When I knew that nursing school was what I wanted to do, I started to take some classes. At the time I had a very good job making 31 dollars an hour but hated it every day. I took classes part time to just start again. I had been out of school for about 15 years. My job offered an educational buyout where for a period of 4 consecutive years, they would pay half my wages, 15k a year toward school as well as full insurance for my son, wife and I. It was an amazing thing.
When I quit my job I knew I needed to get a job in a hospital. I was working at a health food store at the time trying to make ends meet and I met a great lady. I told her I wanted to be a nurse and had some books out at the register to study with anytime business got slow. She told me her husband was a CRNA and I mentioned that I was ambitious and wanted to do that someday. He came in, I met him and he asked me if I wanted a job at the hospital he worked at. Of course I did. He got me in an entry level position as a transporter. I worked my behind off, met people in the hospital and was asked if I wanted to learn the PACU area. I did of course and made myself as valuable as I could. I worked there a while and knew I wanted to get some ICU experience at the start of nursing school. I went and talked to the director. He like the interest I showed and he hired me. I again worked as hard as I could.
There is a huge hospital in the inner city where I live that has a great reputation and is pretty rough. They had an opening in their ER and I put in for it my 3rd semester of nursing school. They decided to interview me because of my experience. I did well I feel and got the job as a nurse extern in a trauma one ER that usually has about 100 patients in it any one time. It's amazing experience. While doing this, I again tried to make myself valuable and learn as much as I could. The hospital staff is like no other. They are my family. Unfortunately for me at the time, they decided not to hire any new graduate nurses. I applied for some jobs in the system because I was to graduate in May. I got a call from a nurse recruiter to apply for a certain job. It just happened to be the MICU as a graduate nurse. I went in for an interview and they told me that they liked my past experience and my work ethic. They told me they heard I was a hard worker. I got the job. A couple days later, I was told I might have the chance to interview at the ER if I wished. I wanted the ER, but already gave a commitment to the MICU that I am not willing to break. It's nice to have two units that you love working for after you.
My point of all of this is during the whole way, I tried to make myself as valuable as I could and learn as much during the jobs and school. I networked my ass off and tried to meet people and not burn bridges. It's all about who you know and your work record is kind of like a running tabulation of you that is always running. If any bridges are burnt, it will red flag people. Talk to people. Make connections. Work hard. It can be done. I know that things just happened for me and I am very fortunate because so many people that are graduates are without work. It is a damn shame. I got lucky, but do feel as I helped to contribute to my luck by soaking up things. Like I said, it can be done.
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
Nice start to your online portfolio! I would, however, encourage you to consider removing anything that tells about you having kids etc etc (personal stuff that has nothing to do with your professional life) from your portfolio. It can be used to discriminate against you. If you and another candidate are equal, but you have kids and they don't (or have not said they do), they will be chosen based on an assumption of time that will be taken off from work based on family obligations and usual illnesses etc.
First of all, congrats on this job. I am glad to hear that you got it. But here is what worries me. I had to turn down a spot in a great (but expensive) nursing program because I could not obtain the loans to attend. That may have been a blessing in disguise given the continued, although perhaps incrementally better, stress in the job market.
I am worried because jobs are hard to come by for those without such connections. What happens to those people who have been unable to find work, but who are immensely qualified, because they don't have great connections? Those are hard to get. We all know someone but I'm not sure that it is a good criteria for employers to use because it really narrows down the field. I am not saying this applies to you at all, only making a general statement here that great connections doesn't always mean the best person gets the job.
There are a large number of postings on here that talk about how nursing is becoming more and more a business instead of being about medicine and patient care. When hiring decisions are made in that context, everyone suffers - the patient, the (new grad) nurse trying to find a job, and so on. In that sense, it is a lose-lose proposition. Maybe I'm too bearish, I don't know. I still feel a lot of regret about not already being halfway through my nursing program had I attended that school but it may not have been such a bad deal. The nursing world isn't going to fall apart because I'm not a nurse but I sure do miss it sometimes.
