Looking for new grad opportunities

BETSRN · Feb 12, 2005

I will be graduating from an accelerated BSN program this August and really want to get into any facet of OB. I keep hearing that it's hard to get hired...but then on here, it seems that lots of people are finding positions. Can anyone give me some generalized locations of where to look? I am in Nebraska right now but willing to relocate anywhere. Also, I'm really interested in the concept of the LDRP units--are there some specific hospitals out there who have these that I can look at? thanks!!

I can only speak for my LDRP, but we never hire new grads at all. When one works in an LDRP, you have to be clinically competent in three different areas and that is totally overwhelming as a new grad.

It's great that you want to go into OB and I'm sure you will be successful. However, with any new job, you need to learn one discipline at a time. Some hospitals will hire into a specialty right out of school and some will not. It varies with the hospital.

So my advice to you is to decide WHERE you want to live (geographically) and go from there. The highest salaries are paid in the Northeast (where I am) and out west. The other areas pay very poorly by comparison.

After you have settled on an area (go with what you like) THEN hospital shop. A great website is http://hospitalsoup.com/hospitalsearch.asp. You can look at any hospital in the country on that site.

Another option is to look at hospitals that have been granted Magnet designation. That gives you a good idea about hospitals that include their nurses in decision making, which is very important. The link for that is http://www.nursingworld.org/ancc/magnet/facilities.html.

As a new grad, you will have so many possibilities! It is so exciting!! No matter where you end up, you should have at minimum a 12-16 week orientation before you even begin to really funtion on your own. Do NOT accept less that that.

There will be jobs wherever you decide to go, so be true to yourself. I can only speak for my geographical area but within Connecticut alone, we have several excellent facilities. The Boston area has tons, as does Providence, Rhode Island. The entire Northeast has more good facilities that one can count.

There are probably good places much nearer to your home, as well.

1) Start with where you want to live and decide that FIRST

2) Find all the hospitals in that area you choose

3) Seek out the quality facilities (try Magnet and teaching hospitals)

4) Then after you narrow the search, talk to each hospital individually.

Be patient. A good job will come your way if you take the time to search for it.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU!!

Jolie, BSN · Feb 12, 2005

I agree that an LDRP setting can be overwhelming for a new grad, but don't rule out mother-baby or NICU. Both are excellent areas for new grads. Many NICU manager actually prefer new grads over experienced nurses because they tend to have an easier time orienting to the unit.

Where in NE are you located? Omaha has a tremendous variety of healthcare opportunities for a city of its size.

Stick to your guns. You'll find a maternal - child position, if that is what you want, when you graduate. Good luck!

jzprple · Feb 14, 2005

I'm in Omaha actually and do think there seems to be a lot of good hospitals here. I'd love to work @ Methodist or in Children's NICU, but I know it's hard to break into both hospitals. The HR manager told me if I can manage to get my preceptorship @ Methodist, I'd probably have no problem getting a job but there seems to be a lot of people in my class wanting an OB preceptorship so there's of course no guarantees. I originally had said NICU all the way and hopefully in my Peds rotation I'll get a chance to spend at least a day in the NICU to see what I think. I just am kinda a crazy happy go lucky person and my classmates keep telling me the NICU may be tooo subdued for me. we shall see...thanks for the advice!

Julie

I agree that an LDRP setting can be overwhelming for a new grad, but don't rule out mother-baby or NICU. Both are excellent areas for new grads. Many NICU manager actually prefer new grads over experienced nurses because they tend to have an easier time orienting to the unit.
Where in NE are you located? Omaha has a tremendous variety of healthcare opportunities for a city of its size.
Stick to your guns. You'll find a maternal - child position, if that is what you want, when you graduate. Good luck!

BETSRN · Feb 14, 2005

I'm in Omaha actually and do think there seems to be a lot of good hospitals here. I'd love to work @ Methodist or in Children's NICU, but I know it's hard to break into both hospitals. The HR manager told me if I can manage to get my preceptorship @ Methodist, I'd probably have no problem getting a job but there seems to be a lot of people in my class wanting an OB preceptorship so there's of course no guarantees. I originally had said NICU all the way and hopefully in my Peds rotation I'll get a chance to spend at least a day in the NICU to see what I think. I just am kinda a crazy happy go lucky person and my classmates keep telling me the NICU may be tooo subdued for me. we shall see...thanks for the advice!
Julie

NICU is never subdued!!

Jolie, BSN · Feb 14, 2005

NICU is never subdued!!

My thoughts exactly, Bets!

SmilingBluEyes · Feb 14, 2005

I would not want to start in LDRP or NICU as a new grad, given a choice. I would want mother/baby, PP or a well nursery experience first. Whoever said NICU is subdued must not work there....it's anything BUT. I can't handle it, myself. WAY too intense, noisy and nerve-wracking.

