I am sorry if this has been posted before, I am sure it has, but there are so many threads to look through!
I just graduated with my ADN in December, and last week found out I passed the NCLEX. I was so sure that I would be able to find a job right away that I nonchalantly called the nursing recruiter at the hospital closest to me (who had told me before that as soon as I got my license I would get a job there), and he told me there were no positions currently open for new grads. So I tried another hospital, and another, and another. Nothing. I have applied to nearly all open positions in nearly all hospitals in the Denver metro area and have not had any luck. I have also talked to all the nursing recruiters in all the hospitals. They all say the same thing (IF I even get a response): "We don't hire new grads" or "Our new grad program is full". I know we are in a recession and all, but come on...
So I put my resume up on Monster.com and was contacted by a staffing agency who said they do hire new grads, and that I would most likely start out at the VA doing med-surg. I will most likely take the position because a job's a job right? But it is not what I want to do at all, and I know me, I know I will hate it.
My question is: Should I take this offer from the staffing agency? Does anyone have any remarks about Maxim Healthcare? If I take this, and can hold out for 6 months to a year, will that count as experience enough to get a position in what I really want to do (OB nursing)? Also, my dream is to do travel nursing. If I take a med-surg job will I be able to get a travel job in OB or will I have to stick to med-surg? And one more: Are other big cities hiring new grads more than here? Should I move?
I had no idea it would be this hard, and I know it has only been a week, but I already told my current boss to take me off the schedule starting next month, so I really need to find something else, soon. I appreciate any feedback and/or similar stories!!
What interesting advice... I don't have any medical experience yet, I'll be starting nursing school in the fall. Do you think that working a part-time job that's more administrative might help me find a job when I graduate? Like filling out forms, typing etc??? TIA
Personal opinion.. I wish I would've had ANY job in the hospital I was going to work at to get more insight on how everything runs and the language/paperwork of that facility! Anything, I say, is better than nothing! Even if it's just once a month the exposure should help!! Best of luck to you! I wish someone would've told me that beforehand. Plus at my hospital, if you worked there (in any position) you had first dibs on available new grad positions!!
Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.
i am not considered an experienced nurse, believe me, as much as i wish my 3.5 years counted for anything, it does not. i have asked all recruiters about this and they say i am a new grad. i have also applied to many experienced positions and they all say the same, "no rn experience means you are a new grad". so yes, i am competing with all the other new grads out there.
i guess this is regional. where i live that is not the case. hiring mangers give you the opportunity to train differently then new grad rns with no experience. i understanding that the scope of practice is different for lpns/lvns vs. rns but it is not so different that you would not have a basic foundation to include time management skills and nursing judgment, imo. maybe your original point/hope is valid? maybe after one to two years of rn experience with your current employers you will be ok?
on the other hand, if you are competing with new grads and you wish to move, then i suggest you look at other areas if your market is saturated. btw, mine is too. the only reason i got a job is because i was already inside my hospital. i did not have a break in employment while attending nursing school even though i worked very few hours pt. new grads graduating in may in my area are pretty much out of luck. my hospital is on a hiring freeze for most floors. the only floors not on a freeze are the ones with a high turn over rate. however, they too have techs and externs graduating in may so they will more then likely not consider the outsiders for those limited positions. it appears to be the sign of the times.... not that there ever was a nursing shortage to begin with...
maybe your original point/hope is valid? maybe after one to two years of rn experience with your current employers you will be ok?
LovePurple
108 Posts
Personal opinion.. I wish I would've had ANY job in the hospital I was going to work at to get more insight on how everything runs and the language/paperwork of that facility! Anything, I say, is better than nothing! Even if it's just once a month the exposure should help!! Best of luck to you! I wish someone would've told me that beforehand. Plus at my hospital, if you worked there (in any position) you had first dibs on available new grad positions!!