I graduated in August 13th with BSN as my second degree, computer science and engineering being my first. I took my board exam on August 29th. I got my unofficial results on August 31st. On Thursday Sept 1st, my license appeared on BON website. On Friday sept 2nd, I went hunting for a job at 10 LTC (Long Term Care) that i had listed and i was offered a job at the first LTC i visited. I started on Sept 14th though my anniversary date was Sept 7th. My salary is $28/hr working Tuesday, Wed and Thur days. Night differential is 3 and weekend is 3.50, so working night weekend is 6.50 + 28 = 34.50 as a new grad. isn't that good!!
While I consider myself so lucky, I have to admit that i have submitted nearly 100 applications or more to all hospitals in DFW metro (HCA north texas with 13 hospitals, Parkland, Baylor, Methodist, Presbyterian etc) including attending the a nursing job fair.None of which has called me for interview!!! After I was offered the job at the LTC, I decided to go to other 9 LTC that i had on my list to see if I can get a better offer, just for the sake of it and since the offer I was given on Sept 2nd was just verbally. None of the other LTC had openings and 7 of them told me they are not taking applications.
The DON that hired me was three days old herself as a new hire. One of the rules she changed was that the training for new grad will be at least 3 months instead of 2 weeks as it has always been in that hospital. I was indeed lucky but working in ICU at LTC is not easy though very good experience working with mostly vent and trach patients.
The economy is so bad, more than i ever imagined. For those still looking for a job, consider walking into LTC instead of applying online. The DON that hired me told me a week after i had started working that she liked my eyes and thats why she hired me. I asked her whats the deal with my eyes, she replied "you have sharp looking eyes". So appearing in person can make a huge difference.
Best of luck to new grads, be prepared to submit lots of applications with no luck but never give up!!
My program was a year as well and it was definitely pretty intense but I loved it :)
I haven't had any interviews yet but I also didn't get permission to take my nclex from the california board of nursing until the end of august so I have only been officially licensed for 2 months, and where I'm at the new grad apps are just starting to open up again so I am hopeful :) I know its going to come its just a matter of patience and perseverance. I am definitely making headway at the hospital where I volunteer so we will see what happens there when they get some job openings!
You will definitely have to gear your resume towards nursing but having your previous degree, career, and publications will just add interest and show you have professional experience. I think you will be better off in that area than me since I went straight from my bio degree to my ABSN and have little work experience (being 23 y.o. and spending the last five years in school). Your experience will set you apart and I think that will work to your advantage.
To add something to what people are saying above, a good gpa and graduating with honors is definitely going to help (that being said I have 3.96 gpa, magna cum laude, and no job :/ haha). I know it can be hard with such a quick program but it is another good way to set yourself apart.
That is an amazing GPA! I don't think I have ever earned such high marks. My PhD GPA is a 3.81 but that is because I was constantly being graded on my lab performance (probably similar to clinical performance in a weird-ish way).
I don't know anything about the current climate for new grads in CA-just what I have read on allnurses. I know a bit about the East Coast. I will be heading inland a bit for nursing school.
What type of nursing do you hope to pursue? In what capacity are you currently volunteering?
The economy will turn around. New grads in any discipline are having a tough time these days. So are old grads. There is no "safe" career...maybe other than M.D. which is quite an arduous journey.
The job market for new grads out here is not good at all, from what I have gathered from recruiters it is one of the toughest in the country right now. I have heard similar things about the east coast too.
My ultimate goal is to work labor and delivery but I also loved my rotations on almost every other unit so I am sure I will be happy wherever I end up. I think I just like nursing overall! :)
Volunteer-wise I am acting as a concierge (where I basically direct people around the hospital) and I also volunteer on a telemetry unit helping the nurses out with whatever they need. If you find a hospital you like I would try to get on the floor as a volunteer because that is where you will meet the managers and where you will get the most experience that is relevant to nursing.
I agree with you about the economy, there is nowhere to go but up :) I hope things are better by the time you graduate!
kvsoccer1813
22 Posts
Spore-
My program was a year as well and it was definitely pretty intense but I loved it :)
I haven't had any interviews yet but I also didn't get permission to take my nclex from the california board of nursing until the end of august so I have only been officially licensed for 2 months, and where I'm at the new grad apps are just starting to open up again so I am hopeful :) I know its going to come its just a matter of patience and perseverance. I am definitely making headway at the hospital where I volunteer so we will see what happens there when they get some job openings!
You will definitely have to gear your resume towards nursing but having your previous degree, career, and publications will just add interest and show you have professional experience. I think you will be better off in that area than me since I went straight from my bio degree to my ABSN and have little work experience (being 23 y.o. and spending the last five years in school). Your experience will set you apart and I think that will work to your advantage.
To add something to what people are saying above, a good gpa and graduating with honors is definitely going to help (that being said I have 3.96 gpa, magna cum laude, and no job :/ haha). I know it can be hard with such a quick program but it is another good way to set yourself apart.