Graduate Nurses-- any luck on jobs?

K98 · Sep 16, 2009

Apply early and often. The students working on my unit have been telling us that the hospital's official line is "internal transfers only". The hospital is presently listing about 30 RN positions.

MeggaRN · Sep 23, 2009

Thanks for the tip k98!!

K98 · Sep 24, 2009

Best of luck to you. I believe the job situation will improve once the health care nonsense finally goes into the ashcan of history (again). We need staff, the hospital won't hire. They are waiting to see which way the health care "legislation" goes.

Kitty Hawk, ADN, RN · Sep 25, 2009

Best of luck to you. I believe the job situation will improve once the health care nonsense finally goes into the ashcan of history (again). We need staff, the hospital won't hire. They are waiting to see which way the health care "legislation" goes.

K98

Is that the main holdup for our area and not just the general economy?

I've applied to a bunch of places and haven't heard anything although the one from Mercy has been out of town until next week.

I wish I knew whether to hold on as it will break soon or if I knew for sure nothing is happening until early next year I'd explore other possible opportunities.

Thanks for any sight and good luck and prayers to all still searching.

K98 · Sep 25, 2009

I don't think the general economy is the problem, as the Pittsburgh region has really dodged the bullet as far as unemployment, devalued real estate, etc.. One of the biggest employers in this region is health care, and the government is looking to try a huge remake/reform of the system. Most of the health systems are waiting to see how it shakes out before making any major moves. If public sentiment is any indicator, the reform plans are going nowhere.

Kitty Hawk, ADN, RN · Sep 25, 2009

I don't think the general economy is the problem, as the Pittsburgh region has really dodged the bullet as far as unemployment, devalued real estate, etc.. One of the biggest employers in this region is health care, and the government is looking to try a huge remake/reform of the system. Most of the health systems are waiting to see how it shakes out before making any major moves. If public sentiment is any indicator, the reform plans are going nowhere.

Ha! thanks again. My husband seems to think it's better than if we were waiting for a change in the economy as this could break at any time. I wasn't aware how most of the employment in other sects were faring. That's good the majority haven't suffered.

I was in the travel industry before refocusing to nursing and my prev company had many layoffs last winter, most of my prev co-workers are gone not by choice, it's sad. My husband is involved in contracting and it's been hit or miss since last year as people don't want to spend the money on renovations. So those were my examples, plus I've just started to look for a job 2 weeks ago, I wasn't sure what to expect and how hospitals were here in Pittsburgh.

rawrn · Oct 2, 2009

i graduated in May and passed my boards in August, have applied everywhere and nothing!!!!

K98 · Oct 2, 2009

i graduated in May and passed my boards in August, have applied everywhere and nothing!!!!

If things go as planned for me, I will be leaving health care permanently and will be opening a position for you .

Deeks0 · Oct 6, 2009

I believe things are definitely loosening up out there. I just got my dream job at CHOP. I graduated at the end of July and pasted my boards in mid September. I had my interview last week and they offered me the job on monday. The position I interviewed for wasn't posted online. I was able to keep in touch with the Nurse Manager on the floor I was on for my clinical rotation.

The best advice I have to student nurses is get the business card of EVERY nurse manager of every clinical rotation you go on. As soon as you graduate let them know, then let them know you passed the boards...let them know the day the license comes in the mail...use any excuse you can to contact them adn keep your name fresh in their heads. I firmly believe it is the only reason I got this job.

Best of Luck.

LoriNJ · Oct 6, 2009

Deeks, congrats! That is incredible!! What unit will you be working on? I just interviewed there a few weeks ago, but haven't yet taken my NCLEX.

CherryAmes_RN · Oct 8, 2009

i read this thread the other day & it reassured me as to how crazy the job situation is right now... i graduated 3 1/2 months ago & got my license a month later. i was on a scholarship & contracted to work for my schools hospital, but because there were not enough positions, they had to let alot of us out of our obligation. yay i went to school for free! but its EXTREMELY frustrating to put out these massive amounts of resumes weekly & get close to no response. ive had 1 interview, have one set up for tuesday & got 1 other call (from the one ive seen referred to as "the evil empire" -i love it ) which ive returned (twice) & havent gotten a response back... hoping this will turn around, not only for myself & my unemployed friends from school, but also for those to be graduating in the near future.