New Grad needs experience

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · May 24, 2008

I know of people who started their careers in nursing homes and, after about 1 year of LTC, they were able to land hospital employment. Be aware that some HR folks at hospitals generally do not prefer to hire nurses with "too much" LTC experience, because they assume that you have lost some essential procedural skills.

racing-mom4, BSN, RN · May 24, 2008

My advice would be to contact HR in the hospital your interested in and inquire about job shadowing for a day. Not only will it give you a good feel of the floors your interested in working on, it will also show the staff on that floor your personality--- There are many positives to job shadowing:

1) It proves to HR that your eager as well as serious about what position would be best for you.

2) By having current employees see you, meet you and get to know your work ethic--they will be the biggest help in getting you the job.

3) It could show you that you dont really want to work on that floor thus saving you from making a mistake in taking your 1st hospital job.

After your job shadowing exp, write a hand written letter to not on the Dept Mgr thanking them for allowing you to job shadow with their team, but also mention something about that floor that really excited you, ex: I loved the team work I witnessed while shadowing your team... Or...I was impressed at the level of infection control your team demonstrates etc etc etc. Then also write a letter to HR thanking them for the opportunity and lgive your home as well as cell phone and let them know " Trinity hospital is now my 1st choice in hospitals to begin my nursing career"

best of luck~~~

Jules A, MSN · May 24, 2008

Hi,

Congratulations on graduating! Are you sure the market is saturated? I guess it is different everywhere but almost all of my classmates had jobs lined up before graduation in great areas, ED, ICU, Tele, L&D etc. Did you have an extra good rapport with nurses on any of the floors where you did clinicals? Sometimes having an insider pulling for you really helps. I am starting a new position at one of the facilities where I did clinicals. I really worked well with their team and the DON offered me the job my last day there. If you do decide to do LTC I don't think it will hurt your chances of getting in at a hospital, caring nurses are really needed and in the meantime they usually pay really good. Wishing you the best. Jules

sistasoul · May 24, 2008

Thank you to all who have replied.

Great advice.

I live in NH and this state is not one of the ones that is hurting for nurses as badly as other states.

Peace and grace

Heather

BonnieSc · May 24, 2008

I'm sure a year of experience at LTC looks better than a year doing nothing, so keep that in mind... of course, in my area they aren't hiring new grads for LTC either--hope it's better for you!

I do get tired of how every time a new grad posts that s/he's having trouble finding a job, someone replies that they don't know anyone who's had any trouble--makes it sound like the OP must be doing something wrong, when the job market really IS saturated in several areas in the country.

llg, PhD, RN · May 24, 2008

If you do have to go to LTC (or some other non-hospital job), I recommend staying in touch with the hospitals that are your top choices. Let them know periodically that you are still out there and still interested. Sometimes, positions open up in the Fall as the new grads hired in the early summer "graduate" from orientation and their preceptors become available. Don't just "disappear" from their radar for a year and then expect them to remember you.

HM2VikingRN, RN · May 24, 2008

Check out your local VA hospital. MPLS has a great new grad program that I am starting in next month.

http://www.manchester.va.gov/

I noticed that they also have community based clinics under their bailiwick if the commute would be an issue.

Best of luck

Jules A, MSN · May 24, 2008

I do get tired of how every time a new grad posts that s/he's having trouble finding a job, someone replies that they don't know anyone who's had any trouble--makes it sound like the OP must be doing something wrong, when the job market really IS saturated in several areas in the country.

Well I get tired of people misinterpreting things they read without considering the other possible alternatives.

Sistasoul, absolutely no offense was meant by my response. Sometimes I read about new grads searching hospital websites and if there aren't any specific listings for a certain unit or new-grad offerings they assume nothing is available and don't even apply or submitting their resume online without following up and as I wrote I do think that having someone that knows your name/face is always helpful. Wishing you the best.

NurseNature · May 24, 2008

I also just graduated! Might need to change my username now. =) I figured out which hospital I most wanted to work for and when I checked job openings, there weren't any listings for new grads. I applied anyway. I selected a couple of RN positions, rather than new grad, and explained in my cover letter and resume what I was looking for. They called me the next day for an interview the following week and I was hired the day after being interviewed by HR and my nurse manager. So basically, apply whether they have new grad positions listed or not, because maybe they aren't looking for them, but will take the ones who will show initiative. Also, if you cannot get in a hospital like you wish, I think sub-acute or extended stay would be more beneficial to gain skills and familiarity with equipment. Good Luck!

Lori

Dr.Nurse2b · May 25, 2008

:ancong!:

My hospital is offering a $500 bonus to current employees if they bring in an RN that stays with the hospital 6 months.

Wanna come to Georgia? I'll split the cash with you!:chuckle

All kidding aside...take some time off, give yourself a break. You're a nurse now...a valuable commodity...YOU decided where you WANT to work. Pick your hospital, submit your application and resume. Buy yourself a killer black pant suit and visit HR in two weeks. Tell them why you want to work for the hospital...and mean it. Go get the job Heather...the hospitals are not in control...you are.

Make sure you post the results.

wildmountainchild · May 25, 2008

I must have applied to 30 or 40 different positions before I was hired into a new grad program. The market here if fairly saturated as well. It's not that nurses aren't needed, it's just that you can't run a hospital w/ all new grads. I'd given myself until this summer...if I handn't landed a job in an ED I would have done something else.

Hang in there and keep plugging along. Make sure you apply to positions that may not list new grad, as has been mentioned above. I found that actually going to the department you are interested in and introducing yourself to the nurse manager was very helpful and universally well recieved. It shows initiative and motivation. Always bring a resume with you! Are there any job fairs in your area? Sign up on aftercollege.com and they will send you listing of career fairs for nurses and postings of new jobs in your area. I got a lot of leads from them.

It took me 3 or 4 months to get a job...the one I wanted anyway. Good luck and get ready to hit the pavement. Looking for a job was almost a job in itself.