BEGGING any Nurse Managers or Nurse Recruiters (past or present) for ADVICE

[NeverTooLate8]

hi all,

i am pleading with any nurse managers or nurse recruiters to offer some advice. i know everyone is sick of new grad rants etc, but this isn't really one of them.

i graduated may 2009 and after 7 months & nearly 200 apps, i was able to find a job in ambulatory care (as an rn). i went to a ce class last month and spoke with one of the icu rn's that was coordinating the class. since i desperately want to be a bedside nurse, but haven't been able to find a hospital job i asked her if she had any advice as to what to do. she said "the sooner the get into the hospital the better because you are soon going to be competing with may 2010 grads". i understand that, but how do i get into the hospital if many hospitals won’t even people without acute care experience?

i have been absolutely panicking ever since. i have taken as many ce classes as possible (i'm well above 30 units by now) and will keep applying to as many hospitals jobs as i can find but.........

my question for managers/recruiters is: would you hire me with only my ambulatory care background? i greatly fear that i will never get into the hospital now. i do tons of im/sq's, ear lavage, nebs, blood draws, vs, triage calls/assessments, refills, and the obvious paperwork. i have floated to several different departments too (so i have sometimes assisted with taps, i.e. gastro).

i would truly appreciate any advice!!

[Ivanna_Nurse, BSN, RN]

Never, I am not managerial, I just wanted to say that I feel for you. Keep your ear to the ground for internal openings and put out apps as necessary. Network when you go to your CE things, and get some extra certs like ACLS or PALS. Dont let the warning about the new grads put you in a panic... if you had to put in so many apps and wound up where you are 8 months ago, who is to say that there is some magic surplus of jobs coming next month? Hang in there, you have your whole career in front of you, and with nursing the sky is the limit.....Never say Never :) Ivanna

[liebling5, MSN, RN]

Many hospitals are holding off on hiring new grads. You would be considered a "new grad" since you don't have any acute experience yet. Keep looking is all I can tell ya. I DO have acute care experience, but had a long period of recent unemployment. Follow up on the apps that you have already submitted, call them, write them, e-mail them, etc. Some hospitals in my area have on-the-spot interviews. Find out where those are, and take your polished resume there. Go to career fairs. Some facilities will be big contributors, especially the university teaching hospitals.

Once you get to speak to someone in person, even a nurse recruiter, send a thank you card. Get on the internet boards like CareerBuilder, Absolutely Medical, Yahoo Hot Jobs, etc. Did I say keep looking? Although you want bedside, you might try same-day surgery centers, infusion centers or dialysis clinics. Ask your classmates and former instructors for suggestions and recommendations.

Don't focus so much on the CE's because you won't need them until after your first license renewal. Are you considering a BSN? If so, start applying to those schools now. It's a lot more competitive now than when I graduated five years ago. Best to you in your search. :hug::hug: