How Did You Get Recruited?

dsczephyr · Jul 17, 2003

Your clinical sites are places where you can "look around" in the various areas of nursing to see what type of nursing attracts you and what you don't like. The clinical sites are also potential employers. Many student apply for a nursing internship/externship in the summer between the junior and senior years at a place of interest, often staying on as PCAs or aides on a part-time basis in order to keep a foot in the door (you certainly don't have to if you don't want to).

Eventually you apply for a job as a nurse at wherever you chose (and you may very well apply at more than one institution). You will need a "perfect" resume, that is - one that has no spelling errors and is in appropriate form (my school had an entire class on this and handing in our first resume with cover letter was a written and graded assignment). You should get a call for an interview (and there are also rules for appropriate dress, etc in interviews). The time frame is usually within two weeks (though it could be a bit longer). After that, it's a wait for a phone call or letter time. That could be very short (I've heard of some with only a few hours wait), or it could be several weeks. In these times, it's not usual to be declined for an applied position unless you applied for a position for which you are not qualified. It just doesn't usually happen.

Anyways, there are exceptions. The position I accepted I went through the above process and am now working as an RN. However, when I was in my last semester of nursing school, I had the floor manager of the floor where I was doing clinicals come up and ask me if I had a job yet, and if not, would I be interested? Even so, I still would have had to put in a formal application with Human Resources if I had accepted.

I notice you are from Florida, you will not have a difficult time at all. You will learn what you need to know about how to go about getting a job while you are still in school, and you will have classmates in the same boat as you. It's not something to worry about at this point, just focus on getting through the program and the rest will fall into place. Good luck.

zambezi, BSN, RN · Jul 17, 2003

dsczephyr, I think that turning in resumes/cover letters in school is an excellent idea. Fortunately for me, my dad is big into that kind of stuff and helped me out, but I know that many of my friends didn't know how...

Anyway, at the hospital that I applied for, I was there a lot as a student and knew where I wanted to go, so I spoke with the manager early on in my senior year as a student and did my clinicals on that unit. Our hospital has a horrible (just waaaayyy to busy and disorganized)human resources department. In my opinion, it is much more productive to call the manager of the floor(s) that interest you and set up an interview--many of my friends did this with good results. This way, you can show your interest to the manager, ask questions re: staffing ratios, patient population, flow of the unit, orientation time, etc. You can also get a first impresion of the unit and staff to see if your personality and learning needs as a new grad will be met by those you will be potentially working with (just remeber that first impressions are not always right!) If you don't know the floor, asking for a tour is also beneficial. Bring your resume with you, with copy for the manager and turn in one with your application to human resources. Continue to follow up if you want the job (esp with human resources). If they don't call you, they have probably forgotten you...as with everyone else, they are also too busy. Ask lots of questions, make sure your needs are met and find a place you think you will enjoy...remember to have fun! Good Luck...

renerian, BSN, RN · Jul 17, 2003

I was offered a job as a student on the floor I was working on. I took it after I graduated.

renerian

EmeraldNYL, BSN, RN · Jul 17, 2003

Sometimes the nurse managers talk to my clinical group, sometimes not. We've had lots of recruiters come to school to give us luncheons. I mailed out resumes to a few hospitals and got calls from all of them within about 2 weeks. They asked me a few questions over the phone, like what floor I was interested in, and then they set up an interview. First I interviewed with the HR person, and then the nurse manager of the floor. The places I really liked I went back an additional day to shadow to see how a typical day goes.

tinyhands4Him · Jul 18, 2003

It is definately not hard to get a full time position....perhaps the perfect shift on the perfect unit, but not a full time position. At our school we had tons of recruiters visit and bring us lunch while they talked about their hospital, handed out gifts, and applications. At our clinical sites, we checked them out and occasionally they talked to us about postions (all of the ones we did rotations at visited our school). Almost everyone was offered a position on the unit or at least at the hospital where they precepted. I wanted something different so applied to different hospitals online. Resume is key. Confidence of your skills and abilities is another. They are in need of you...sell yourself, but be honest...they will be knocking down your door....I was offered a position at almost every place I applied....I just had to make the decision of what I wanted. Good luck and enjoy your last year in nursing school!

fourbirds4me · Jul 18, 2003

A lot of my class were hired before graduation. If we were in a clinical spot and the manager liked what they saw.... they offered us a job. That is how I got hired. They really didn't even have a position open... So I guess that is a reason to be on your toes during clinical.

Also we had hospitals recruit us at school. They brought us lunch etc...

MomNRN, BSN, RN · Jul 18, 2003

I too was offered two positions (OB and neuro ICU) after I had done a clinical there. I took the OB position.

Most of our class had jobs waiting for us when we graduated!

zacarias, ASN, RN · Jul 19, 2003

Hey all,

I'm kinda frustrated. I graduated on June 11th and still trying to find a job. Of course I should tell you that just a few weeks ago I decided to stay in the Seattle area. I was planning on moving out of state before that. So I haven't been looking here long.

I've sent my app to two major hospitals in this area and am awaiting to hear from any nurse managers that may be interested in me. I've talked to both recruiters and it sounds like they want to hire me but the bureaucratic process seems to draw everything out. Anyone experience this?

I sometimes find the "nursing shortage" to be an elusive concept, especially in the area where I live. Thanks for hearing me out.

KristinWW · Jul 19, 2003

Thanks for all the replies! I do not take anything for granted anymore - those of us going for a 2nd degree understand!

It sounds like the best thing to do is decide in advance where you'd like to wind up, then push to do your clinical in those areas - geographically and specialty area.