How easy is it to find a job as a nurse?

U.S.A. Hawaii

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I've lived in Hawaii all my life and I constantly read about the nursing shortages and what not so I've decided to pursue a career in nursing. From what I've been reading RN's should have almost no trouble at all finding a job here, but one of my good friend's relatives tells me otherwise. Apparantely she has 2 years of nursing experience, with an RN degree and she is having a hard time finding a job. I was just wondering from people aready in the field working in hospitals how true this is?

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Funny you should write this. I grew up in Hawaii, moved away to the mainland for 25 years, went to nursing school, and then returned to Hawaii as a newly graduated RN. I just passed the NCLEX and got my Hawaii RN license. It has been more than a month and I don't have a job, although I have applied at quite a few places. Most of the hospitals want nurses with experience. All of the temp and travel agencies want nurses with experience. How can you get a job without experience? I suppose I could move back to the mainland to get experience, but my family is here.

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Funny you should write this. I grew up in Hawaii, moved away to the mainland for 25 years, went to nursing school, and then returned to Hawaii as a newly graduated RN. I just passed the NCLEX and got my Hawaii RN license. It has been more than a month and I don't have a job, although I have applied at quite a few places. Most of the hospitals want nurses with experience. All of the temp and travel agencies want nurses with experience. How can you get a job without experience? I suppose I could move back to the mainland to get experience, but my family is here.

almost all the major hospitals in hawaii have arrangements with the local nursing programs allowing them to do their clinicals at the hospitals. this is where networking can be important. if you make a good impression during nursing school you'll prolly have a much easier time finding a new grad position. i can imagine it would be a bit more difficult if you're a new grad from a mainland program applying at the local hospitals...

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Specializes in ICU.
Funny you should write this. I grew up in Hawaii, moved away to the mainland for 25 years, went to nursing school, and then returned to Hawaii as a newly graduated RN. I just passed the NCLEX and got my Hawaii RN license. It has been more than a month and I don't have a job, although I have applied at quite a few places. Most of the hospitals want nurses with experience. All of the temp and travel agencies want nurses with experience. How can you get a job without experience? I suppose I could move back to the mainland to get experience, but my family is here.

That is exactly what I had to do...I searched for jobs all summer, got certified in ACLS, spoke with nurse recruiters, ect...I am now back on the mainland and have had 3 interviews with job offers...SICU, ER, CCU...All within one week of returning...I even applied for tech work this summer to get my foot in the door and was turned down for those positions...

Good luck to you all!!!

Aloha

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Hi! All

I guess I had favor on myside, I applied for job before we left the mainland the recruiter asked me to call her when I reached the island and within 2 weeks I had an interview and was am to start work.

That was Oct 2005 and I am still working in that same position.

Before coming to the island I looked at all of the hospitals website and the local newspaper and sent numerous resumes out.

The other job I was offered was at Tripler on the Oncology floor but the supervisor informed me it was hard work and I was 5 months pregnant at the time so it was not something I wanted to do.

Good Luck to those that are still lucking for empolyment.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
Hi! All

I guess I had favor on myside, I applied for job before we left the mainland the recruiter asked me to call her when I reached the island and within 2 weeks I had an interview and was am to start work.

That was Oct 2005 and I am still working in that same position.

Before coming to the island I looked at all of the hospitals website and the local newspaper and sent numerous resumes out.

The other job I was offered was at Tripler on the Oncology floor but the supervisor informed me it was hard work and I was 5 months pregnant at the time so it was not something I wanted to do.

Good Luck to those that are still lucking for empolyment.

Were you a new grad when you came here? I think the ones who are having problems are the new grads, from what I can see.

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We you a new grad when you came here? I think the ones who are having problems are the new grads, from what I can see.

i'm guessing not. they said they got job offers from tripler which does not hire new grads. experienced and travel nurses don't usually have much of a problem finding a job from what i've seen. all the major hospitals constantly have A LOT of positions posted (both internally and externally). just check their websites and you'll see what i mean. don't expect to see ads in the paper. none of the hospitals do that.

www.kp.org

www.queens.org

www.hawaiipacifichealth.org

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I was an Rn for 2 years with pediatric (clinic) and public health experience.

It's hard to get experience if no one will hire you.

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