Please Help A New Nurse!!!

Nurses General Nursing

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I am a new grad. I got my RN in June. I have been working at a fast paced doctor's office but I really want to work in the hospital. I know that it is next to impossible to get into the hospitals around me so I would like to make myself as marketable as possible. I would love to take and EKG class and get my ACLS. I really don't know how to go about doing this. The hospitals around me only offer it in house. Where else can I look? Any other advice to help me crack the hospitals??? Thanks!!!

Look up the local community colleges.

Specializes in Neuro/NSGY, critical care, med/stroke/tele.

The American Heart Association has classes listed for ACLS that you can look up on their Course Connector: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3012360 :-) You enter your geographical info and then pick the ACLS (or any other applicable couse) from the list.

Good luck!!

I don't know if getting those certifications would necessarily make you more marketable. Getting hired on some hospital floors usually comes down to 1) do you have connections? aka do you know someone? 2) are they willing to hire and train a new nurse with little to no hospital experience? 3) do they like you? aka did they get a good vibe from you during the interview? You could have every certification in the world and still be overlooked. Just my two cents.

I don't know if getting those certifications would necessarily make you more marketable. Getting hired on some hospital floors usually comes down to 1) do you have connections? aka do you know someone? 2) are they willing to hire and train a new nurse with little to no hospital experience? 3) do they like you? aka did they get a good vibe from you during the interview? You could have every certification in the world and still be overlooked. Just my two cents.

I don't know. One of my classmates got ACLS certification on her own and felt it influenced her application favorably. I don't see why it wouldn't be at least a little helpful- that's one less certification they have to worry about doing with you.

Our local paramedic companies offer ACLS. Good luck in your job search.

Specializes in Ltc, Hospice, Spinal Cord.

If the area of nursing your thinking of applying to prefers/requires ACLS certification it would definitely help. It may even help if they don't because it shows initiative. I just got a new job and one of the things they said during the interview was; "I see you're ACLS certified". Why yes I am!!! :D Wasn't required for the position but it was a skill she liked. Education never hurts in my opinion.

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