Depressed New Grad. Advice wanted!

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jan 22, 2011

I've had the same experience in the hiring process and it bites. Everything was going so well and she kept telling me about the staff and my staff and my locker and everything...and then it just died. I spent so long afterwards reviewing it in my mind to figure out what went wrong--and nothing had gone wrong. It took a long time to get over it.

Don't beat yourself up because it many not necessarily be your fault. The job market still bites for both new grads and experienced nurses right now. It's taking nurses months and sometimes even more than a year to land a job. You could do everything you possibly could--and do it well--to prepare for the job hunt, and still not end up with a job offer. Sometimes they have to go with an internal candidate...or maybe they had another person who was just a hair better for you...or the funding for the position was cut and they didn't go with anyone. Give yourself a day to mourn, then brush yourself off and try again.

As far as meds are concerned, try to focus on meds that are are commonly used in the area you're applying for. For example, if you're going for a job on a a tele unit, review cardiac drugs. Also, I don't think they're expecting you to give a list of every single medication you'd give--just think about the one(s) you'd start with until the cause of the patient's condition can be further assessed. In your case, starting with sublingual nitro and O2 would have been my answer. After that, the meds I'd give would depend on how the patient responds and what I find out from the assessments...because after all, it could have been a bad lunch just as much as a MI that is causing the pain.

Last, if you're not sure, never say "I don't know." Say, "I'm not sure but I would get a reference book and look it up, or find someone who does know the answer." My friend used that during one of her interviews and she said it went over very well with the interviewer.

mnf4ever · Jan 22, 2011

I've had the same experience in the hiring process and it bites. Everything was going so well and she kept telling me about the staff and my staff and my locker and everything...and then it just died. I spent so longafterwards reviewing it in my mind to figure out what went wrong--and nothing had gone wrong. It took a long time to get over it.
Don't beat yourself up because it many not necessarily be your fault. The job market still bites for both new grads and experienced nurses right now. It's taking nurses months and sometimes even more than a year to land a job. You could have done everything you possibly could--and done it well--to prepare for the this, and still not end up with a job offer. Sometimes they have to go with an internal candidate...or maybe they had another person who was just a hair better for you...or the funding for the position was cut and they didn't go with anyone. Give yourself a day to mourn, then brush yourself off and try again.
As far as meds are concerned, try to focus on meds that are are commonly used in the area you're applying for. For example, if you're going for a job on a a tele unit, review cardiac drugs. Also, I don't think they're expecting you to give a list of every single medication you'd give--just think about the one(s) you'd start with until the cause of the patient's condition can be further assessed. In your case, starting with sublingual nitro and O2 would have been my answer. After that, the meds I'd give would depend on how the patient responds and what I find out from the assessments...because after all, it could have been a bad lunch just as much as a MI that is causing the pain.
Last, if you're not sure, never say "I don't know." Say, "I'm not sure but I would get a reference book and look it up, or find someone who does know the answer." My friend used that during one of her interviews and she said it went over very well with the interviewer.

Thank you for the words of encouragement...as for the meds questions, I had that exact answer in mind (starting with sublingual nitro and O2) but I wasn't 100% confident so I went with something along the lines of what your friend said ("I'm not sure but I would get a reference book and look it up, or find someone who does know the answer), including that if I didn't know the correct answer, I would always look up the correct answer and/or verify with a more experienced nurse on my unit. One thing is for sure, the next time I get an interview I will study up on the meds for that particular unit!!! *Sighs* I'm still beating myself up for this interview--it was a big interview for me, and I was so SURE I had done well. Back to the drawing board. I'm just worried because I have thousands of dollars of loans to pay back, and bills are piling up. I need something spectacular to happen soon. I just need someone to give me a shot at being a working RN. Are there any places other than hospitals that are willing to take new grads under their wings?

nurseerina · Jan 24, 2011

I agree with what the above posters said re: medications for chest pain. In the real world of nursing you arent always going to know the right answer and often times you have to look things up or ask someone else. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that either. It's better to ask than to do something wrong and injure a patient. As far as the job search goes, I feel your pain. The job market right now for any nurse is horrible due to the economy. People are holding on to their jobs and hospitals are getting pickier about who they hire (if anyone at all) because they are trying to save money as well. I've been working for 4 years (have RNBSN), but have worked entirely in oncology except for 6months when I did med/surg as a new grad. My husband and I recently moved to Okinawa, Japan because he's in the military. Every position here requires peditatric or mom/baby experience due to the large amount of babies born to the military personnel on island. The closest oncology unit is back in the states. We've been here 9 months and Ive been put in 10 applications and had 5 interviews and have been turned down for all because the other applicants had experience with "little people" and I didnt. The only advice that I can give you is to keep trying and eventually someone will hire you. That's my plan anyway!

mnf4ever · Jan 24, 2011

I agree with what the above posters said re: medications for chest pain. In the real world of nursing you arent always going to know the right answer and often times you have to look things up or ask someone else. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that either. It's better to ask than to do something wrong and injure a patient. As far as the job search goes, I feel your pain. The job market right now for any nurse is horrible due to the economy. People are holding on to their jobs and hospitals are getting pickier about who they hire (if anyone at all) because they are trying to save money as well. I've been working for 4 years (have RNBSN), but have worked entirely in oncology except for 6months when I did med/surg as a new grad. My husband and I recently moved to Okinawa, Japan because he's in the military. Every position here requires peditatric or mom/baby experience due to the large amount of babies born to the military personnel on island. The closest oncology unit is back in the states. We've been here 9 months and Ive been put in 10 applications and had 5 interviews and have been turned down for all because the other applicants had experience with "little people" and I didnt. The only advice that I can give you is to keep trying and eventually someone will hire you. That's my plan anyway!

Thank you so much for responding. You sound like a great nurse!! It's a shame they wouldn't hire someone with your experience. I wish you luck and send good vibes and hope the right employer hires such a valuable nurse like yourself. I'm still recovering from the rejection, but will keep on keeping on with the search. I HATE being the newbie...I can't wait to be an experienced nurse one day!!!