Colorado New Grads- Do you have jobs?

bekindtokittens · Apr 30, 2010

I graduated in May 2009, passed the NCLEX at the end of June, and started a new job at the end of August. My job is in Psych and my hospital gives new grads a chance.

I could have started my job earlier, but I was holding out for a position in an ED in another hospital. Over 300 applications for 11 new grad positions. After jumping through interview hoops for 6 weeks, I heard all the positions were filled internally.

It's okay; my two favorite clinical rotations in school were ED and Psych. I'm very lucky to have a job at all.

Lizzie21 · Apr 30, 2010

It is definitely hard to find a job here in colorado. I just recently graduated from nursing and passed my boards. I've sent out billions of resumes and nothing yet. I tried to convince my husband to move. he looked at me and said if i was nuts.

Bekindtokittens, where do you work at now? how's the new grad situation at your hospital?

klone, MSN, RN · May 5, 2010

During an interview with Centura Health yesterday, I was talking to the interviewer about the plight of new grads in CO right now. She said that they often hire new grads in CNA positions (I believe they call them PCAs, though) and then when an RN position opens up, they try to draw from that pool of new grad RNs. So maybe if you could try contacting Centura Health and ask them about that possibility.

Work in Progress · May 7, 2010

Wow, that is a prospect. But not one I am too excited about. It is gonna be d*** hard to pay back student loans making less money than I make now as a Nurse Intern. (I am guessing, but I made less as a CNA than I do now). Not to mention it would really hurt my pride. I suppose I will do what is necessary. I heard back from a couple of clinic jobs I had inquired about that said that they require TWO YEARS of hospital experience.

copperkali · May 21, 2010

I was VERY lucky to be offered a position at the first place I interviewed. This is also my "dream" job, the whole reason I went to nursing school. I really don't know how I got so lucky because I've heard horror stories. I am very fortunate (for once!) I don't start until the end of July...I kinda wish I was starting sooner but I'll definitely take what I can get.

Work in Progress · May 24, 2010

copperkali-

Was that at UCH? Congratulations, wherever it was. I haven't even gotten an interview yet, and I have applied for probably 50 jobs already, although I know that there are many people who have put out hundreds of resumes and not gotten responses. Any advice on how you did it?

copperkali · May 25, 2010

copperkali-
Was that at UCH? Congratulations, wherever it was. I haven't even gotten an interview yet, and I have applied for probably 50 jobs already, although I know that there are many people who have put out hundreds of resumes and not gotten responses. Any advice on how you did it?

No, it is with P/SL. I was applying for everything I could even if I didn't totally have the right experience (my nursing instructors told us too). I figured I at least had to try. I applied for a L&D position that wanted at least 1 year of L&D experience (I have 1 year experience in mom/baby as an LPN). The nurse recruiter emailed me back asking when I graduated from nursing school (this was back in April I think) and I told him May 7th. He emailed the M/B manager and asked if she had anything opening up soon and luckily she did. I interviewed, and she loved me. She thought I was going to be a a great fit. She loved that I had mom/baby experience only if it was at the LPN level. So they are giving me a chance! I couldn't be happier. They are putting me through their new grad program but that doesn't start until the end of July. I really wish I could start sooner!

Keep your chin up and apply for EVERYTHING you can. Send a cover letter that talks about your experience in clinicals (that counts!). Contact the nurse recruiters if you can, maybe even go into HR so they have a face to put with a resume (couldn't hurt).

Good luck!

Now I've just gotta focus on passing my NCLEX next week...

JamieA0321 · May 25, 2010

Just reading these threads freak me out completely and I'm not even IN nursing school yet! I'm going to have a BOATLOAD of student loans when I graduate (second degree, career change) I'm not above working as a CNA or whatever position I could get hired into, but I need to be able to pay my bills. I won't be able to just walk back into my current career role after graduation, which would I would be willing to do until I found a job, but it's also a tough field to find jobs and I know I couldn't just walk back in after being out for 2 years for education in a completely opposite field. I hope that everyone is able to find a job at some point. It has to get better sometime, at least that's what I keep telling myself.

klone, MSN, RN · May 25, 2010

IMO, and in the opinion of people who know more about such things than I do, it will turn around in a few years. Once the economy improves, nurses who came out of retirement (or put off retirement due to the recession) will then retire. Nurses are an aging demographic, and I think there will be a LOT of nurses leaving the workforce in the next 3-5 years.

harleyz · May 26, 2010

I am in the same boat. Quitting my current career to go to nursing school. Maybe I should quit reading this blog!

Melina · May 26, 2010

I won't be able to just walk back into my current career role after graduation, which would I would be willing to do until I found a job, but it's also a tough field to find jobs and I know I couldn't just walk back in after being out for 2 years for education in a completely opposite field. I hope that everyone is able to find a job at some point. It has to get better sometime, at least that's what I keep telling myself.

What's the opposite of nursing?

JamieA0321 · May 26, 2010

Well, I shouldn't have said opposite, I'm saying that thinking in terms of corporate desk job vs. patient care/helping career. I'll be switching from legal to healthcare.