New Grad Application Rejection

turtlesRcool · Apr 10, 2019

19 hours ago, Brianna Llams said:
i highly suggest you try applying to a hospice or home health! They hire people so quick. TRY HOSPICE! Any hospice agency around you.

18 hours ago, Wlaurie said:
That's true about home health. I once uploaded my resume looking for home health work. The phone was ringing as I got off my laptop, no kidding.

I realize that many home health agencies are hungry to hire anyone, even new grads, but I don't think it's a good fit for a novice nurse. In the hospital, there is always someone you can ask if something seems off or if you get a patient whose care requires skills you don't have (or you're not proficient with). Doctors are there, or just a phone call away. Usually orientation is a few months.

When you're at the patient's home, it's just you. Home health is notorious for providing little to no real orientation, and expecting their nurses to function independently pretty much from the get go.

Home health, done right, requires nurses who have experience. Nurses who can spot problems when they're still small problems. Nurses who know when it's something he or she should be able to handle, when it's time to call a doctor, when it's time to call 911. No matter how good a student nurse someone was, those judgment calls come with experience.

farrasha, BSN · Apr 10, 2019

Not sure if this is the norm, but a new grad BSN in Maryland, I applied to several new grad jobs in my area with no luck. I finally had to relocate to another state to get my first job, as it was the only place that even called me back for an interview. Friends of mine that did get jobs easily were already employed at their facility as techs, while I worked retail during school, so I am thinking that may be what gave them the advantage.

Mvalent9 · Apr 10, 2019

Look for a geographically underserved area. Often, there is a student loan forgiveness for working there two years or so. Two years is doable! What areas are you applying to? New grads are probably not going to be hired into specialty areas like ER, Cath Lab, or L&D. You need experience first to work in those areas.

Unfortunately, you might have to step your salary down from a bartender to get some experience, or keep it on the side till you find your first nursing job. Keep military nursing on your radar too! They will pay for your BSN, and it looks solid on a resume. Also, consider volunteering first at the place you want to work. Be dependable and let the staff know you would like to work there as a nurse. Did you do a preceptorship, and want to work at that hospital? Make sure to get a recommendation from your preceptor? Remember, your first nursing job is not going to be your last, so it is okay if it’s not your dream job.

WitchyWoman LPN · Apr 11, 2019

I had no experience aside from clinicals and I was hired at my very first interview, exactly 2 wks after passing the NCLEX. However, it was in home health. I don’t know if that’s something you’d be open to; I love it because there’s so much autonomy and flexibility and knew I wanted to do it by about 2-3 months before graduation. That was 6 months ago and I am still getting calls and interview requests via email from posting on Indeed and ZipRecruiter. I did get a lot of positive feedback on my resume, however, so like the previous poster suggested, maybe you could tweak that and see if it helps. Good luck! ☺️

SmilingBluEyes · Apr 11, 2019

9 hours ago, turtlesRcool said:
I realize that many home health agencies are hungry to hire anyone, even new grads, but I don't think it's a good fit for a novice nurse. In the hospital, there is always someone you can ask if something seems off or if you get a patient whose care requires skills you don't have (or you're not proficient with). Doctors are there, or just a phone call away. Usually orientation is a few months.
When you're at the patient's home, it's just you. Home health is notorious for providing little to no real orientation, and expecting their nurses to function independently pretty much from the get go.
Home health, done right, requires nurses who have experience. Nurses who can spot problems when they're still small problems. Nurses who know when it's something he or she should be able to handle, when it's time to call a doctor, when it's time to call 911. No matter how good a student nurse someone was, those judgment calls come with experience.

RIGHT. Hospice/home health is NOT for new nurses. You are very autonomous in those specialties and you and lack experience. Home health is tough; LOTS AND LOTS of paperwork. Hospice also, experience really best. So many people disrespect LTC. Really it IS a good place to start. You learn so much and build a broad base of knowledge. ALSO: you WILL learn organization skills that are absolutely critical for any hospital/hospice/home health job.

Don't be picky. Cast a wide net and take what you get. Your dream job will come up but not necessarily right away.

