Advice for New Grads

SE_BSN_RN, BSN · Feb 23, 2014

Ha. Pray. That's all you can do. I am a new RN, not a new nurse. I've been applying for hospital jobs since before graduation. They all want at least 6 months acute care experience.

Good luck.

j0yegan · Feb 23, 2014

Ask people you know (classmates, relatives, etc) to put in a good word about you to their manager. That's exactly how I got my first job.

EarlyRN, BSN, RN · Mar 16, 2014

That's exactly right. Network like crazy...! Reach out to any of your classmates that are already working.

Good luck to you!

loriangel14, RN · Mar 16, 2014

In this market you need to be open to more than just hospital positions. Too many new grads think that they can just expect that dream job right out of school. Good luck.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Mar 16, 2014

In this market you need to be open to more than just hospital positions. Too many new grads think that they can just expect that dream job right out of school. Good luck.

This.

Nursing is nursing EVERYWHERE... Cast that net wide...as one recruiter told me, there are many paths to Rome.

Many jobs outside of the hospital help you hone your nursing practice that helps one transfer to many areas of nursing, including hospital nursing.

It has certainly helped in my case.

Best wishes

CticuRN95 · Mar 18, 2014

Honestly I don't know what else you can do except apply to every job that you see no matter what the qualifications are and bang down every door you know! And when you don't have any more doors look for a window.....

yadi87 · Mar 18, 2014

Cast net far and wide..not that's its helped me any I've applied to the following all within 100 mile radius from my house in Miami and never got any call back...I even walked on to the floors of the hospitals I had clinical a at and even with recommendations from nurses and directors they wouldn't take me with less than 6 no exp..no not even on med surf

So here I go

All major hospital chains in southern fl

rehab facilities

Hospice

Nursing home

Insurance companies

Home health

Camps ..u know like burn camps

Med spa

Dr office

Occupational health jobs

Va jobs

The only 2 residencies that came out for any floor in 3 counties ..with tenet hospitals..hr won't return my calls either

I've called in numerous favors..have recommendations..graduated top of my class..about to complete bsn and have a bachelors in biological science...

All in all its very very very hard I'm sure your as frustrated as me after all these ppl are telling you the same bs ..and basically its the luck of the draw ..remember your one in probably 1000 or more apps for one job. Not even taking out extra certs helped me...like acls..pals..ECG and pharm.

So all us new grads will keep going In thesame hamster wheel of...how can I get exp if entry level nursing jobs now req 1 yr in acute care..who's going to take a chance on the new grad..and I hate all these nurses that are like well you obviously aren't trying..these hospitals don't owe you anything..true but a hospital did give them a chance when they first got a job how can you prove your worth if your never even give the courtesy of a call these days... Sorry I hijacked your thread..a lot of frustration over here

kemifair · Mar 26, 2014

I am in the same boat in Ny. Been applying since march 2013. No luck yet. 2 interviews but no job. I need to fine something soon. Its frustrating. I am not a new grad but I am a new nurse.

Annachu512, BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2014

It totally depends on location. I will graduate in May and have already heard back from applying to an area hospital. Once they have my graduate summary, I'll be going in for an interview. The area hospital here only requires experience for their ER, OR, and Stroke unit. Good luck!