Ft. Walton/Pensacola New Grad Nurse Jobs 2015

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Hello fellow RN's,

I have moved to northern Florida (Ft. Walton Beach specficially) from Hawaii 6 days after graduating with my BSN. I'm a single mother of a 2 and a half year old daughter and could no longer afford living in a state with one of the highest cost of living in the country on my own. Also, nurses work 12 hour shifts and I had no dependable childcare for such a long period of time. I have moved in with my father so he can help watch his granddaughter while I get two feet planted on the ground. I took my NCLEX on February 19th and found out the next day that I passed. Since then, I have applied for several nursing positions in hospitals in the area, only to be immediately rejected the next day. I've applied for jobs as far as Pensacola, an hour's drive away, and continue to face rejection. Applications for patient care tech/certified nurse aide are often rejected as well. I currently have 9 applications "under review" at Sacred Heart Pensacola as a patient care tech/unit secretary in several different units. However, I have not received any calls for interviews.

I am writing in hopes of finding answers to a plethora of questions. First, does anyone in the area know of any tactics I can attempt in order to follow up on my applications under review and receive an interview? I have no problem starting as a tech/aide and proving to a hospital that I'm a valuable employee and capable of working as a nurse. I am confident that as long as I get an interview, I can prove my worth and become hired. All it takes it someone giving me a chance.

Also, does anyone know of any hospitals in the area that hires new grads as RN's or LPN's? I'm at such a loss as far as what I can do to get a leg up and get myself into an interview room. I've been without work for almost three months due to the move and preparation for the NCLEX and can't hold out for much longer. My savings account is reaching its end and I need a job ASAP.

Thanks for reading and any help would be greatly appreciated.

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Hey there :) I'm also a new grad. Passed NCLEX in November 2014 and was getting discouraged I wasn't hearing back from all the apps I put out. It took a while to hear back but finally did so hang in there :) All the hospitals in the area hire new grads.....it's just tough getting the initial interview :( Have you applied to North Okaloosa Hospital in Crestview? That is a little closer than Pensacola.

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You may already use the job site but I wanted to mentioned indeed.com. It's a great site and app to search for jobs in the area. It gave me up to the minute job postings.

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Thank you so much for the encouragement rhonda0143! Congratulations on passing the NLCLEX and beginning your journey into nursing! It's so disheartening to face constant rejection. Do you have any type of hospital/patient care experience? While I have 9 years of customer service experience/management experience under my belt, I feel that lack of experience in a related field is hurting my chances.

I've applied to North Okaloosa Hospital as well and received an email that other applicants were selected. Interestingly enough, I lived in Florida as a child 15 years ago, and I lived in Crestview. I would love to contribute to that area in some way. Indeed.com has been a great help in my search as well.

How has your training experience been so far? Does the hospital you work in help new grad nurses transition and integrate into the field pretty well? While I'm excited to start this new journey in nursing, I'm also apprehensive. Nursing school provides a base of knowledge, but I know there's so much more to learn as we take patient lives into our hands and aid in their healing.

Thanks again for the reply, I appreciate the help!

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You are very welcome! And congratulations to you as well. Passing nursing school and NCLEX is a huge accomplishment :)

As for my past clinical experience, I do not have any prior to nursing school. Looking back, I think it is smart for nursing students to work as techs...I have found a lot of techs get first dibs on their floor after NCLEX.

While waiting on call backs I did get my ACLS certification. I figured it wouldn't hurt and it would show initiative on my part. Santa Rosa Medical Center in Milton offers the class for $15! They also offers PALS for the same.

Indeed.com doesn't always post all jobs, so make sure to check the hospitals career section. I found this to be true for Santa Rosa Medical Center and North Okaloosa Medical Center.

I start orientation next week. I do know that the hospitals in the area generally have a week or so of orientation then you are assigned to a preceptor for 6-8 weeks before you are off on your own (eek!) lol

North Okaloosa has a program they call GAP. You orientate to the hospital and then they pair you with a clinical instructor who takes you to various areas of the hospital to practice you skills while they are there to help. That lasts two weeks and then 6 weeks of precepting.

I wouldn't be afraid to call the HR departments or even call nurse managers for the floor you applied to to inquire about the position :) I have several friends from school who did that and were hired.

I know that was information overload but I hope it helps! :)

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No way, that wasn't an overload; all of your information was extremely helpful!! Thanks so much! I've looked on the Santa Rosa website and can't find any information on the ACLS class. Do you remember how you got connected with them? That was on my list of things to do while I wait as well, but most classes are so expensive and I can't afford it. $15 is an absolute STEAL though!

Oh man, so it took about 3 months for you to get hired after you passed? The waiting game is so frustrating. But you're there! You got a job! Orientation next week and sending you out on your own definitely deserves a big EEEEK! But, you made it this far. Now, your journey is really beginning. May I ask what type of unit you got hired in? It's so cliche, but I hope to be in labor and delivery one day. I see positions open up here and there. We'll see what happens. Congrats again. Good luck at orientation. Who knows, maybe I'll see you around one day!

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Call the HR department and ask for Guy. He will let you know when the next ACLS class is. They are all really nice there. You might get lucky and make some good connections. :) one of my friends was even taken up to the floor and introduced to a nurse manager!

I was hired onto the medical/cardiac observation unit. Gonna put in my 6-12 months med surge and see where I go from there. I would love to work L&D! I think you have to have a year before they will consider you. Though, postpartum and NICU hire new grads :)

I know with Sacred it is best to call the manager on the floor your interests in. They have such a flood of applications. Better to be a person calling than a number on their website ya know.

I hope you hear something soon! Maybe I will see you around..how cool would that be ;)

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I know you said you start orientation this week. If you've had your first day, I hope it went amazing. I called Santa Rosa MC and left a message about the next ACLS class; I'm just waiting for a call back. Thank you so much for the head's up! Definitely appreciate the information.

Sacred Heart actually gave me a call for an interview today, so I'm beyond excited right now. It's for a PCT position I believe, but it's a foot in the door at an amazing hospital. The beautiful weather passed some good luck down to me! Thanks for all your help through this!!

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I sent you a PM :)

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The system isn't letting me reply to your PM. It says there's a new policy that you have to post 15 topics before you can PM? Anyhow, if this information is too private, I can delete the message after I know you've read it. But thank you for the names! Depending on how this interview goes on Thursday, I might give those ladies a call. Destin is a much closer drive than Pensacola so I think I'd like to start off in Destin and work my way up within that location. Are you going to be working at the Destin location or in Pensacola? Maybe I can come find you and introduce myself. :)

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I replied twice to your PM. Let me know if you didn't get it.

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I'll be in Pensacola :) how was your interview??

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