Good luck.

waitingfor · Apr 11, 2019

On 4/8/2019 at 10:55 AM, CBerries said:
Hi guys,
I am looking for a little insight here. I am a new grad nurse with an AD, currently enrolled in a Bachelor's Program. I recently passed my boards and I am in the market for a job. I don't have any nursing experience whatsoever, besides my clinicals. I have been a bartender for years. I have applied to several different jobs recently and within hours or a day my application status says "Reviewed; Not Selected". I am a little frustrated as they don't give me a reason for this, therefore I don't know if my application was denied because my resume/cover letter or for any other reason. I have applied to jobs that I am qualified for according to their job listing. So my question is, is this normal to get rejected like that within hours? Do new nurses typically have to apply to many many positions before they get an interview? I guess I am just a little confused and surprised because for all these years I kept hearing that nurses are in such a high demand, I won't have a problem getting a job, yet it seems like the opposite. Thank you for your input!

When I was talking to recruiters, they say the shortage is true for "experienced nurses" not for new grads. They tell me they are having a hard time filling out positions for experienced nurses because of high turnovers. There are far fewer new grads positions for the too many new grads. I have read posts where people have applied to 100s of position and got one interview after 6 months or a year. Even though the position states "BSN not required" but it is preferred, and have other "preferred" qualifications, it means that if they receive a large pool of applicants that meet the minimum requirements, they will select the ones with "preferred" qualifications.

But I understand your frustrations. I have about 25-30 applications and while I have 2/3 pending review, the rest got straight up rejected even without being reviewed. I have most of the "preferred" qualifications except for my BSN which I will get this August. I am willing to relocate out of state (and I do have a family) because I know how difficult it is to get that first new job mostly if you want it at a hospital and in a specific specialization.

Hang in there. Just keep applying. And network. Most of the time, it is really about who you know and who knows you. I have a classmate who was a bartender with no prior experience in the healthcare field. He also did not do his senior practicum in the ICU, which is usually a preference/requirement for ICU positions as a new grad. However, He got a new grad position in the ICU of our local hospital because the ICU manager has been going to his bar for the past 4 years.

PhatRN · Apr 12, 2019

On 4/10/2019 at 12:41 PM, farrasha said:
Not sure if this is the norm, but a new grad BSN in Maryland, I applied to several new grad jobs in my area with no luck. I finally had to relocate to another state to get my first job, as it was the only place that even called me back for an interview. Friends of mine that did get jobs easily were already employed at their facility as techs, while I worked retail during school, so I am thinking that may be what gave them the advantage.

Hey! May I know where did you move?U can PM me if you have the time and or not comfortable to share here.Thank you!

LindaRN01 · Apr 12, 2019

On 4/8/2019 at 10:11 AM, CBerries said:
I am looking in the Twin-Cities - Minnesota area, if that matters at all.

I went to school to the University of Minnesota and many of my classmates got jobs before graduation. Which hospitals are you applying ?

RegisterednurseRN02, RN · Apr 12, 2019

Hey! I would take a look at your resume! I highly recommend the books called, Knock EM Dead series! They are SO insightful. The author spent the last 30 years revising and writing about how to do a great resume, how to get PAST the resume reader database (did you know that people do NOT read our resumes, but a machine does)...if you do not have KEY words in your resume, the resume is surpassed and never gets on the desk of a hiring manager.

shiftingtides · Apr 12, 2019

Hi there, just wanted to ask if you're sure LTC pays worse than hospitals in your area? In my area (Denver and surrounding), they tend to pay $10/hr more than the starting wage at hospitals.

Also, do you mention in your eduction section that you are currently pursing your BSN and your expected graduation date? Having "BSN" on your resume might be necessary to get you past autofilters, and it shows you are pursuing the preferred level of eduction.

Good luck!

RegisterednurseRN02, RN · Apr 12, 2019

Long-term care pays 10+$/hour more than starting RN wages at some hospitals here in the mid-west!

Wlaurie, RN · Apr 13, 2019

I don't agree that in home health you're completely on your own. For example, my first case I had a young child with sma with a trach on a vent. Pretty high acuity but mom was a NICU night nurse sleeping upstairs if I needed her. I didn't want to take the case but did when I heard the arrangement.

My home health job I have now is a lot lower acuity. As with any job, you measure the risk and you plan for the worst ahead of time so hopefully you won't freeze when you need to act. I can call the office or another nurse that works the case, or even the parents if I have a problem. It may not be ideal for every new grad but I wouldnt necessarily rule it out.

Paperwork is not bad, I can work all I want to when I want to. No weekends or holidays. No drama to deal with from others at work. Only 1 patient. Yes there are drawbacks, lower pay, and you do have to be comfortable with being on your own. I'm a fairly new grad ( 3 years). Started out in LTC and then home health. Once I did home health I felt like I had found my niche. I don't say there is a lot of ancillary support but I don't feel completely on my own.