ADNs having problems getting jobs?

I just recently graduated from San Jac's nursing program. Luckily I was able to be immediately hired in the ER at Bayshore because I had been teching there for the past 6 months. I know that a lot of people in my class are having a hard time finding jobs. The main reason that the jobs aren't as plentiful is because of the UTMB medical personnel that flooded the job market after Ike. Many EXPERIENCED nurses needed to be placed in jobs and have still not returned to Galveston. As a result, there are less available positions in Houston compared to other places. Not to mention the problems with the economy...

I work in the ICU at Bayshore!

Mrs. Rollins,
Hi there! I am currently enrolled in the ADN program here in Galveston College and I am starting worrying if I would have a hard time finding a job when my program is over in 2011. Do you think I would have a hard time? When you apply at the hospitals, do they ask what your gpa was when you graduated and can you start applying for jobs before you graduate? I would love to work at Texas Children's Hospital in the near future.

Hey Ben! I graduated from GC in May, and let me say congratulations to you on starting in the program.

Please start your job search early. You should plan to start submitting applications in January of your second year; that is, right as you're starting Complex Concepts. Do not, do not, DO NOT wait until spring! I and several of my close friends began our search early and were very richly rewarded for that. Many of the new grad internships stop accepting applications in February/March/April.

Some programs will ask you for your GPA. Most hospitals with less formal internship programs will not. My advice is if your GPA is good, don't be afraid to flaunt it. I graduated with the highest GPA in our program this year and I will be honest when I say that it definitely improved my job opportunities (I was going for critical care positions, and they like that kind of stuff). However, please don't think that you need some kind of awe-inspiring GPA to get a job. Just focus on getting the most out of your clinical experiences and study, study, study! It doesn't matter how well you do in clinicals if you can't pass their tests.

I will be honest: this is a very tough job market for GN's in our area right now. Period. It may be different at other schools, but the majority of my classmates do not have jobs. Now, this may change by your graduation. Also bear in mind that many of those very same classmates drug their feet in applying for jobs and waited until late spring; by then, pretty much all positions were gone. And it's not my intention to discourage you, but please be aware that positions at places like Texas Children's and other Med Center hospitals are very competitive. Focus more on your long-term goals and don't get too hung up on wanting to work at one particular hospital. Most of us had to compromise in order to get rolling (perfect example: I wanted to work in the Med Center, but I wanted to work in critical care much more. I was offered a job at one of the Big Three, but it was MTU. I instead took an ICU position at a smaller hospital for the long-term learning and career growth.) It all balances out in the end if you stay positive and flexible.

If you want to email me with any questions please feel free to hit me up.

Aww thank you so much, Mrs. Rollins. Yes I am trying to maintain a good gpa while I'm in nursing school. I have a 3.5 right now and a 3.7 in science and want to maintain that. Also, when I start applying in January. My email is mrs_affl3ck@yahoo.com. Can you give me your email please so I can email you privately. Thank you so much for helping me since you also went to GC.

My email is jennifer.h.at.work@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you!