Columbus New Grad - need help finding job :(

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Hey all!

It's been a while since I've been on this site but I definitely remember how this site helped me through my crappy nursing school days so I don't doubt it will help me now.

Currently, I am a graduated Kent State University nursing student May 2008 who originally planned to move to CA so I initially tried to pursue a CA license when I realized that was not what I wanted (I won't go into the love story behind that:loveya:...unless if you wanna know). So anyhow, I had to reapply to Ohio and I just received my ATT and am scheduled to take my test Sept 23rd. I have applied to so many jobs in Columbus (where I just moved) and have received nothing back. I really wanted to work at Nationwide for my interest in children, but they said their waiting list might take up to 6 months for new grads! In that case, I have applied to Riverside and OSU MC mostly and I think one position at Mt Carmel, but I am really just stumped on what to do. I hate this post grad/pre big kid stage right now because I am unemployed and have every day to just stress about my future.

Please either a. Give me advice on a job b. Make me feel better about being the last one of my group of graduate friends to be working as an RN...even worse...not even licensed yet.

Thanks!

Erin

Specializes in RN.

This is very disappointing to hear, but I was becoming suspicious about this! The saturation will only get worse, I fear, because of the new schools in Columbus. Bohecker, Hondros, and Chamberlain will be cranking out the new grads.

Is anyone hiring in Columbus? What about home health agencies and nursing homes? Or dialysis?

There is NO shortage of nurses right now in Columbus. Columbus is actually saturated with nurses at the moment. I just found this out from both an advisor and human resource personel. I know that some offices are hiriing new grads but hospitals are not short on people trying to get nursing jobs. Apparently if you want a job in nursing you have to move away from Columbus (figures I move here and go to school and they tell me to move back home lol) A friend of mine graduated last may and it took him MONTHS to find a job. My husband knows the HR person from Grant and she said the same thing. No one is really hiring and if they are you have to have experience before they will consider you. Also the woman I work for now (she does the hiring a a clinic in GroveCity) explained to me that the health care field takes a long time to get into in comparison to other jobs. It can be a matter of months before you find out if you are hired. I was just on Mount Carmels webpage today and they had a bunch of posted job openings... And my neighbor told me to try usajobs.gov Its the website for DFSC and DLA. She said the VA is always hiring....
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This is very disappointing to hear, but I was becoming suspicious about this! The saturation will only get worse, I fear, because of the new schools in Columbus. Bohecker, Hondros, and Chamberlain will be cranking out the new grads.

Is anyone hiring in Columbus? What about home health agencies and nursing homes? Or dialysis?

I'm from around Akron, but am about to graduate from NS in Toledo. I've thought about moving to Columbus.

In Toledo, there are a lot of nursing schools relative to the population. New nurses here are actually finding jobs in Michigan (even with its poor economy) faster than in NW OH. Michigan isn't with the number of nursing schools, and I'm really starting to see the relationship between the number of schools in the area to the job opportunities.

The nursing shortage is very regional (dramatic differences even within the same state). Almost anyone you talk to knows about the "nursing shortage", but in reality, it is very dependent on location. Perhaps in the years ahead the statistics will hit everywhere, but not the case for the moment. I know I used to think that I only had to get my degree and I'd be in demand, but in my current area, definitely won't get a job simply sending out the announcement that have a degree.

I'd recommend at least working in some medical setting while you wait for your licensing process. Volunteer, shadow nurses, get out there and network!

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I did pass my boards so I am officially a BSN, RN woo! So what I'm gonna do is get a copy of my degree and my resume and have it when I go to Riverside and recommendation contacts or if they want me to actually have letters, I will get them this week. The way I see the whole nursing thing, and this is just in my head without doin any harcore research, is we all went to school thinking we would be in demand as nurses. Well, so what if we are not in high demand. What are those who graduated in a different field going through? Probably the same post-graduate what am I gonna do with my life stage? I feel most people, and I have seen my 3 older siblings go through this, must work a little bit and put themselves out there to really get a successful job. So I take this columbus competition the same way. **I always seem to keep a positive attitude that somehow gets me where I need to be in life...such as getting into the nursing sequence at kent the first attempt and passing my boards the first try...just a little piece of advice for anyone who doesn't have hope in doing what they want to do in life:mad:

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I have a lot of hope that I will get a job somehow. I mean even if CBus is saturated with nurses, apparently nurses are retiring earlier now and if they know what is best they will have plenty of nurses ready for a projected bigger shortage of nurses. My boyfriend's mom is a nurse as OSU med center and shw works so much overtime because of the nursing shortage.

I graduated in June from Ohio State :D, and I can tell you that new grads rarely get hired into the hospital systems in Columbus :(. The only new grads I know that are employed in Columbus right now: a) got hired onto the unit where they were PCAs during undergrad, or b) got into an internship at OSU or Ohio Health (which only start each summer and are very competitive), or c) work in long-term care facilities. Everyone else is still job searching (like me) or has moved.

I have applied to and had contact with all 3 health systems: OSU, Mount Carmel, and Ohio Health and the response I've gotten is that they are not hiring new grads. With this economy and the nursing saturation in Columbus (22 nursing schools in central Ohio), more experienced nurses are returning to work and/or working over-time. I know of several nurse managers who have space on their unit for more nurses but not the money to pay them. I have a friend who has her BSN, passed her NCLEX in early July, and still works as a PCA at Nationwide Children's because she hasn't found an RN position. Another friend of mine who graduated last Spring (07) didn't get a job until January (08).

I don't mean to sound negative or discourage anyone, I just hope maybe my experience will help other new grads understand the market in Columbus. And as with all things, this could always changed. I'm not giving up the hunt...

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I superagree with the Michigan part, because OSU won't hire me, even though I am an alumni, but University of Michigan would. They are hiring nem grads. Yet, in Columbus, or Grove City there is a company that is hiring its called Maxim. or Springfield Regional Med Center in Springfield OH is too

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Ok So I have been offered a job at Select Specialty Hospital, I have heard both bad and good what is your guys thoughts?? Has any one worked there ?

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I just received a job at Grant Medical Center! Woohoo They had a few night shift openings and I intereviewed and everything and it went great! I just shadowed a nurse which was the last step in officially getting the job to see if they liked me and what not. I got the call next day that I would be a great fit for the job! It really came down to the persistent going to hospitals and showing how much you want a nursing career with a particular hospital. Thanks for all the great advice on Ohio Health everyone! I mentioned it in my interview that many nurses on this forum appreciate the nurses at Riverside and Grant.

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So the market for new grads in Columbus stinks? Wish I would have known that before I enrolled. Oh well. What about the surrounding areas? I don't mind a commute if it means I get a job quickly post-graduation.

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There are jobs don't worry. I created this thread and I was worried about finding a job, but I was offered one at Grand Med Center for Ohio Health. Just don't waste your time applying online. I went into the hospital and basically demanded a job and also tried selling myself because I was dressed nice and I brought a copy of my degree and license. I got a call the next day. Good luck!

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Hem/Onc/Psyc.

I graduated back in July and had been applying for jobs since OSU had the RN internships posted in Nov 07 and never got a call back. The sad thing is that I worked for a hospital there while in school. One hospital gave a new grad a nurse educator position because there weren't any staff RN positions available. I moved to Virginia Beach instead. Now I have travel fever! After I get my master's here I think I'm going to Atlanta. Maybe in the FAR future I'll go back to Ohio

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Congrats! Well when you're down south we'll be wishin we took that career route come winter time.

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So, did you just go in and talk to someone in HR? If you don't mind me asking?

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