I'm not really a nurse until I sign "RN" after my name

JomoNurse · Aug 16, 2009

Well, people who know people generally know their character, work ethic, reliablitity, and blah blah blah. so when they know what they're getting when they hire that person. with your view they hire someone not knowing them at all (especially a new grad) and take a "gamble".

nohika · Aug 16, 2009

I really hope you don't take offense at this, but this is going to be my two cents.

I'm a pre-nursing student and have a long way to go before becoming an RN myself, but I think connections are useful because recruiters have little to no knowledge of your skills through just a piece of paper that is your resume and applications. "Connections" in the department have a better knowledge of you as a person and your skill set - typically you're only recommended if the "connection" knows/thinks you can do the job. It's not something that can be seen from a piece of paper.

Heavens knows when I graduate I'll benefit from connections - my mother is friends with a charge nurse at a local hospital's NICU and I hope to get a spot in the internship (or a better shot at it) via that. Course, who knows - the economy may get better by the time I graduate.

Regardless, please don't take offense to what I say - it's just my opinion. I also hope I said it clearly enough. xD;

NewNurseAlert · Aug 16, 2009

I understand, connections are useful for people that have them. Is it fair for people that don't? Is it right that people don't get jobs because they failed to befriend with the right people? I am a newcomer to a small community and it's all about who knows who. Someone in my class has a kid in the same class as one of the instructor's kids. She kissed up and by the end of the year they were "BFFs" and I can tell you, she is getting a job in the department where that instructor works and she was NOT a good student!

Is it a nursing skill to know the right people? Why didn't they teach us that?

geocachingRN · Aug 16, 2009

For those of you who are choosing not to play the networking game, I commend you for your chosen path. I hope you have found some other way to gain experience and eventually find a job. If not, have you considered volunteering at a free clinic, local marathon, bike races, or the Red Cross? Consider doing what it take to become certified to teach CPR, or stay in school and take a class or two that applies to a BSN or MSN. Any of these things will highlight your dedication and skills as well as help you meet like minded people who might also be able to help you.

Networking isn't limited to who a relative or a neighbor knows , or befriending the instructor socially. It's true role is when you've worked with someone and they can vouch for your skills, integrity and demeanor. In this market, try and keep positive, it will only help you and good luck!

Virgo_RN, BSN, RN · Aug 16, 2009

Yet so many in my class settled into jobs because of "connections". It's just wrong.

Why is it wrong? The ability to network is a valuable skill in any profession, not just nursing.

allnurses Guide · Aug 16, 2009

First of all, I'm kinda wondering what the title has to do with the thread?

In your nursing career, you are gonna have networking; it's unavoidable, particularly if you ever switch jobs. When you provide personal references, that's part of it. You will need to develop good rapport with at least three people at your job, preferably supervisors, so that you can use them as references later on. It's just the smart thing to do, you know?

You may say that your good work alone should speak for you.... well, that's true to an extent, but you can be a great nurse but still be someone who never speaks to their coworkers and is in fact, dowright mean and rude to them. No one is going to want to give someone like that a glowing reference.

Networking isn't about trying to be popular or being a good "butt kisser", but it is about developing decent relationships with at least some of your collegues. Nursing is a profession; professionals network in order to both stay current in their fields by speaking to collegues and getting ideas about good or better practices... and also to help with job changes or career advances.

allnurses Guide · Aug 16, 2009

I agree the term "networking" put me off big time, because it conjured up images of over-eager business types going to social events and joining gyms for the sole purpose of trying to bag some big-ticket names with brilliant repartee etc. Y-U-C-K :barf01:

Really, if you think of it just as getting to know people in whatever it is you do, and letting them get to know you, that's fun and a win-win. If you place yourself in proximity to people and get to know them, they may think of you when a job comes up, for the simple reason as said above, that people like to hire people they know, or word of mouth from a trusted source. Taking courses, volunteer work, professional associations etc like others have suggested.

I am horrible at small-talk, and I hate approaching people out of my comfort zone, but in this environment I literally think you should leave no stone unturned, do anything that strikes you, you never know where it will lead. Best of luck to you :nurse:

locolorenzo22, BSN, RN · Aug 16, 2009

sometimes it is also "who you know". You may have moved into the area, but if the jobs are closed, then you may have to go where the jobs are. try LTCs, home health....all sorts of other options you may not have considered.

Jules A, MSN · Aug 16, 2009

for those of you who are choosing not to play the networking game, i commend you for your chosen path. i hope you have found some other way to gain experience and eventually find a job. if not, have you considered volunteering at a free clinic, local marathon, bike races, or the red cross? consider doing what it take to become certified to teach cpr, or stay in school and take a class or two that applies to a bsn or msn. any of these things will highlight your dedication and skills as well as help you meet like minded people who might also be able to help you.
networking isn't limited to who a relative or a neighbor knows , or befriending the instructor socially. it's true role is when you've worked with someone and they can vouch for your skills, integrity and demeanor. in this market, try and keep positive, it will only help you and good luck!

your post is excellent although it reads to me as listing the many benefits and avenues to do the networking you seem negative about in your first couple of lines. :confused:

folks, its a fact of life that having contacts is an excellent way to navigate through our very incestuous group. its no secret that if you have been around for any length of time you will see the same faces over and over. get used to it and either use it to your advantage or not. i've often encouraged students to make a good impression on floor nurses/supervisors during clinicals and absolutely approach them when it is job hunting time. worked for me.

squirtle · Aug 16, 2009

The only point I want to reinforce is that just because a person knows someone in the field doesn't mean that they have received an easy pass in to wherever they end up. I ended up with my first job as an RN because I worked my orifice off getting a job as a tech on the unit I wanted to work on while I was in nursing school and then spending any and all extra time I had at work getting to know the nurses and other staff to prove that I was someone who was capable and willing to do the extra work necessary to start out in critical care. I did get my first nursing job because of who I knew, but it took work to get to know those people and prove myself to them.

laneymaree · Aug 16, 2009

I agree with squirtle. It isn't about just who you know. Sometimes, perhaps, but I don't think it's fair to make that generalization.

I know I want to work PICU when I'm done. I'm in nursing school now and work part-time as an HUC on the PICU floor and go above my job level to help be a runner during codes or whatever else is needed. As a result, they know what kind of worker I am, they know how dedicated I am, and as a result, I have a job waiting for me when I'm done.

But, that's after a lot of hard work. And that same hard work showed them a lot about my character and personality and what kind of fit I am for the unit (which is VERY important)- something that a piece of paper could not necessarily do.

It's like first applying to college. A lot of people want the same spot you do, so you should be competitive as well.