Need help: 2008 Graduate & 2009 NCLEX-RN Passer

[jenova-s_angel]

Hello everyone. Long story, short: I graduated from my BSN program on March last year. Then, I recently passed the NCLEX-RN this August to become a Registered Nurse for California. The only downside to that is that I have NO working experience.

Is it still possible for me to work in hospitals in California? What kind of jobs can I get since I've already passed the NCLEX-RN?

I'm actually planning to move to San Jose and start working there for many years to come.

I'll appreciate all the help I can get. Thank you.

[navy_nurse01]

not yet, maybe I'll try after I have finished my IV therapy training on Sept. 26-27. I'm planning to take ACLS training too since many hospitals require it. It could add to my potential in landing a job.

[NurseCubanitaRN2b, BSN, RN]

As long as you don't find new grad postings in the hospital setting then start with nursing homes. You have your RN license and that's desirable especially in LTC with sub acute units. Don't worry about IV training now, handle that when you get to it, but start applying now because you never know, there might be a great job there waiting for you. Good Luck!

[navy_nurse01]

thank u so much for the encouragement. i appreciate it. ^_^

[crystal207]

hi, i been reading the posting and i was surprised with most of the responses. jenova's angel, you need to be more confident of yourself you are and rn meaning that you should be thinking like a professional and be more optimistic. in contrary to what nursecubanitarn2b said, i understood exactly what you were trying to say. on the other hand, i got lost when nursecubanitarn2b was giving her opinion in the matter. no offense. my advice to you is if you want to work in a hospital setting fight for it. don't give up. go personally to the hospital and offer your time and demonstrate how capable you are. think like if you are already working there. you will see that sooner or later you will get your wish. nurses are wanted all over the world including hospitals. i can tell you this because i work as an auditor for new york presbyterian hospital. and sometime they prefer to hire someone with no experience. i have a bs in accounting. now i am going for my 2nd degree in nursing. i should be starting my clinical in jan. however, everyone told me how hard it will be and not to get into that profession. whatever, whatever! i did what my heart desired. i don't know about ca but in nyc 30 out of 1000s students get in the program each year. guess what, i am in and it's not because i am smarter. i got in because i am persistent. i set a goal. if you made it through the clinical, i don't see why you won't be able to find a job in a hospital. don't allow anyone influence my goals. concentrate on what you want and you will get it. you should read the secret.

[Wishinonastar, BSN]

I think you have a BSN on your side- lots of hospitals have BSN preferred now in their selection criteria. Sorry ADN grads, nothing personal but when jobs are scarce they start to get pickier and pickier. I started as an ADN myself, so I know the quality of ADN nurses is just as good. Get yourself out there and market! New nurses work cheaper, which does appeal to employers in the short run. They can also be trained and don't come with a lot of ingrained ideas and habits (at so-and-so hospital we always did it this way..). The only problem is a longer orientation period, but it depends on the status quo at the individual hospital. Some areas are chronic shortage areas in every hospital. I had to start out in ortho and I wanted to be an oncology nurse! But I was darn lucky to get in at that time. And check that you are available all shifts, weekends and holidays on the application. Anything else and they will toss your papers in the trash.

[kittykittykitty]

Make sure you have a professional looking resume. Get professional help writing one if you need it. Use good quality paper. Sell yourself on what you can do. For example, what did you do before obtaining your BSN? Did you volunteeer as a Candy Striper or do any other work in a hospital or SNF? Were you a TA in chemistry, micro, A and P or any other lab class? How can you be an asset to that particular facility? Do you have good computer skills? Are you well organized? What is your passion? Be aware of your weak areas, e.g. IV skills. If asked, be honest but immediately say you have regestered for a class and the dates. What did you do between graduation and passing your NCLEX-RN? How adaptable are you? Write a personalized cover letter for each app. Learn as much as you can about the facility before applying. When references are requested state they will be supplied upon request. Be sure you ask the person for permission to use his name first. Even better ask for written references that you have with you so you can supply copies on the spot. But don't give them unless asked. Have the best possible references from faculty, nurses where you had your clinical experience and former employers. As a BSN you are expected to be a leader but admit where you need more experience and ask for the opportunity to gain it. Hopefully you can find a facility that has an active mentor program. It is sink or swim without one. If you are free to relocate look at smaller rural community hospitals as well as those in larger metropolitan areas. Go to nursing job fairs. Dress and act professionally. Use good English. Be polite. Be sure to thank the HR person for giving you his time and attention. Follow up with phone calls. You will need to be assertive, positive and confident in this slow job market. Keep a positive attitude when told you are not the candidate for the position offered. There will be a place for you somewhere. (To be truthful, I'm surprised you didn't have a class in how to obtain a nursing position while you were in school. We did.) I wish you the best.

