though for free.

Getting a job in a hospital is important but it is not a guarantee of a job. If you can get into an ICU, that's great but I wouldn't hold out for a job in one.

[DeepBreath]

Thank you for your response!! Appreciated!

I have considered becoming a nursing assistant but was wondering if it would be possible to find a position that has a flexible schedule for 10-15 hrs a week.

My program doesnt have any breaks and I do those amount of hours comfortably right now.