How did YOU get a new grad residency position?

jsimpsonlee03 · May 2, 2016

It is a mixture of everything. It's your personality, how you mesh with the team, etc. I actually worked as an RN (not a new grad program) for 5 mo in the NICU and it was not a good fit. I actually then applied and got into Loma Linda as a new grad. They said they really liked my personality and that I was a great fit in their unit. I believe that God has a place for everyone and when you find the right fit, everything just goes well. Your grades are there BUT you tend to shine through your personality. Obviously you don't have any experience as an RN and if you precepted in a specific unit or had the experience it helps. I had a preceptorship in NICU, I worked as an RN in the NICU, I also, completely on my own, paid for and attended a Intro to NICU (lecture style) course that got me over 96 CEUs to further my education and show my passion. I'm sure that helped me as well.

**NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN** · May 2, 2016

I googled every hospital within a 50 mile radius of where I lived. I applied to every single one that had a position posted where experience wasn't required. I had the advantage of being an LVN prior. I had 3 job opportunities: tele, ICU and OB.i went with ICU.

I also took ACLS while job hunting. And subscribed to critical care journals to help me prep for the interview. I had my 5 and 10 year plan ready. I started in 09 right when the job market went to crap. Had I not found a job quickly I would have been prepared to relocate.

barcode120x, RN, NP · May 10, 2016

Despite having 3 years of hospital experience behind my back as a lift tech, I had never met the director of the telemetry at the same hospital. I left a message for the director quickly introducing myself. She called back the next day to have me stop by and say. Stopped by on my break the next day with my resume and did a quick 5 minute intro. She told me she'd call me for an interview in a month. 1 month later, had the interview of my life. Lasted about an hour and a half. Honestly had a great time during the interview and all of us (me, the director, manager, charge nurse, and educator) got to really know each other and my passion for nursing. Found out 2 weeks later I got the job. This is what I did to get into my job/new grad program.

What made me strong? I had 0 connections. My GPA is good, but nowhere near top notch. I had 0 certifications aside from BLS. What it boiled down to was having worked the same hospital/hospital experience AND interview skills. Prior to the interview, I looked up nursing interview questions (there's actually a few topics here on these forums with interview questions) and answered them thoroughly. I even typed up all 15+ answers on a paper and printed out (came out to be like 3 pages single spaced LOL) and went over it to the point where I almost had it memorized like a speech. Reiterated it during the interview if those questions popped up (which 90% of them did). I also looked up my hospital's mission values and mission statement and managed to incorporate it into my interview. Honestly, I believe even if I had 0 hospital experience, I would have gotten the job. It's the interview itself and how you talk, present yourself, and answer the questions that get you job. I'm living proof.

Maevish, ASN, RN · May 11, 2016

I had gotten a job before I graduated as a nurse, but I'm not sure what a new grad residency program is. Do you get paid?

MJ73 · May 14, 2016

Hi! You say you paid for an intro to NICU class. Where did you take this class? I did my preceptorship NICU and feel that I need more instruction.

Thank you!

MJ73 · May 14, 2016

It is a mixture of everything. It's your personality, how you mesh with the team, etc. I actually worked as an RN (not a new grad program) for 5 mo in the NICU and it was not a good fit. I actually then applied and got into Loma Linda as a new grad. They said they really liked my personality and that I was a great fit in their unit. I believe that God has a place for everyone and when you find the right fit, everything just goes well. Your grades are there BUT you tend to shine through your personality. Obviously you don't have any experience as an RN and if you precepted in a specific unit or had the experience it helps. I had a preceptorship in NICU, I worked as an RN in the NICU, I also, completely on my own, paid for and attended a Intro to NICU (lecture style) course that got me over 96 CEUs to further my education and show my passion. I'm sure that helped me as well.

Hi! You say you paid for an intro to NICU class. Where did you take this class? I did my preceptorship NICU and feel that I need more instruction.

Thank you!

NewMurse1014 · May 19, 2016

I got hired as a new grad into Kaiser's new grad program half a year ago. It was the recruiter who contacted me to apply for the program - to this date I'm still wondering how they got my info, maybe because I did my clinicals there. It was a panel interview with the managers, and a group of 5 interviewees went in at a time. I only had volunteering experiences, no direct patient care, and no connections in the healthcare field, when other people had a few months of working experience as RN or being an LVN before. But I had taken the BLS, ACLS, PALS, NRP, EKG interpretation classes prior to the interview, and I was summa cum laude of our cohort. I consider myself very lucky to land this job, and it is very competitive in the market. Prepare yourself as much as possible and hope for the best, good luck!

Get2theChoppa · May 24, 2016

Depends on where you live but in my area, Spanish, Farsi, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese-speaking ability will get you hired as a new grad or any job really. Hospitals don't care so much about where you went to school or grades. They need nurses who speak second languages.

savvyme · Dec 20, 2016

I am very interested to know where you did the intro to NICU course. was it an online class that I can complete during school?