Getting your first RN job: The secret rules.

Published

This is aimed at all you fresh faced RN's to be, or possibly even fellow RNs up to 1 year post NCLEX who are still wondering what this whole nursing shortage legend came from.

The situation: You got your BSN, with a perfect 4.0 GPA.

You passed the NCLEX in 70 questions.

You have every certification they sell under your belt!

You sent out about a hundred billion resumes with pulitzer prize winning cover letters and now it's time to make some follow up calls and wait for the job offers to come rolling in!

Right??

Wrong!!!! In fact all of those things just qualify you to compete. None of them give you an edge. If you werent a strong student you never would have made it through nursing school in the first place!

Months fall off the calendar, and you're still working that Home Care or LTC job...or worse, but increasingly common, you're still working that non-nurse position you had while you were in school!!

What went wrong??

Well that is a warning of what to expect. Nursing Shortage does NOT mean, that they're all chomping at the bit to hire nurses, especially ones right out of school. The shortage means that the Powers that Be don't have (read: aren't willing to spend) the money they need to have a proper RN headcount on the floor.

Meanwhile, foreign educated nurses from Saipan, West Africa and the Philippines are being literally shipped over by the hundred to be paid exploitation wages and undercut any domestically educated graduate.

BUT THERE IS HOPE. I'll now give to you a short list of the things you need to do, while you're still in school...to ensure an easier job search. These are the things the few classmates of mine who already have jobs worth having, have done.

1) Clinical time is time to NETWORK.

When you're putting in your hours on the actual floor, keep in mind that you're not only trying to impress your instructor and prove your skills but remember the STAFF you're around is also eyeing the next crop of recruits looking for standouts.

These other nurses, especially the charge nurses, are all potentially powerfully useful references when you apply. They are also in a position to tell you about positions on the floor that will not be advertised. Work accordingly.

A little grease never hurts either. Shake everyone's hand, make sure everyone knows your name, and yes bring in donuts and coffee. Thank everyone at the end of the day for their help, even if they were completely involved on another unit all day. On your last day, send thank you notes to everyone. Real ones. And more donuts.

1b) Your clinical instructors are no less needing to be impressed. Like, don't just do your tasks and call it a day, you need to blow their minds with your enthusiasm and work ethic more than anything. WHY? because they make splendid references also if you apply for these things called "NURSING INTERNSHIPS" /Co-ops/Residencies etc. To apply for these train-to Full Time Job type situations, they want a letter of reference from your clinical instructors. And by letter of reference, I mean they want a GLOWING letter of reference. Not "You did all your work well ". They want "OH MY GOD EVERYTHING THEY DID WAS SO AMAZING ".

2) Get multi-state licensure ASAP. No matter where you live, you have zero reason to believe that you can count on a good job being in your city. Especially if you're in a city with a lot of nursing programs, like mine. These licenses by endorsement, take a long time, so as soon as you get your License, ...expand it. That afternoon! Accept the very likely possibility that you will end up re-locating to get that dream job, and probably to a small town you've never heard of .

That's all. Anyone else who has tips, feel free to add onto this thread!

GOOD LUCK!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

I totally agree with your comments about networking- that's why I have a position waiting for me. I would ALWAYS thank the nurses I worked with, and when they had good things to say about me, I would always tell them, "Be sure to tell your manager!" I struck up conversations with the NM on the floor, and she knew who I was by the end of my time there. When I heard she was moving to one of my favorite units, I made sure she knew I wanted to get up there. She lined up my preceptorship there, and now I have a job offer. NETWORK!! Put yourself out there!! Be your own best advertising!! It really does help! :)

Also, a couple of other tips- be friendly, be helpful, and let the entire world know that you are looking for a nurse job. One of my instructors found a job through her dry cleaner who knew someone. Wear a sandwich board if that's what it takes!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

thanks for the advice :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Great information. I haven't even started (next month) but I know this information will be extremely beneficial. Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Networking is key, and do not just depend on family an friends. Tell everybody! I have never got a job any other way.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

Networking is very good and so are good interview skills. Some people just seem to think that since they passed the NCLEX someone is just going to knock on their door and offer them a job. You must present yourself well appearance wise, speak well, and be a hard worker. I did a lot of interviewing in my past jobs and I cannot even begin to tell you how many people do not know how to interview properly. Even for upper level management positions. I could usually tell within the first 2 minutes whether I wanted to hire you or not. And if we got past the first two minutes and I was still on the fence I would ask a lot of questions to get a real feel for the person as to whether they would work hard or not. And be positive in the interviews!! Your interview is your chance to sell yourself. Be an excellent salesman.

