Maybe new grads should consider this?

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Hi all, I am planning on moving from my hometown in WI to beautiful (but COMPETITIVE for new grad positions) Southern California to finally be with my (also beautiful!) girlfriend.......since I know that it is very competitive out there for Hospital/acute new positions I had a thought: Although I am intending to apply to basically EVERY SINGLE hosptial in LA, I am also planning for the worst (no offers) aka perhaps working a LTC/ nursing home while searching? Anyone have any exeperience in this?

I read all these posts about people being out of jobs for almost half a year but I personallly can't afford to live on hopes and dreams post-graduation. I am a current ICU student nurse intern and am applying for CRNA school after 2 years of ICU experience but in the meantime I figure a paying job is better than none at all, if nothing becomes available.

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Specializes in Flu clinics, Med/Surg, Acute Care.

I might be half sleep, so correct me if I am confused. Your advice to new grads that are having a hard time finding work is to work at LTC/nursing homes while looking? If so then I will just say that I think they aren't called back new grads right now either.

Personally I didn't know I needed to start job search while in school because I assumed, from reading job posting, that one had to be either already a licensed nurse or ATT in hand to apply for most jobs. So that's what I did. I have had license since mid july and had no interviews yet. I know for myself that I applied everywhere and will take anything that comes along just to get the experience. :)

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Specializes in Medical Surgical Orthopedic.

Yep, LTC is hard to come by from what I understand. I have a beautiful boyfriend in the LA area, but I'm still in Texas because I want to be employed.

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OP, you are gonna find it tough all around. I'd go ahead and apply everywhere.

Some LTC in my area are now asking for one year hospital acute care experience as minimum qualifications.

Some hospitals in my area are asking for minimum 2 year YES, TWO YEAR MINIMUM, acute care experience.

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Specializes in NICU.

I applied in LTC's, clinics, schools. You name it, I applied. I received 0 calls from any of them. I did finally get a wonderful job, and am feeling very blessed because not only is it in a hospital, but it's also a unit I wanted. I feel pretty confident in saying that the majority of people that have been job hunting for months and months on end have already been applying at LTC's.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.
op, you are gonna find it tough all around. i'd go ahead and apply everywhere.

some ltc in my area are now asking for one year hospital acute care experience as minimum qualifications.

some hospitals in my area are asking for minimum 2 year yes, two year minimum, acute care experience.

it is the same where i live!! 1 year experience to work ltc and 2 years of acute care experience to work in the hospital setting. i have yet to meet an experienced nurse (i mean the ones who worked long ago when the economy was bad for new grads) that has ever seen such requirements for new grads. i was talking to one the other day who thought i had misread a job posting when i told her of these requirements. she did not believe me so i pointed her to the website. she is a nurse with 20 some odd years of experience who always has something to say... the job descriptions she read made her speechless.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I was born and raised in California, and moved to Texas about 5 years ago. I'm a new grad RN with 4 years of LVN/LPN experience.

I really want to move back to California, but I cannot at the present time because there are virtually no jobs there for new grads, and very few jobs for experienced nurses. While I'd love to return to my home state, I must remain in Texas right now if I wish to remain employed.

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Perhaps having almost a year and a half experience in an ICU as a student nurse intern (similar to LPN except I work with NGs, chest tubes, CLs, PICCs, ARTs, CVPs, Vents), CNA for 3 years, and enlisted Air Force for 6 years and apply right around NOW for 2011 jobs would help? I suuuuure hope so :)

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OP, this will be a shocker to you. You will find that unless you were medical corps (referring to your AF hx) nobody gives a rat's behind what you used to do, and it's possible nobody cares about that either. The fact that you were a nurse intern might help a bit. But some simply do not care these days. I have many friends who really fought to keep interning/teching through school. Once they graduated and tried to become RNs at these hospitals, they got nowhere. The whole atmosphere is really bad right now. BTW, I am second career too.

Best to know all this **** and at least not be blindsided. If you want to go, go. Just be sure you've got a cash stash, as you might need every last penny of it.

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op, this will be a shocker to you. you will find that unless you were medical corps (referring to your af hx) nobody gives a rat's behind what you used to do, and it's possible nobody cares about that either. the fact that you were a nurse intern might help a bit. but some simply do not care these days. i have many friends who really fought to keep interning/teching through school. once they graduated and tried to become rns at these hospitals, they got nowhere. the whole atmosphere is really bad right now. btw, i am second career too.

best to know all this **** and at least not be blindsided. if you want to go, go. just be sure you've got a cash stash, as you might need every last penny of it.

actually, as i was told by an rn recruiter at the los angeles/long beach va, having prior military service/veteran status places applicants in a special category of consideration (veteran rn applicants are almost always hired over those who are not), and i have been hearing a similar sentiment from civilian hosp systems as well---the fact alone that my job entailed the management and aircrew duties of a $40 million dollar jet is a small detail that helps in terms of accountability/responsibilty. anyhoo, you're absolutely right about preparing to keep applying, hence why im living for free w/ my best friend near century city :) but i feel like sending out apps right now as opposed to 5 months from know will at least be a start

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How do I say this... you, me, and many others with hi level prior responsibilities, kinda have to keep that under our hats for a while. New grad nurse is just that. You will scare away some nurse managers with just what you've posted about your prior responsibilities. Not everywhere, but, yes. The fear is that you will be too full of yourself, and not see them as boss. You and I know that won't happen, but, the fear is there and we can't do much about that.

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I hear that. My reasoning is that being a male, ADN, and out of state means I have to use WHATEVER I can at my disposal to be marketable :)

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