Any Jobs in Ocean or Monmouth Counties for New Grads?

[Jersey Nursing Girl]

I am just entering the nursing program at Ocean County College and I have heard that the hospitals in Ocean and Monmouth Counties are not hiring new graduates. They want experienced nurses only.

What happened to the nursing shortage? Is this just because the economy is in a major downturn and people are not going for elective surgery which fuels the hospitals' bottom line? People still advise me that when I get out in two years things will change. The baby boomers will be retiring in droves. They also tell me that the local hospitals only want BSNs now.

Please help me out.

Jersey Nursing Girl

[Violet08]

My advice: Get a job in one of the hospitals as a nursing assistant or a PCA. Keep the job until you get a job as a nurse.

The hospitals in do prefer experience and a BSN but the have been hiring new grads. The only people I know that were hired as new grads already worked for the hospital as a nursing assistant or a PCA.

Apply for externships too! I know Community Medical Center had one and so did Ocean Medical Center. I am pretty sure Jersey Shore has one too (I know people that externed at CMC and OMC).

Develop a good relationship with your instructors, especially clinical instructors. Your clinical instructors will be who you ask for a letter of recommendation or to be a reference. Remember when you meet nurse managers at clinical, you may interview with them once you graduate.

Good luck in school!