NCLEX

strawberryfields · Mar 5, 2012

Congrats on your new job.. I graduated in December too ! :)

PinkNBlue, BSN, RN · Mar 5, 2012

I worked as a tech before and all throughout school so that definitely helped me. Apply for a position regardless of whether it says 'experience required'. That deters new grads sometimes but there are some places that'll take you anyway despite not having the experience. Do you have a specific area you're looking to get into?

strawberryfields · Mar 5, 2012

For now I wanted to do Med/Surg because it has everything you have ever learned in Nursing school. But I really want to do NICU, but I understand it's a very hard job to get. Good to know about applying to the job regardless of the experience and whatnot. I'm volunteering at a hospital right now, I even applied as a CNA at a hospital because they allow students with at least 1 clinical rotation to be a CNA without having to get certified.. just so I can get my foot in the door and maybe get promoted from within. It is extremely tough to get a job in nursing now, unfortunately it wasn't like this when I started nursing school!

PinkNBlue, BSN, RN · Mar 5, 2012

For now I wanted to do Med/Surg because it has everything you have ever learned in Nursing school. But I really want to do NICU, but I understand it's a very hard job to get. Good to know about applying to the job regardless of the experience and whatnot. I'm volunteering at a hospital right now, I even applied as a CNA at a hospital because they allow students with at least 1 clinical rotation to be a CNA without having to get certified.. just so I can get my foot in the door and maybe get promoted from within. It is extremely tough to get a job in nursing now, unfortunately it wasn't like this when I started nursing school!

That is smart because it's usually easier to get a CNA job. It does suck... most of my classmates are in the same predicament By the time they told everyone, while in nursing school, that getting a job in a hospital as a CNA would be beneficial, it was too late and most hospitals wouldn't hire anyone because they'd be graduating soon. I do know that Children's in Chicago will open their New Grad residency program beginning in May (to apply) for their Fall program. That'd be the place to go if you can wait that long, especially if you want NICU. If you go on their website, Children's Memorial Hospital Jobs and read up on when to apply. Hopefully that helps a little! That was going to be my Plan B had I not gotten the job I have now. :)

strawberryfields · Mar 5, 2012

I'll figure something out, I've worked WAY to hard for this I have to get a job!! :nurse:

PinkNBlue, BSN, RN · Mar 5, 2012

Things happen for a reason (I hate that saying, but it's so true). There's something out there for you. I hope it finds you soon!

strawberryfields · Mar 6, 2012

The saying rings true every time ! :) Thank you for your inspiration!

strawberryfields · Mar 29, 2012

Hey thought I should update you, I sent in my $50 last saturday.. because I recieved my application last friday.. and just today, I thought by now I should at least have an RN # and I called IDFPR and they said my fingerprints were unreadable and that they sent out a paper to my OLD address that it needed to be redone. Which is funny cause on my license application was my new address and it said if your address changed write in on the application but it was my new address so I didn't change it so WHO KNOWS why they sent it to my old one. Ugh... so frustrated with illinois right now. Now to fork out some more money to redo my finger prints. I made a copy of all of it too, no idea what makes them bad finger prints??