Great tips on how to land your first nursing gig

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be open to all shifts (days, afternoons, nights, 8's and 12's), and to full and part time.

2. if you are absolutely passionate about working in one certain area of practice, then realize that you may have to opt for a longer commute to a hospital that hires new grads in that department, but there is that option.

3. be open to all departments and all areas of nursing opportunities in the acute setting.

4. consider employment in a nursing home within a large healthcare system, with the possibility of transferring to a hospital within that system or you can consider a long-term care facility that is not part of a system.

5. talk to everyone who knows you (relatives, friends, neighbors, former teachers, former co-workers etc.) ask them whom do they know that might be able to help you get a job. pick their brains.

6. find networking opportunities through facebook and twitter.

7. go to hospital hr departments, and drop off a resume in person armed with letters of recommendation from professors. you just might hit a day when the recruiter is free to talk to you for a minute, and that just might lead to a longer interview and a job. remember to dress professionally, even if you are just "dropping off" a resume.

8. every day do something to help your job search. make finding a job, your full time job!

9. seek out opportunities to attend nursing presentations or seminars, where you can network with other nurses. ask who/what do they know about current openings.

10. check out nursing professional organizations websites. read, learn, contact.

11. continue your education, if you are interested and if it is feasible.

finally---if you are able-

12. go where the jobs are. yes, move. i interviewed a rn recently, who came to chicago with her classmate 20 years ago, because there were no new grad jobs in philly. if you go away for a year or so, you can always come back...with experience.

13. consider entering the military--as an officer with great benefits, pay, training and experience. you are able to work in every state and in other countries. check it out. my sister-in-law served 2 years active, then stayed in the reserves and retired as a lieutenant colonel with a great military pension---in addition to her pension from her current hospital. or consider entering just the reserves, if not interested in active duty. the military pays great tuition/loan repayment bonuses.

http://www.airforce.com/opportunities/healthcare/

http://www.goarmy.com/amedd/nurse/index.jsp

http://www.navy.com/careers/healthcare/nursing/

any new grads share your experience..did those steps helped you in finding your first nursing job???

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This sums it up brilliantly. I was in this position a year ago and I was very aggressive with my job search. Having done many of the steps mentioned above, I now work in the ER, which was my first choice.

I am getting close to my 1 yr mark. I think all new grads should pay attention to #12. I work near the bay area and will definitely be moving closer to "home" now that I have my 1 yr experience. I know a few people who went out of state and will also be looking to come back to the bay area as well. 1 yr goes by really fast.

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Great post! I graduate in August of 2010, and I just got my first position as a Patient Care Tech, basically NA. The nurse manager was very confident that this position would evolve into a RN position once I passed boards. My friend was able to get me in. My advice? Work HARD in nursing school, especially clinicals. Why? People will notice. My friend referred me because he knew that I would bust my hump at my new job. I don't miss class, I study hard for exams, and I make sure that I am doing as much as I am allowed during my clinical rotations. Many people say that the nursing school experience is overrated for when it comes to finding a job. Maybe, but it worked for me. Bottom line = if you work hard, people will quickly realize your value, and that's what it's all about.

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Sounds like some good ideas. But caution on the "in person" visits to the facility. I know some people who were told to not do it again. With this economy, it is a lot about don't call us, we'll call you.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
This sums it up brilliantly. I was in this position a year ago and I was very aggressive with my job search. Having done many of the steps mentioned above, I now work in the ER, which was my first choice.

I am getting close to my 1 yr mark. I think all new grads should pay attention to #12. I work near the bay area and will definitely be moving closer to "home" now that I have my 1 yr experience. I know a few people who went out of state and will also be looking to come back to the bay area as well. 1 yr goes by really fast.

As someone who had to move away from home to go to school, I don't like the idea of having to stay away from home for even more years, but I know bad times call for pragmatic action. Thanks for this tip. When I get close to graduation I'll make sure to keep my horizons open.

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Specializes in OR Hearts 10.

I would like to add.....

Apply to New Grad programs before you graduate. Around here the new grad programs start in Jun and Jan, so if you wait until graduation the programs will be full.

Also talk to the charge nurses and managers where you do clinicals. My first floor job was on the Ortho/Medical floor I did clinicals on, very helpful when people actually know your name and face. (do a great job at clinicals)

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It worked for me to get a job while I was still in school at once of the places we had clinicals. It also worked for some of my classmates. I was hired before I even graduated.

It was not the job I wanted but it got my foot in the door and worked for a few months anyway, while I looked for a better offer/situation.

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One most important tip not mentioned here, is gain experience before you graduate, preferably in the are you want to go into. Try to get a job, as a tech or nursing assistant. Apply and do internships/ extenships at hospital before you graduate. Hospitals like to hire there techs, and externs. You will not have just one foot in the door but two, bc more then likely you can stay on the floor, you assist on, or will be easily trasfered to a floor of your choice. Your application will be in house, and will be viewed before external applicants. You will have great references, and more experience the your classmates.

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One most important tip not mentioned here, is gain experience before you graduate, preferably in the are you want to go into. Try to get a job, as a tech or nursing assistant. Apply and do internships/ extenships at hospital before you graduate. Hospitals like to hire there techs, and externs. You will not have just one foot in the door but two, bc more then likely you can stay on the floor, you assist on, or will be easily trasfered to a floor of your choice. Your application will be in house, and will be viewed before external applicants. You will have great references, and more experience the your classmates.

I think the classmates who got jobs immediately after graduation were those who worked as a tech or clerk or in some other capacity in the hospital. This is more important if you live in a saturated area like the bay area. I noticed some hospitals will only hire new grads in house or they had some type of contractual/scholarship agreement with certain schools. If you are not part of that group, you are simply out of luck.

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ita- know that NOTHING is a given, even Tech/NA positions evolving into RN positions--personality clashes,budget cuts and hiring freezes happen --don't put all of your eggs in one basket!! Apply to surrounding hospitals until you get an offer from HR ;)

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Specializes in NICU.

I'm starting to think of how to get a job. I am now, unfortunately, tied to an area, but I have a little room to roam. There's about 3 hospitals in an hour radius, with one being a regional medical center. Otherwise, there's a large city 2 hours away from my home base were I can try too. I graduate in a year and a half (December 2011). I'm hoping to get a job as a CNA or Nurse Tech (nurse extern) for this summer. We shall see.

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