How long did it take for you to hear back from Vanderbilt Nurse Residency Program ?

Yep! AMEN...now on to Vandy

Nurse901...yes it's true...cause we have no jobs and nothing else better to do, lol

No kidding....I got lucky enough this week to get a call from my old clinic ( physical therapy) I am filling in for a month....thank GOD. I am so broke RN without a job!

DRobinson85,

I am very shocked that the job market in Houston is saturated. My husband was deciding between taking a job in houston but he ended up taking the one here in Nashville. When we were doing our research it looked like there were way more nursing jobs in the houston area than here. Congrats on your boards as well. how many questions did you get?

Pantingskies,
I live in a town called Hendersonville which is about 30 minutes from vanderbilt. It is an area of town that is beautiful, new and growing. I love it. From what i can tell it appears to be one of the best areas in town. As far as my transition, I had gotten to the point where I was sick of cold freezing snowy winters and was ready for a milder climate, so when the opportunity presented itself for us to move I was excited. I like everyone else thought "I'm a nurse. I'll be able to get a job with no problem." When i got here I realized that the road is not that easy and the market here is significantly more competetive. Keep in mind although I am a new grad, I did work in the ICU for four months plus I worked as an LPN for a year prior to getting my RN. And I too am having trouble even getting interviews here. So I would say that is the only downside to my move because I feel like I have to start all over and I gave up my ICU career which was my dream. Now I don't know how long it will take for me to even get a job that I may not even like. Hopefully Vanderbilt works out because if it doesn't I'm pretty much screwed.

Nurse 901,

Where are you from again? Do you live in a Compact State Now? If you have a compact license and you applied to jobs in wisconsin then you should be fine. Did you try the Aurora Hospitals? I'm surprised you had trouble there. But I know how difficult it is looking for positions out of state because you really don't know where or how to look. Especially if you have never been to an area or don't know anyone.

I bet the reason vandy pays so little is so they can continue to have the funding for the Nurse Residency Program. Vanderbilt is really big on education and stuff and they probably feel a responsibility to offer training to new grads since they are such a big hospital and because of their educational focus. They probably receive grants and stuff to help fund the program too. I don't see how else they could afford it. but i don't think its because of high turn-over. I mean think about it. If all of the new nursing graduates don't find a job how will we ever get trained? Then when they do need us years down the line when all the old ladies retire we aren't going to have any experience. Someone has to take on the responsibilty to train the newbies.

S. Jones: It is horrible here!!! I understand it is hard to believe....37 hospitals within a 50 miles radius. A lot of the places here are on hiring freezes and only taking new grads for May/Jan internships, and with that they are only taking about 25 grads. There are many nursing schools in the area that are graduating high numbers of nurses. My summer class graduated 60 and we are getting ready to graduate 60 more in Dec...Daily I am searching for jobs without any luck. I have even traveled over 50 miles in search of rural hospitals. As far as I know from my graduating class only 6 students have found jobs.

DRobinson85,

wow. that is crazy. I feel better now. I was so dissapointed about not being able to move to houston because whenever i searched i saw so many openings. I also saw a lot of jobs offering sign on bonuses and relocation assistance there where here there is none of that. I will be glad when the economy gets better. So far i have 3 interviews including vanderbilt and i'm keeping my fingers crossed, but i know many people get interviews but no offers. i guess i will have to start looking at long term care or home healthcare if none of these other opportunities work out. Do you have a bachelor's degree? I only have an associates so I'm sure that puts me in a bad position too with some hospitals. Hell maybe i'll just go back to school for something else. But I worked so hard for this career. it sucks. I am so frustrated.

I also have my ADN. Congrats on 3 interviews! Vandy is my first and only. I did interview for a tech position but was told I was over qualified for a docs office....I am desperate! I feel your frustration...I am so broke!!! It is weird because it does look like there are a lot of openings because they do not state you need exp just that (graduate of RN school etc). Its sounds crazy but I have sent out over 100 applications and no luck.