ATTN: bay area RN new grads.. Were you able to land a new grad job?

U.S.A. California

Published

I recently just passed my boards and am finding it is VERY hard to land a job as a new grad at a hospital. I know you dont necessarily have to enter a new grad program but a lot of hospitals i have tried applying at say you must be in a new grad. Are you all getting the same treatment? Kind of ironic.

Woknblues, just an FYI: new nurses in SF Bay Area make anywhere from $42-$52/hr... Just to knit pick, so really it is worth it to stay here.

New Grads, just be persistent!!! Call recruiters and check up on apps, find out dept managers names and call them directly, do ANYTHING to make yourself stand out. Also, you MUST be flexible! If you won't settle for anything less than days in l&d, GOOD LUCK! New grads get the **** shifts and you might have to tough it out for a year in med-surg before specializing, but this will be valuable experience. Good luck, just have patience!

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Woknblues, just an FYI: new nurses in SF Bay Area make anywhere from $42-$52/hr... Just to knit pick, so really it is worth it to stay here.

New Grads, just be persistent!!! Call recruiters and check up on apps, find out dept managers names and call them directly, do ANYTHING to make yourself stand out. Also, you MUST be flexible! If you won't settle for anything less than days in l&d, GOOD LUCK! New grads get the **** shifts and you might have to tough it out for a year in med-surg before specializing, but this will be valuable experience. Good luck, just have patience!

Yeah, my math was off. I was going to change it, but let it go. Anywho, I have no way of ever taking a year off, being "patient". best of luck and whatnot to those who can. :typing

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Specializes in DD, PD/Agency Peds, School Sites.

There is also frustrating job searching going on with other careers in the Bay Area at this time. Have you heard how there is supposedly this huge demand for teachers? Wrong. Actually, there is a big-time glut right now. Seems like this is a tough time period in the Bay Area, which will pass. I've lived in the Bay Area forever and have seen the job market go through highs and lows in a matter of two or three years. Am I getting discouraged about starting LVN school in January, knowing that the market is poor right now? No way! And, if you are like me, it will be awhile before I get my RN, so hopefully the market will improve. I believe staying open-minded about shifts and first jobs is a must. Landing your dream job first isn't very realistic. After what I went through being a teacher (getting laid off twice due to lack of funds/senority and having my final school close for good), I'll take any crumby nursing position first and be just plain happy with that! FYI, if anyone is going into this profession mainly for the salary, I highly suggest you reconsider. Would you want a nurse like that to care for you or someone you love? Just a thought. :twocents:

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Yeah, my math was off. I was going to change it, but let it go. Anywho, I have no way of ever taking a year off, being "patient". best of luck and whatnot to those who can. :typing

Finding a job will not take a year, and anyone who says it will has not explored all available options. I think when we all went into nursing school we were told repeatedly that when we graduated the nursing world would be our oyster, and upon graduation we found different. This came as a shock to many of us who had heard of friends graduating years before us going straight into their specialty, get a signing bonus, and top pick of shift. Unfortunately this is not the reality now, but taking a position in any department will give you the experience needed to get your foot in the door at a later time. My best suggestion is if you know there is a hospital you want to work at and can't get a position in your area of choice, apply to another department within the same hospital. Working at the same facility will give you the inside track on open positions in the other dept and gaining seniority at the hospital will help when applying for a transfer.

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Hi Again,

I'm not picky, I just want to get my foot in the door. There are just not as many training programs now and when they do open, they get hundreds of applicants. I'm doing flu shot clinics to get started but that's seasonal. I just get nervous as there is a never ending supply of us new grads and limited supply of jobs. I agree that the schools were blowing sunshine everywhere as to jobs for us. It's all about the money(private nursing schools).

hanbo

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I got a job!!! there was 413 applications and they hired 19 people! new grad program only 2 times a year!!! it can happen! u can get a CAREER! NOT A JOB!!

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Finding a job will not take a year, and anyone who says it will has not explored all available options.

What makes you say this? It's a story I've heard several times. These are people who will take any job, any shift, within a reasonable location. Including psych and nursing home jobs. The only thing I find unfortunate about people saying "it might take a year, but eventually you'll find a job" is that your chances of finding a job seem to be less the longer you don't have one.

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What makes you say this? It's a story I've heard several times. These are people who will take any job, any shift, within a reasonable location. Including psych and nursing home jobs. The only thing I find unfortunate about people saying "it might take a year, but eventually you'll find a job" is that your chances of finding a job seem to be less the longer you don't have one.

First off, I hope I have misinterpreted your indication that psych and LTC nursing is somehow a lesser form of nursing.

Next, you seem to answer your own question... If a new grad is complaining they cannot find a job for close to a year they may WANT to consider any job, any shift. In this economy, I don't know many self-sustaining adults that can afford to take a year off to find the perfect job (and those who can, more power to you!) But really in some geographic areas, new grads/inexperienced RNs cannot be very picky about shift/dept if they want to work soon after graduation.

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Geeze I am really scared now about getting into a new grad program. First, it was really hard to get into nursing school and now it will be even harder to get a job? I will still keep on going.... :). Can we make a posting that indicates the start date and deadlines for the new grad programs in the bay area hospitals? I think that will be very helpful to us all. I would start but I do not have any information as of today. If I get the information I will post it up.

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Studentnurse,

Don't get discouraged because some of us aren't having luck because 1/2 of our class got jobs with no problem. My problem is my mind freezes in interviews. So, it's something I got to work on. I don't know of any training programs either. Men seem to not have a problem either because they are underrepresented. Good Luck!!

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first off, i hope i have misinterpreted your indication that psych and ltc nursing is somehow a lesser form of nursing.

next, you seem to answer your own question... if a new grad is complaining they cannot find a job for close to a year they may want to consider any job, any shift. in this economy, i don't know many self-sustaining adults that can afford to take a year off to find the perfect job (and those who can, more power to you!) but really in some geographic areas, new grads/inexperienced rns cannot be very picky about shift/dept if they want to work soon after graduation.

this was more or less my point in my previous comment...

i know i wouldn't go very long without taking any job, inside or outside health care for that matter. the bills don't stop coming in...

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First off, I hope I have misinterpreted your indication that psych and LTC nursing is somehow a lesser form of nursing.

Next, you seem to answer your own question... If a new grad is complaining they cannot find a job for close to a year they may WANT to consider any job, any shift. In this economy, I don't know many self-sustaining adults that can afford to take a year off to find the perfect job (and those who can, more power to you!) But really in some geographic areas, new grads/inexperienced RNs cannot be very picky about shift/dept if they want to work soon after graduation.

No, of course I don't think LTC and psych are "lesser" forms of nursing; I just know (I think everyone does) that these are not top choices for many new grads. Frequently when new grads post about looking for jobs on allnurses, it is suggested that they try LTC and psych.

What I am saying is that these new grads ARE willing to take any job, and shift--in nursing, and STILL cannot find jobs. It sounds like you think this isn't possible.

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