First RN Job!!!! (Plus interview tips and encouragement for new grads

[rm89]

Just wanted to give a little encouragement to all the new grad RN's out there. I graduated Dec.12, and took my NCLEX on the 29th. I found out I passed 48 hours later. I began my job search immediately thereafter.

(I should note that I moved from Arkansas -which is where I went to nursing school - to Colorado as soon as I graduated. Therefore, I wanted to wait until I actually had my license before I began to apply. I also should mention that I had 2 years experience as an LPN).

I looked on Hospital sites, as well as Craigslist. I found however, that craigslist had many more opportunities to apply for. I began applying to almost any job except those which I knew I did not want to work at unless I absolutely had to. I applied for a home health agency in the area that had a position open as a private duty pediatric RN. I received a call almost immediately and they set up an interview time. I have a friend who also works for this company, and I knew they were absolutely amazing!!

I had the interview with them, and 24 hours later was offered the job! It has proven to be an amazing place to work for so far, with great pay and an incredible atmosphere. Not to mention that I'm working in pediatrics, and not just any pediatric patients, but those with trachs, vents, g-buttons, vesicostomies, O2 - you name it! Preemies fresh home from the hospital, etc. it is a highly specialized field, and will give me lots of good experience should I want to move on in the future. (At this point I do not).

I just wanted to encourage new grads that the jobs can be found! Here are a few things I did that I think helped me.

1. The night before I went to the interview I googled "nursing interview tips" "new

RN

grad nursing tips" etc. You get the picture. I read as many as could. I also Googled "questions to ask at a nursing interview" and wrote some down. I went to the company website and learned as much about the company as I could. I found one thing to compliment them on that I found to be extra ordinary, and asked a few questions specifically geared towards their company. Those little extra things show that you are interested in their specific company, and have done your research.

2. During the interview I answered questions as honestly as possible, but also made sure that my answer included things like "I'm hoping to be part of this team long-term." This helps them to know that they just aren't any job that you are wanting to get into as soon as possible, and just stay long enough to get some experience and move on. I interviewed on Wednesday, and when they asked me when I could start, I said the following Monday. Didn't want to look too needy, lol.

3. I also tried to come across as confident in my abilities. I didn't overstate, and if I had never done something, I said so. However, I made sure to also state that I would be eager to learn that procedure/policy/med, and that I was confident in my ability to do so.

When I left the interview they told me they loved it, and that I should be giving lessons, because I answered questions so well. (Little did they know it was thanks to approx 2 hours of Google time, and that it was my first ever job interview)!

I have been told since that they wanted to offer me the job on the spot, and that the only reason they didn't was because they had to check references for their records.

So yeah. Hope I didn't come across as bragging, but I did want to encourage others, and share the tips of what helped me.

P. S. I also hand wrote a thank you card to each of the interviewers, and included a quote or idea that I really liked from that person personally. I thanked them for interviewing me, and mailed them the same day I interviewed.

All of this to say, I got my first RN position in the pediatric field (my dream) within a month of graduation, at my first interview. I also only have my ADN, so it wasn't like it was my schooling that got me the position. It can be done. Don't give up, new grads!!!

[ambitiousRN2be]

CONGRATS !!! And thanks for all those great tips

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

Congrats!

[lilnursey'15]

Congrats that's so awesome! :)

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses

[klone, MSN, RN]

Wonderful tips! Sounds like you nailed it, congratulations! And welcome to Colorado. :)

[XoXoNewNurse]

Great advice and CONGRATULATIONS!!! I just accepted my first job yesterday!!!!!! I definitely agree it is super important to do lots of preparation before going into an interview. There are SO MANY great resources online that provide tips on interviewing and tons of common interview questions. Also, for those of you out there who are feeling frustrated I can tell you the absolute BEST way to get your first nursing job (if you haven't already been working as a CNA) is to walk in, introduce yourself, and hand in your resume in person! Both interviews I got were from doing that and they told me that taking the initiative to bring my resume in person automatically put me ahead of the other applicants even before I interviewed. Go into your interview prepared, ENTHUSIASTIC, ready to talk about your personality (how friends or coworkers would describe you), how quickly you learn and how well you handle stress, what a GREAT team player you are although you are also comfortable working independently, why you want to be a nurse, and most importantly for a new grad: Why should they hire YOU over someone with years of experience? Dress conservatively and professionally, have multiple copies of your resume handy (you never know how many people are going to be interviewing you so be prepared), and SMILE! Also, have well thought out and intelligent questions prepared for your interviewers. Never say you don't have any questions. After the interview, write an email expressing your gratitude that also sums up why YOU are the best person for this position. This is a great opportunity to add all of those great qualities about yourself that you were too nervous to think of until you were in your car on the way home. I hope this is helpful to all of those new grads out there like me who have been reading these threads for the last few years and freaking out about how hard it will be to find a job. IT'S NOT. Your job is out there waiting for you. All you have to do is get up and physically go out there and get it! GOOD LUCK!!!!

