Advice needed for new BSN, RN in the Tampa, Fl area

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I recently graduated with my BSN from a school in St. Louis. I passed boards in January '12 and I relocated to Tampa, Florida. For every application I fill out and every HR department that I visit, I seem to get the same response, "We do not hire new nurses." I can understant that to a degree. However, I also have a BS in Psychology and 10 years of experience as a EMT medic in the Air Force. Not to mention, I was selected during nursing school to do research and study abroad to Africa and teach about HIV. During my military time, I worked in Labor and Delievery and was deployed as a combat medic. I have tons of experience in nursing, just not under a RN license. Does anyone have any advice on how to get a job at a hospital here in Tampa if they only go off your time as a "RN"???

Thanks!!!

Any suggestions for where to find listings of upcoming job fairs? I've been searching for a new grad position for months and seem to hear about them a day or so too late?? Thanks!!

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yay, I found the thread. Where exactly is St. Joes hospital? which part of the city. I tried to google search it and there several locations. I am even interested in applying for residency. I am the one that replied to you already planning to move to the Clearwater area. Are these areas you listed very far to drive for work from Clearwater... and what is the start pay of a new grad or nurse with only 1 year experience (psych nurse exp)

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thanks for this information.. helpful

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Specializes in Ortho/Neurosurgical.
The Residency thing is a little confusing to me. We don't have anything like that in St. Louis or anywhere in the midwest in fact. I talked to a recruiter at Tampa General and she explained it as a 32-52 week program, half clinical setting, half classroom. I just can't go back to any type of school setting at this point. I have my BS in Psychology and BSN. Are the residency programs all the same? I guess this is all just very frustrating for me because I have been a medic for the past 10 years in the military. I have years of combat/trauma and basic nursing skills. I know I'm ready to start! I will check out the 2 programs you mentioned. How is your program? AND...thanks for the info!

I hope you take this the right way, but your confidence is wonderful but don't cut your nose off despite your face. These residency programs are the organizations way of preparing all general graduates for the floor experience and might I add even at All childrens they give OR and PICU/NICU residencies....specialties others may take forever to get into. I'm fairly certain in saying, this isn't St. Louis and this is pretty much the only way to get into the hospitals here...and have a good start to a nursing career I might add. Be open, that's all.

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Yes, thank you. My confidence is based on hard work and determination. Having military honors and medals of saving lives remind me of that. I have more experience than most seasoned nurses. Thankfully, soon after this post...I had 5 interviews lined up. (Trauma ER, Trauma ICU, mother/baby) I was able to pick which job I wanted because they were all offered to me. I think the intern programs are great for Novice nurses, but thankfully, most HR's saw that I wasn't in that category.

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Specializes in Ortho/Neurosurgical.

Many even unseasoned nurses also have hard work and determination but in different catagories. I'm happy for you that you found something and it sounds like trauma is where it's at.

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Specializes in ICU.

Tampa seems to be much harder to get a job than Orlando where I am at currently. What is St Joes new grad program? I was unaware they had such a thing. I see Tampa General has a posting for the Acute Rotate which is med surg based, which is not too interesting to me. All childrens starts too late for me I would like to start work by July 1st. Those HCA hospitals Brandon General and St Pete General has a short training period. Anybody know the new grad pay for HCA hospitals?

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Does anyone know if St Joes, Brandon, Lakeland or Tampa General have any upcoming residency programs? Thanks

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Congrats Sam!

How hard was it to get into the All Children's residency program? If you don't mind me asking do you have an ASN or BSN? Also, what do you think you had to offer that got you the job? Was there an interview process, if so, how was it? Did you have any other certifications> I.e ACLS, PALS etc

Thanks

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Specializes in Peds OR as RN, Peds ENT as NP.

I tried to Pm but your inbox is full. Pm is the way I like to respond.

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St. Anthony's which is in St Pete and a part of Baycare, I believe is hiring new grads. Go to Baycare, the job title would be something to the effect of "Clinical Nurse Resident."

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That's great you found a job. I'm from St. Louis too but not a new grad. There are residency programs in St. Louis. I actually went through one. I had class once a week for 3 months and then once a month for a year. I've noticed that not a lot of hospitals down here hire new grads so again congrats on your accomplishments. And also to not having to drive in the snow to go to work. Lol

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