WhatToDo · Feb 14, 2005

I grew up in Omaha Nebraska (Elkhorn to be exact)! Omaha is a quite city.

I'm in Texas now and the L&D unit where I volunteer hires new grads. The nurses say that not being able to get an L&D job right out of school is a myth, however, depending on where you are, there is not as much of a shortage in L&D as in other areas becuase most nurses that do it never leave.

Good luck to you! You better become a Husker fan or the Nebraskans will kick you out of the state.

RN4mommy's · Feb 15, 2005

I am a nurse manager for a very busy LDR/High Risk Antepartum/and Mother-Baby unit and I have to say I have had quite the opposite experience as some. The ONLY applicants I have been getting for about the past 18 mos is new grads, therefore that is about all I have been able to hire. Since I have had sooo many applicants, I can say that I have had the option of only picking the cream of the crop though. In general, all have adjusted very well. We have a system with the new grads though where we give them 6 mos on mother/baby to "prove" that they have their time management down before we advance them on to L&D/ante. I have to say I don't mind hiring new grads at all because they are very moldable and are generally very excited and eager to be there. I still come from the school of thought that any med/surg experience you obtain will be invaluable to you as well, no matter what career path you choose. Good Luck.

BETSRN · Feb 15, 2005

I am a nurse manager for a very busy LDR/High Risk Antepartum/and Mother-Baby unit and I have to say I have had quite the opposite experience as some. The ONLY applicants I have been getting for about the past 18 mos is new grads therefore that is about all I have been able to hire. Since I have had sooo many applicants, I can say that I have had the option of only picking the cream of the crop though. In general, all have adjusted very well. We have a system with the new grads though where we give them 6 mos on mother/baby to "prove" that they have their time management down before we advance them on to L&D/ante. I have to say I don't mind hiring new grads at all because they are very moldable and are generally very excited and eager to be there. I still come from the school of thought that any med/surg experience you obtain will be invaluable to you as well, no matter what career path you choose. Good Luck.[/quote']
It's a pleasure to hear that you orient your new grads as it should be and you give them a chane to feel really comfortable before moving them on. It's a shame more managers don't follow your lead.

jzprple · Feb 15, 2005

What hospital do you work @?? I'm having a hard time narrowing down how to even do my job search because I honestly don't care where I move--I just want to work in a hospital where teamwork is key. I think you could work on any unit anywhere if you have a great manager and a great team so that is obviously of utmost importance to me...beyond that though--I agree w/ you that as a new grad, I would be willing to do and try just about anything to learn all the ins and outs that I can about OB nursing. I know everyone is different, but as an accelerated student, it's hard for me to think of myself in the same category as a typical "new grad". I figure if I can finish one degree...work for 6 years in fast paced sales environments where I could work on average 60-70 hours a week and still manage to get decent grades in my prereqs at night. And finish all my nursing classes in a year...surely I can learn a new task that doesn't have to be med/surg. But I realize...that's just my opinion. I appreciate opinions like yours that it is a possibility!!!! thanks for the encouragement!

Julie

I am a nurse manager for a very busy LDR/High Risk Antepartum/and Mother-Baby unit and I have to say I have had quite the opposite experience as some. The ONLY applicants I have been getting for about the past 18 mos is new grads therefore that is about all I have been able to hire. Since I have had sooo many applicants, I can say that I have had the option of only picking the cream of the crop though. In general, all have adjusted very well. We have a system with the new grads though where we give them 6 mos on mother/baby to "prove" that they have their time management down before we advance them on to L&D/ante. I have to say I don't mind hiring new grads at all because they are very moldable and are generally very excited and eager to be there. I still come from the school of thought that any med/surg experience you obtain will be invaluable to you as well, no matter what career path you choose. Good Luck.[/quote']

BETSRN · Feb 15, 2005

What hospital do you work @?? I'm having a hard time narrowing down how to even do my job search because I honestly don't care where I move--I just want to work in a hospital where teamwork is key. I think you could work on any unit anywhere if you have a great manager and a great team so that is obviously of utmost importance to me...beyond that though--I agree w/ you that as a new grad, I would be willing to do and try just about anything to learn all the ins and outs that I can about OB nursing. I know everyone is different, but as an accelerated student, it's hard for me to think of myself in the same category as a typical "new grad". I figure if I can finish one degree...work for 6 years in fast paced sales environments where I could work on average 60-70 hours a week and still manage to get decent grades in my prereqs at night. And finish all my nursing classes in a year...surely I can learn a new task that doesn't have to be med/surg. But I realize...that's just my opinion. I appreciate opinions like yours that it is a possibility!!!! thanks for the encouragement!
Julie

Whether or not you can work 60 hours a week is not the issue. Regardless of WHERE you have worked and what you have done, you are STILL a new grad as a nurse. Please watch out because too much confidence is not a good thing and can lead to tragedy! As another poster said somewhere here.........there is no room for large egos here.