You are so right, RN2BDFW. I had a lapse in judgment there. I am going to take out the personal part. I guess I put it because I was reading that portfolios should have a page showing your personal life. But yeah, having kids could be considered a negative for sure.
I am worried because jobs are hard to come by for those without such connections. What happens to those people who have been unable to find work, but who are immensely qualified, because they don't have great connections? Those are hard to get.
Those of us (like me) with no connections, get no job. That's about it. My connections are 800 miles away. My family is here. Nursing has very quickly turned into a business where effort, skills, grades, and credentials don't matter. The only thing that matters is knowing someone in the facility that you are applying too. If you read all of the recent 'how I got a job' posts, they pretty much all get summed up in one sentence: know someone.
This economy has had an impact on everything, including nursing. If you understand how the game is played, you stand a better chance of winning. That is why threads like this are helpful. It lets students know that you should start making connections. Everyone is able to network during clinicals. Make a good impression on the nurses, doctors, CNAs, everyone you work with at clinicals and keep a list of their names. Anyone can make connectiosn by joining your student nurse association. Read up on networking for more ideas. It's isn't all about *luck* and who you know, but the building of your own network.
I completely agree with what you said about networking and working hard. I just graduated in May, and I know a LOT of people from my class who have not had a single interview. I so far have had 4 interviews, and 4 job offers, all from excellent hospitals and units. One program only accepts 25 GNs a fall... Three of these job offers came before I even graduated! It amazes me that some of my peers can't even get a foot in the door.... I am VERY proud of getting these offers, but I will tell you it did NOT come without a price. I talked to EVERYONE, I asked questions, I started working as a nurse tech as soon as I could. I worked full time in the summer (even with summer classes). I would see some of my friends still going out on weekends or just enjoying their college life, whereas I'd be going from 2 nightshifts in a row for practicum, to 2 dayshifts teching to 2 days of classes and a day to study in between... I never sat still! I started looking for job openings and postings back in January. I made a list of all the hospitals in each area that I was interested in, I listed the contact information for the nurse recruiter, when I called and spoke to them, and when the application deadline was. I talked to my practicum preceptor, the nurse educator on my practicum floor, the nurse manager on my tech floor, I even went to a hospital in a different state while visiting friends and met with the nurse recruiter "just because I had questions about the program". Apparently this initiative to visit a hospital a state away showed her how dedicated I was because she called me back for two interviews, whereas one of my peers from my program (and who has a lot better grades than I do) didn't even get a call back.
Work hard. Ask questions. Work as a tech, work as SOMETHING in the hospital, get your feet in the system. They want to hire internally more often externally. Show interest. Take initiative, don't just expect opportunities to find you... find them. The new grad job market is not for the quiet or the weak. =)
Those of us (like me) with no connections, get no job. That's about it. My connections are 800 miles away. My family is here. Nursing has very quickly turned into a business where effort, skills, grades, and credentials don't matter. The only thing that matters is knowing someone in the facility that you are applying too. If you read all of the recent 'how I got a job' posts, they pretty much all get summed up in one sentence: know someone.
Or like I said before, show interest. I went to a hospital 500 miles away from where I live since I was in the area, and just met with the recruiter to talk to her about my interest and the program. That was it. I got an interview, and my friend who just submitted her application online didn't. It puts a name to the face, and yea, might not work with everyone... but if you're one of 500 applications they get for 1 GN position, you need to do something to make yourself stand out. Whatever that is.
How is 'building your own network' different than 'knowing people' though? In my mind it's simply semantics. Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled for people that are able to get jobs, because it truly sucks not being able to get any interviews. I don't wish it on anyone. I agree that these threads are helpful, but perhaps more so for current nursing students than for those of us that have already graduated and are already in whatever situation we are in, for whatever reason we are in it.
How is 'building your own network' different than 'knowing people' though? In my mind it's simply semantics. Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled for people that are able to get jobs, because it truly sucks not being able to get any interviews. I don't wish it on anyone. I agree that these threads are helpful, but perhaps more so for current nursing students than for those of us that have already graduated and are already in whatever situation we are in, for whatever reason we are in it.
