Job Hunting in Nashville as New Grad

[katy12]

Currently looking to relocate to Nashville, TN. I am graduating June 2016 as an RN. I plan to obtain my BSN right after I graduate. I have heard it is difficult as a new grad to obtain a job in Nashville, TN. Are there hospitals there that will hire RNs if they are enrolled in a BSN? Also, what is the pay like for new grads? And can anyone give hospital recommendations or hospitals they do not recommend? Are there limitations as a new grads such as not being able to work in the ICU straight out of school? I have also heard I might have better luck in the memphis or germantown area. Will take any other advice as well!

[theSunCityRN]

I graduated in Dec 2010 with my RN, BSN and I know at the time it was very competitive. I moved out of state for about a year and when I came back some of my classmates still had not found a job in Nashville. My advice is to start talking to hospitals asap if only just to start building a relationship with the HR people. Most of the hospitals have new grad/nurse internship positions posted in the career section of the website. Go ahead and apply to those.

And if possible start volunteering at one of them if you live relatively close to Nashville now. That's how I got my first job. That way you'll meet people already employed there and they can give you advice like which floors are actually hiring, etc. Even better, they may be willing to put in a good word for you and be a reference. So basically, volunteer at whichever hospital you're most interested in and make connections bc unfortunately it really is all about who you know. You can find the application to apply on the hospitals website and go ahead and apply bc you'll have to complete a background check which will take a couple of weeks probably.

Where do you live now? (if you don't mind my asking) If you're not in TN, you might try Vanderbilt first. They have an RN internship program for new grads and I know they like to hire from out of state.