[autumnd]

oh boy...i graduated in dec 08 (accelerated bsn program), passed my nclex in the spring, and it's been tough being a full time job seeker all this time...literally tired of the computer and typing and sitting here 8 hours a day...i applied everywhere all over california, rural hospitals, metropolitan...by looking up all the hospitals through the online yellow pages to get all the community hospitals in addition to the main ones that have their own websites. it's an exhaustive search i know, but i was trying to broaden my search to expand my options and be open since i have no mortgage or any other obligations...it's been sooo frustrating and hard to hang onto optimism at this point in time. i feel burnt out by all of this. honestly i am hanging on by a thread...and altho people have said it's the economy and not me, right now, this far along in the year, it's hard to feel hopeful and optimistic anymore, and if you know me, i'm usually very chipper and positive..."too positive" as i've been called by friends at times...but that's been a little different now. :T

the hiring freezes and cancellations of new grad residencies due to no funding is making it so challenging for new grads. we're not in the field yet, and they aren't giving us chances. they keep saying they want experienced nurse, acute care experience specifically. but how to get that i dont know bc i heard they dont accept nursing home experience as acute care...so i feel stuck between a rock and hard place...from what i heard, california is oversaturated with new grads right now. because it costs so much to train someone new, they are filling positions with experienced nurses from elsewhere who are very willing to move to california because of the weather, lifestyle, and because california is the highest paying state for nursing jobs, followed by new york. they use travel nurses too. i met many of them while i was doing my advanced cpr classes this year.

i may want to think about military nursing too. no one has responded to my inquiries when i visited the website and tried to make contact for the us army and the navy...i wonder if maybe even they dont have the resources to train new nurses.

i am now looking out of state...the effects may be spreading more slowly in other states, but it's been tough too...a lot of the same stuff - we want experience; you dont have the experience we are looking for; so you're a new grad - so you have no experience as an RN. i guess my clinical experience doesn't count. i could totally talk about my experiences there if given the chance, as well as my non nursing experiences...while searching and doing temp admin work in the meantime, i decided to get advanced life support certifications just to get it done since i had time, and it was a good way to add to what i had and show how motivated i was...well, after getting acls, pals, and nrp to cover adults peds and infants, that hasn't changed my search results somehow. and it cost a lot.

i would have hoped to stay in california (i'm very familiar with many parts and esp love socal and the bay area)... i had hoped to find something in southern california, since i heard southern california has more ops than norcal, but no one has called for an interview yet. not the dialysis centers, clinics, community hospitals, or large hospitals. i applied to some ltc too, but nothing so far. i heard the sac/capitol area is tight, and the bay area is pretty much closed ...and haven't found anything in the upper central valley of lodi/stockton/tracey/merced/modesto...or bakersfield even... or riverside... of my class i was willing to go just about anywhere in california... didn't know i'd be lucky to get anything at all in california, including rural "not-so-desirable" places...our teacher did warn us as we were graduating, that it would be tough this year, unprecedented in all these years, and that just a year before, even while the market was tightening up, many places said they weren't hiring but most of the previous graduating class got their jobs created thru their preceptorship at the end. when she said this, a hush fell over the room. but she was referring to norcal, and said socal may be a little better but she wasn't sure. anyway, i just thought i'd share the reality of my experience to validate the other experiences shared here...i feel your pain too...it felt therapeutic to get some of the load off. it's been hard keeping it all inside lately. thanks if you've read this far.

[kittykittykitty]

My daughter, also an RN, called me this evening. She works for a long term acute facility and said jobs just aren't available. It is really hard to keep looking when there is no response. Did you make contact with any recruters or HRs while in school? If you are free to relocate have you looked at out of the way places such as Calexico, Brawley, Lone Pine, Bishop, Tahoe, Crescent City? There are other small clinics and hospitals in Northern California. They might not have new grad programs but you might find the nurses are willing to help you learn anyway. You are correct in saying a lot of positions are being filled by travelers and foreign educated nurses. One local hosptal has very few American educated nurses on staff.

[kittykittykitty]

Loma Linda University Medical Center posted entry level positions for nurses on 9/17/09. Loma Linda, California is in the Inland Empire, approx 60 miles from LA and 60 miles from Palm Springs, just off the I 10 and 215 freeways. It is convenient to mountain reorts also.

[kittykittykitty]

Atascadero State Hospital states "New Grads Welcome!"

www.dmh.ca.gov

[kittykittykitty]

Please check www.californiacampusrn.com/students/jobresults.asp This site has several RN entry level positions in Northern and Southern California listed 09/18/09.

[Wishinonastar, BSN]

A few years ago I read something to the effect that it takes about 2 months for every year of schooling that you have to find a job. So, with a BSN you might expect 8 months. Now that was when the economy was decent. Now, I bet it is a lot longer.

The reasons for this are because as you get more and more educated you fit into less and less possible slots. You become more specialized. It is interesting because I thought more education would make me more desireable to employers. It does not. They see me as over-qualified for a lot of jobs.

Still with nursing the fact is that there are simply few entry-level positions out there. They are very picky with hiring. They want you experienced, but not so much that you demand high pay. They want a BSN for many jobs, but a Master's makes you over-qualified. Now is not a good time to change fields. It is not a good time to quit or get fired. I think everyone is just hanging on to their places, hoping that things will improve.

New grads, you are not the only ones having trouble. Many of us older nurses would like to move up or over to something else, but it is like everything is frozen in place. The usual turnover has stopped because everyone is just glad to be working. This is the worst I have seen in my area since I graduated in 1985. Then many nurses left the area to find work (Texas, Florida). Now there is no where to go.