How long have you been unemployed for? Have you thought to apply for an entry level clinical tech job, phlebotomist, or something, JUST to get your name in the system and your face seen by nurse managers. A majority of positions available don't get posted online, and a lot of facilities prefer to hire internally since you're already part of their system. Even 6 months in one of these positions, then applying for a GN position at that hospital puts you at a HUGE advantage!
@RN2BDFW I didn't see this until today. Thank you so much for taking the time to write it. I felt like I was doing a lot but I feel like I need to step up my game after reading your post. I feel your energy and drive as you write and I'll bet peope you come in contadt with do too.
I'm in Arizona and due to graduate in Nov '10. I'm interested in moving to the DFW area so I have been gathering info. When do you suggest I start actually applying? I'm thinking 3-4 months prior to graduation.
I've also created an online portfolio at http://tracyalbrant.blogspot.com/. I know I need to add more to it and I will. I created a profile at bright fuse and sent biz contact requests to recruiters (only got 3 who have accepted me so far though).
Anyway, good luck to you and everyone on this exciting journey!!
Thats actually an AWESOME idea, I NEVER thought of doing an online portfolio like that! Kudos to you, and congrats on your upcoming graduation =)
I graduated in Dec, so I haven't been unemployed as long as some. Yes, I have applied for PCT, HUC, unit secratary, OR restocking, etc, etc. I did get a call on one of them, but it was because the recruiter thought I was a student. He asked when I was supposed to graduate, and I told him that I had graduated months ago. He told me that he couldn't interview me for a job at any other level than RN because the moment I got offered an RN position I would leave. I haven't heard from any of the other hospitals/health centers/LTC's/etc, so I'm assuming that their thoughts are the same on this.
I have called, emailed, and been ignored. I have walked into facilities and been turned away at the door or told that all I can do is apply online. I did have an interview scheduled for LTC, but it was cancelled because the position was filled.
I do have a network myself where I went to school, and right now I'm faced with the decision of leaving my husband and 2 year old and going back to MI where I have connections inside a number of hospitals and could get interviews, going to an area in the country that is more in need of nurses than the northeast, or staying here and remaining unemployed.
On the upside, my husband has a great job that covers all of our expenses, and has wonderful benefits, so I don't have to worry about where food is coming. On the downside, that means that I get to feel like a horrible person if I abandon my family for a year or two because I want to (but don't financially need to) work. We lived 800 miles apart for 18 months, and just got under the same roof a few months ago. Now my choice is pack up and leave again, or let the career that I so truly want to pursue pass me by.
Unfortuanatly, since I don't know a soul inside a hospital in the NE, I think it would be easier for me to become an insider in the mafia than to get an interview in the hospital right now.
Just my .02 worth...consider volunteering where you think you'd like to work. Ask for opportunities to help out on patient care floors. Skip the gift shop and information desk. Ask if they have a "meal mates" program...these volunteers assist patients with their food...feeding, cutting up items, etc. Great hands on experience! Both the volunteer manager and my current nurse manager (I'm in CCU right now) know that I'm applying to nursing schools and have encouraged me to ask questions when appropriate, observe when/where I can. I also plan on spending time on the Med/Surg floor, and as a Meal Mate. I do 4 hours/week (their minimum/my choice of days/time block) which really isn't much - I waste that much time easily on Facebook! Something to think about.
(ETA: this was written prior to the unemployed new graduate postings...I don't have a clue what to do in that case other than network and persevere!)
Nurse SMS, MSN, RN
6,843 Posts
Nice start to your online portfolio! I would, however, encourage you to consider removing anything that tells about you having kids etc etc (personal stuff that has nothing to do with your professional life) from your portfolio. It can be used to discriminate against you. If you and another candidate are equal, but you have kids and they don't (or have not said they do), they will be chosen based on an assumption of time that will be taken off from work based on family obligations and usual illnesses etc.