[scaredsilly, BSN, RN]

xoxo is right! Even though most nursing schools tell you never to just show up in person, every new grad I know got hired that way. It is the only chance to get your application into human hands!

Congratulations to both of you!

rm89, you worked for 2 years as an LPN, so you had enough experience to handle private duty and that is awesome! You will be great at this!!! I would not be too quick to recommend PDN to a new grad without experience though. I actually accepted a PDN job right after graduation and I felt like my license was at risk. I got a one shift orientation and then was left completely on my own. These are high acuity patients and a brand new grad with zero experience is NOT safe in that environment in my opinion. I quit after 3 shifts, after begging for more training and being told "you will be fine-stop worrying". I am in my 6th month at a hospital now, and I still depend on more experienced nurses to train me in things I have not yet learned.

Your two years experience is vital to the job you have now, and you will probably excel and be one true success story--but without that experience I would have a hard time being happy for you. New grad nurses without any experience need time and experience learning from seasoned nurses in order to be able to provide good, safe patient care. Being all alone without the ability to gain that experience in a safe environment is not a great idea for inexperienced new grads.

[rm89]

xoxo is right! Even though most nursing schools tell you never to just show up in person, every new grad I know got hired that way. It is the only chance to get your application into human hands!

Congratulations to both of you!

rm89, you worked for 2 years as an LPN, so you had enough experience to handle private duty and that is awesome! You will be great at this!!! I would not be too quick to recommend PDN to a new grad without experience though. I actually accepted a PDN job right after graduation and I felt like my license was at risk. I got a one shift orientation and then was left completely on my own. These are high acuity patients and a brand new grad with zero experience is NOT safe in that environment in my opinion. I quit after 3 shifts, after begging for more training and being told "you will be fine-stop worrying". I am in my 6th month at a hospital now, and I still depend on more experienced nurses to train me in things I have not yet learned.

Your two years experience is vital to the job you have now, and you will probably excel and be one true success story--but without that experience I would have a hard time being happy for you. New grad nurses without any experience need time and experience learning from seasoned nurses in order to be able to provide good, safe patient care. Being all alone without the ability to gain that experience in a safe environment is not a great idea for inexperienced new grads.

I did have 2 years experience as an LPN, and so far it has helped tremendously. However, I think a lot depends on the PDN company you work for. My company loves new grads, and the usual training time is 4-8 weeks, depending on how comfortable the new grad is. For most new grads, they take the entire 8 weeks. Those of us with some previous experience usually have closer to 3-4 weeks, and feel fine with it.

In fact, this company has you do nothing but observe for the first week, before you are required to do any pt care. You are welcome to start doing small things earlier if you and your preceptor feel comfortable with that, but for the first week, you are officially there for observation.

I think during the interview process, when they ask you if you have any questions for them, it is a great time to ask about training/orientation, and how long that usually takes with their company, what they expect from you, etc. It is a very relevant question, and if they balk at giving you a good answer, then it's a good sign you probably don't want to work for them. Another good question is asking what the turn over rate is for RN's in their company. Anyways.

Sorry you had a bad experience as a new grad. I actually had a very similar experience as a new grad LPN, but mine was in the hospital. I had to literally beg my preceptor to come show me how to do stuff, and she was very mean about it all. She would give me her entire pt load, then sit in a deserted office "charting." I only lasted there 2 weeks, as I truly felt my license was at risk.

I think a lot of it is simply what hospital/company you work for.

[CallingNurseNena]

Great advice! I'm in almost the same exact situation. I just got my first ever RN position in pediatrics (my dream also). It is possible new grads!! Follow these tips and others on here about interviews, resumes and cover letters, and you'll do great!!!