Keep getting automatic rejections. Getting discouraged

scaredsilly, BSN, RN · Mar 22, 2015

Nurse residency programs should be looking at your applications, but any other jobs aren't going to pay much attention when you haven't graduated yet. The residency programs tend to get way more applicants than positions. The one in my town that I applied to got over 1000 applicants for 30 spots and only took people who had worked there as CNAs during school so that is probably your answer.

Graduate, pass NCLEX, and then try bypassing the online applications and taking your resume to the NM on a floor that is hiring. Get good references from your clinical instructors to take with you to Florida.

BlueDawnRN, BSN · Mar 22, 2015

11 job applications over the course of 1 month is very little. Most of my classmates put in about 100-200 applications and took 3-6 months to get hired. It's also possible they're only considering those who are already licensed.

I worked in a hospital throughout nursing school and it took almost 6 months for me to get hired even as an internal applicant. During that time I got turned down from about 60 other jobs outside the hospital.

NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN · Mar 22, 2015

Most will throw out your application if you do not already meet the requirements for the position. For nursing school graduates waiting to take their boards, they will want to see the degree first. For actual RN positions that are not offering the position to someone who has graduated but is awaiting their boards, then the application will also probably get tossed. You will have better luck with a nursing license in hand and professional references for the application process. Years ago we were so hungry for nurses we took in nursing students and put them in tech positions with a promise to advance them as they progressed through nursing school and then licensure. Today, the market is much more competitive and employers have their pick from hundreds of applicants.

estrellaCR, BSN, RN · Mar 22, 2015

I would advise you to search Google for emails of nurse recruiters of hospitals/facilities that your are interested in and sending them an email letting them know you are interested, etc. Any particular part of FL? I would not advise walking onto a floor and asking for a nurse manager unless you have some connection to the hospital (had clinical there, internship, relative works there, etc) or you was able to reach a NM by email and she invited you to come in. NM and HR do not appreciate random strangers walking in for purpose of job seeking and taking time out of their already busy day...however if you find a hospital or facility in an area of real "nursing shortage" this may work out. But to be safe do not walk in with resume uninvited. In NYC and big cities in the east coast this will just get u a "you are supposed to apply online" and eye roll from HR and security does not let people up to the floors unless you have appointment or visiting a patient that's in the hospital and give his/her name.

Google search "hospital name" "nurse recruiter" "email" and if you know the ending of the email then even easier just add @hospitalsname.org to the Google search. This emailing nurse recruiters helped me get interviews in NYC.

NYtoFLRN · Mar 23, 2015

Thank you all for the tips! Of the 11 applications I put in so far 7 were for nurse residency positions, which is why I was so discouraged when I got automatic rejections for those. I think I was expecting to have a chance at least to have those looked at. That's a great idea about trying to contact nurse recruiters though, so thank you for that :). I realize that most of the automatic rejections that I'm getting from other positions are likely because there is a question that asks if I currently hold a valid FL nursing license, and I have to answer 'no'. Not much I can do about that for the time being I suppose, but I figure it can't hurt to keep applying just in case, right? I'm looking in the Sarasota/Bradenton/Tampa area. A friend suggested that I look at the much smaller, more rural hospitals as those likely don't have as many applicants, so I'm gonna focus more on that as well.

Edited to add that I also decided to start using my fiance's address on my applications as a 'permanent' address as opposed to my NY address that I have been using- He applied for a transfer to florida with his job and was already sent down there two months ago, so we do have a local address established there that I will be joining him at in May. Hoping that might help too!

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Mar 23, 2015

It's smart to use a 'local' address, for job applications. Also, when you list your cell phone number, be sure to indicate that it is a cell phone so they aren't put off because the area code is different.

Best of luck to you in your relocation.