Got My First Rejection...

[HappyMeNow]

Okay it stings a bit!! It was for an extern position at a hospital that I would have loved to work at. Perhaps what stings the most is that the rejection took only a week!! I know I have a good resume, no errors, clearly categorized, I have a high GPA, the only thing I can think of is that I don't already have nurse aid experience and that I'm not getting a BSN but an ADN instead.

Eh well...onto the next one!

[RhodyGirl, RN]

Okay it stings a bit!! It was for an extern position at a hospital that I would have loved to work at. Perhaps what stings the most is that the rejection took only a week!! I know I have a good resume, no errors, clearly categorized, I have a high GPA, the only thing I can think of is that I don't already have nurse aid experience and that I'm not getting a BSN but an ADN instead.

Eh well...onto the next one!

I'm sorry.

One of the externships I was offered had 55 student positions open, and they only hired 2 ADN students. I do think the BSN is an advantage, but don't let that discourage you -- keep applying. With a good GPA and a positive attitude, something is bound to turn up.

Good luck!

[healthstar, BSN, RN]

I know how it feels. Just keep trying and never never give up hope.Today,you have to knock on so many doors and wait for one to open and I am sure that one will open for you. It aggrevates me that almost all employers require experience. I just don't understand how one is supposed to get any experience if no one hires them.

[RNTutor, BSN, RN]

Bummer! Sometimes the rejection has nothing to do with your qualifications at all, either, but just that you weren't quite what they were looking for right now.

Be careful with thinking that just because your resume looks good, is without error, and you have a high GPA that it will be enough. The error-free resume is just the bare minimum to be considered, and there is a lot of job competition out there right now so the bare minimum is often not enough. Ask yourself...what would make me a more attractive applicant if I were to apply to that externship again? Then however you answer that question...go do it.

(You didn't say you were just relying on your resume, but I know a lot of people believe that just turning in a resume is all they can do to get a good position, and they get frustrated when it repeatedly doesn't work. So just wanted to add my 2 cents from that perspective.)

[RileyJess06]

RhodyGirl, I was in your Heath Assessment class and Maternity lecture. CONGRATS on the Valor! That's exciting! I hope you post how your experience was at the end of the summer. I'd love to hear how it went! How can I private message you? I am new to posting here.

Also, for everyone - as an fyi, Memorial Hospital of RI is still looking for Nurse Interns according to the website. It may be a good stepping stone for basic experience to land those future highly sought after externships ...or to just beef up your resume a bit with acute care experience for when you are looking for new grad positions. They are the only hospital that I know of locally that will take interns (for level 1 position) without Med Surg. As a Nurse intern 1, your role is as a behavioral aide. After you take MedSurg, you can be a Nurse Intern 2, which is essentially a CNA (there's also intern levels 3 (senior year) and 4 (graduate nurse) . It's good experience (and paid!) while you are in school. I do this 1 shift per week and it has given me a bit more confidence in clinicals. I have found this helpful, especially seeing that I am a second degree candidate and I don't currently work in the healthcare field. I have floated to ER, ICU, and Med Surg. It's a great entry level position while in nursing school. I actually started this job when I was started my Psych clinical in Jan. The on-the-job experience of behavioral aide dovetailed nicely with what I was learning in psych.