So How Do I Get My Foot In The Door?

I<3Nursing · Jan 15, 2010

Do you know anyone that already works at the hospitals that you are applying at? I know that the place I applied at the Supervisor like hiring nursing students because they would stay on her floor as an RN..so if you could get someone to put in a word for your about your interest of working on that type of floor (even if its a stretch from the truth) that might help get your application looked at :)

HappyMeNow · Jan 15, 2010

I don't know anyone who works in hospitals. I have my clinicals at a hospital that I would love to work at, but I don't know how to approach that situation.

I don't want to get in trouble for soliciting for work you know?

mamamerlee, LPN · Jan 15, 2010

You won't get into trouble - - this is how many people get their first job. You are not 'soliciting'. You are building your future.

Little_Mouse · Jan 15, 2010

It won't hurt to ask an RN that works at one of your clinical sites if their facility hires student nurses as techs/aids and if they don't know, ask a nurse manager or someone in HR. Tell them you do clinicals there and you really enjoy the experience, etc. That's how a few of my former nursing classmates got their jobs as techs during school. You'll never know until you ask. Good luck :)

Do-over, ASN, RN · Jan 15, 2010

It took me a year, and over 100 applications to get a job as an extern. I start on Monday.

Out of all those applications, phone calls, etc., I only got called to interview for four positions at three hospitals. Its tough. Keep applying...

abweaver · Jan 15, 2010

I've been applying to a lot of Nursing tech jobs and so far I havn't heard back from anyone. Granted I don't have much experience. I'm a first year ADN program nursing student and I've done one semester of clinical so far.
I just want to get my foot in the door at any hospital doing anything patient care related so I can get some experience!! I'm terrified of graduating and not being able to find a job!
Any advice? It seems like I'm just throwing my resume and application down an empty hole right now.

Wait till healthcare reform passes... They will never have enough nurses.. Hang in there...

Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN · Jan 15, 2010

I volunteered at a local hospital here for about a year and a half whenever I could. Ask if you could be placed on a nursing unit. Let me tell you, it doesn't pay at the moment but when you are down the road looking for employment as a nurse.. it makes your resume SHINE!

PrincessDiRN · Jan 15, 2010

Call the Human Resources office of the hospital and ask if they have positions for student nurses. Some hospitals do!

cjcsoon2bnp, MSN, RN, NP · Jan 15, 2010

If I were you I would call every hospital in the area and ask about Nurse Intern positions, this type of job can be called many different names including "Student Nurse Associate" (SNA), "Nursing Student Assistant" (NSA), "Collegiate Nurse Intern" (CNI) or "Nursing Student Intern" (NSI) just to name a few. If you can't find a nursing internship at any of the hospitals then see if you can get your CNA license and apply for a position as a CNA, keep in mind as a CNA your position won't be the same as most nurse internship positions but you will definitely get some hands on experience and depending on the nurses you work with and the setting your in you may get a chance to do more than the average CNA. I think a lot of it is about finding a place to work that you could see yourself working as a new grad. nurse and then trying to get some experience and seniority in so you have a job when your done with school.

!Chris :specs: