CALLING---Those who have Jobs- WE need you!

shoegalRN, RN · Jul 10, 2009

1.what kind of floor are you working on? icu

2.where are you from? mo

3.how did you get that job?--by the grace of god and my friend who is a crna who is friends with the icu manager.

here's my situation:

i had been applying since february, had gone on 4 interviews and not job offered. i went back to the corporate world and interviewed 3 times there and was job offered. i accepted a job in an insurance company because i needed the money. the job is scheduled to start july 20.

two days before i took nclex, i get a call from the nurse recruiter of a level i teaching hospital. we had a brief conversation, then she asked for me to come in for an interview with the icu manager. they are building a new icu unit that will open in december and they are looking for new grads and experienced rn's to be part of the team.

my friend who is a crna there talked to the icu manager about me, and all the trouble i'd been having getting a rn job. it must have worked, because a week later, i get a call from the nurse recruiter. i go on the interview yesterday with the icu manager. i was dressed in a suit, hair pulled back into a bun, no makeup, no jewerly. i had my porfolio in hand and i made sure i spoke soft and slow, as well as smiled alot and made eye contact. when i was asked a question, i told her "let me think about that" before i answered, although, i already knew the answer, i didnt want to make is seem like it was reheorificed (although it was). when i was asked what will make me the best applicant for the job, i looked her square in the eye and said "i am compassionate about critical care, i am a teachable person and i love learning. i am structured and pay attention to detail. i like to critically think and put the pieces together. when i don't know something, i use my resources and i ask tons of questions. i am dependable, a team player, have good organizational and time management skills. all i am asking for is an opportunity to prove myself". i also mentioned that icu is where i wanted to be and have no plans on moving away from it. i told her all my plans included higher education and continuning learning for critical care. with that being said, that was the end of the interview.

she walked me around the unit and told me she was very impressed with my interview skills. she gave me her card and told me she will be very interested in hearing my test results from nclex. she walked me back to hr and pretty much job offered me right on the spot! three hours later, i got a call from the nurse recruiter offering me the job! it starts aug 3rd and not only is it for icu, it's part of a new grad residency program. for six months, i'll be spending time in all areas of the hospital with one preceptor! this program is only a year old, but it has a huge success rate! the manager said by the time i finish the residency, i'll be ready for icu, which is my official job.

i couldnt be more excited!

glory goes to god!

k.morris · Jul 10, 2009

It is so interesting and helpful to hear all of your stories!!!,,,,,Thank you so much for replying to this thread...I hope all of you who read this will have some good news soon, if you do not already.

I am myself getting very frsutrated!...Hospitals can't afford to orient new grads, but when it comes down to it experienced nurses could cost 55 dollars an hour verses what I would work for 25 dollars. So which experience nurses are they hiring, literally the ones with1-2 years experience (as they are still at a lower pay) or nurses with many years experience.

I don't get it so what you have to train me only takes a few months, then you be saving money by hiring me in the long run and I would be an amazing contribution.

Well thats probs just my frustration talking, but CONGRATS really, it gives me at least some hope that getting a job is possible, thank you so much for posting and I hope to read many many more success stories until everyone on this site has a job.

Perpetual Student · Jul 11, 2009

Yeah, I don't quite get the aversion to hiring new grads. If it really is a matter of it costing too much why don't they offer a little less per hour for new grads? It seems to me that they could have special a special orientation pay rate to offset the costs of orientation. I suppose that might not be possible at union facilities, at least without renegotiating the contract.

What REALLY irks me is that quite a few local facilities are bringing in nurses from overseas who are experienced back in their countries rather than hiring local graduates. Hello, people who have to totally acclimate to a different health care system, language, and culture will have just as much difficulty orienting as new grads, if not more.

8jimi8ICURN · Jul 11, 2009

you could always move to san antonio. My hospital is hiring GNs and has like 20 openings...

k.morris · Jul 11, 2009

exactly!!....this is just crazy

86toronado, BSN, RN · Jul 12, 2009

i was wondering from those of you lucky new rn's that have jobs:yeah:
1.what kind of floor are you working on?
2.where are you from?
3.how did you get that job?--did you have connections?, work there previously, application process, follow-up process, interview tips, anything at all would be helpful
i am looking for anything and hopefully we can help everyone that reads this too...,
and of course: congratulations, i am happy for all of you but super jealous right now;)

1. working on a mixed floor-half neuro icu, half med/surg with a focus on neuro

2. upstate ny

3. i had worked at the hospital previously, left to try something new, but heard they were having a nursing open house in january - so i showed up and filled out an application. they re-hired me on the spot as a pct. once i had my foot (back) in the door, i expressed an interest in one of the current rn openings on the floor to my manager. two days later i was told i had the job and to go over to hr and fill out the paperwork. i filled out the paperwork for my gn job on february 20th.

tips:

-start early. i started contacting nurse recruiters over christmas break.

-if you're not already working as a tech, or cna, or unit clerk- go get your foot in the door.

-network. know someone who's a nurse? ask them to introduce you to their nurse friends. you never know which one of them may be the one who hires you!

nurseyNurseMI · Jul 14, 2009

1.what kind of floor are you working on? medsurg-nephrology/renal transplant

2.where are you from? detroit

3.how did you get that job?--did you have connections?, work there previously, application process, follow-up process, interview tips, anything at all would be helpful

new grad oppurtunities are rather hard to come by in michigan because of all our other economic problems. there were a few large hospital networks that were hiring, which is where i will be working come monday. i applied on their website and interviewed with two different unit managers at 2 different hospitals, one of whom offered me a job on the spot.

good luck with your search, you will find something it just takes time. i probably applied to 100+ positions in total and only had three interviews.

k.morris · Jul 15, 2009

Thanks so much to all!!!!!!!!!!.............I hope I get to post soon.

adpiRN · Jul 16, 2009

I live in NYC and got a job in L&D. I wanted L&D and had my eye on this particular hospital. I had a med/surg clinical there in my last semester, so I just went to the L&D floors and asked the nurse manager if she had any openings. She said no, but gave me her card. A few weeks later, I checked back with her and for whatever reason she forwarded my resume to HR and they called me for an interview (I had applied online several times at that hospital for many floors, including L&D, and was rejected. So I guess it really helps to have someone pulling for you like a nurse manager)

k.morris · Jul 21, 2009

So frustrated applied in about a 4 state radius can't go much furthur what are we suppose to do now?

NCtoCOgirl · Jul 22, 2009

1. What kind of floor: ICU

2. Where are you from: Colorado

3. How did you get that job: 3.98 GPA, did my practicum on the unit where I was hired, did multiple clinicals at the hospital, and practiced hard with friends and husband before the interview. Reviewed stories I could tell from nursing school that would illustrate the kind of nurse I hope to be (something that went wrong and how you handled it, something that's hard for you, strengths, etc.). Actively networked and maintained relationships with preceptors, clinical faculty, academic instructors, and clinical placement coordinators. I STRONGLY recommend pursuing a position as a CNA at the hospital where you want to work before you graduate.

Good luck to all!

GoldenFire5 · Jul 22, 2009

1. What kind of floor: tele

2. Where are you from: San Diego

3. How did you get that job: LVN experience within the same hospital network. Good school. 3.9 GPA. Great letters of recommendation.

The nurses in my new grad RN class are a pretty smart bunch, and on the whole are very nice, too. Many of them have worked as externs or techs. Most have BSNs. It just occurred to me today that we do not have anyone from vocational schools... could be just by coincidence, though. The hospitals really have their pick of students in this market.