I have also been the interviewee many times in my life. I have never not been offered a position for any company that I interviewed for. Never from the time I was 16. I always dressed professionally, made sure I spoke well, and asked plenty of questions. I let them know how interested I was in the position by asking them questions. I also did a little research before going into interviews so I knew a little about the company. I was never late, and always had a smile on my face. I would many times follow up with a thank you for taking the time to interview me. No one likes conducting interviews, there is always so much to be done, so I let them know I appreciated them taking time out of their day to see me and consider me. It seems like good interview skills are a lost art these days.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Home Care.

Meanwhile, foreign educated nurses from Saipan, West Africa and the Philippines are being literally shipped over by the hundred to be paid exploitation wages and undercut any domestically educated graduate.

Please provide evidence for this statement. If you've read the international forums this certainly isn't true.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.
Please provide evidence for this statement. If you've read the international forums this certainly isn't true.

^^^ this ^^^

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Meanwhile foreign educated nurses from Saipan, West Africa and the Philippines are being literally shipped over by the hundred to be paid exploitation wages and undercut any domestically educated graduate.[/quote']

This seems... incredibly inaccurate. It's definitely not happening where I am in the country. Sounds like it was added for shock value.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

well played. Thats the way its done!!! My first position I was in the units NM office so often some patients thought I WAS the NM...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

A fair request. I've worked with an agency that aggressively recruited foreign educated nurses for home care and temporary unit positions (Like filling in for RNs on strike) They are paid like CNAs and worked like dogs.. But don't take my word for it, Here is some evidence:

https://faculty.unlv.edu/ccochran/HCA452_652/Articles/Recruiting%20foreign%20nurses.pdf

Increased Demand for Foreign Nurses and Engineers in the U.S. | SpanTran - Evaluation Services

http://www.nursingworld.org/Immigration-NursingWorkforce

Implication of Foreign-Educated Nurses on United States Nursing Collegiality

http://www.nysna.org/publications/newyorknurse/2007/jun/filipino.htm#.U0IEGvldXng

The role played by recruitment agencies in the emigration of South African nurses | Oosthuizen | Health SA Gesondheid

If you have any evidence that foreign educated RNs are not being aggressively recruited and exploited in the USA (as well as all over the world, actually) please feel free to post it. And Forum posts/blogs/chat room conversations/Facebook groups are not Evidence...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.
Networking is very good and so are good interview skills. Some people just seem to think that since they passed the NCLEX someone is just going to knock on their door and offer them a job. You must present yourself well appearance wise, speak well, and be a hard worker. I did a lot of interviewing in my past jobs and I cannot even begin to tell you how many people do not know how to interview properly. Even for upper level management positions. I could usually tell within the first 2 minutes whether I wanted to hire you or not. And if we got past the first two minutes and I was still on the fence I would ask a lot of questions to get a real feel for the person as to whether they would work hard or not. And be positive in the interviews!! Your interview is your chance to sell yourself. Be an excellent salesman.

I have also been the interviewee many times in my life. I have never not been offered a position for any company that I interviewed for. Never from the time I was 16. I always dressed professionally, made sure I spoke well, and asked plenty of questions. I let them know how interested I was in the position by asking them questions. I also did a little research before going into interviews so I knew a little about the company. I was never late, and always had a smile on my face. I would many times follow up with a thank you for taking the time to interview me. No one likes conducting interviews, there is always so much to be done, so I let them know I appreciated them taking time out of their day to see me and consider me. It seems like good interview skills are a lost art these days.

YES. As someone who's been a hiring manager, I can tell you interview skills are vital! Be professional, and think about who YOU'D want to hire. Heathermaizey has some good advice here!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion