i am 22 years old, recently graduated in May 2015, passed NCLEX in july.
I have applied to about 3 hospitals, got one interview but did not get the position.
Ive called several other hospitals but they have told me that they arent hiring new grads until further notice.
There are residency programs, but their applications dont open up until mid October/november.... the thing about this is that i want to move out within the year, and signing a contract for 2 years with these programs will make that impossible... my parents want me to sign up for these programs, but i cannot imagine myself doing so because it is not what i want.
How do i go about finding a job? Apart from applying to residency programs...
Do clinics hire new nurses?
Should i limit my applications to one area or submit to surrounding areas? (BTW I live in Miami but want to move to Georgia)
That's great advice!! How about your friends who have landed jobs? Anything happening at their hospitals?
Do you have anyone you can network with? All but one of the jobs I've ever had were a result of "knowing someone". Any contacts you made during your clinicals? What about any of your instructors that you developed a rapport with? A recommendation from an instructor goes a long way.
I understand the confusion I live in Indiana and we don't have residency programs. Instead a good way to get a job would to be a tech. They will have a job ready before you even graduate. They just waiting on you to pass the NCLEX.
Your best bet is going to be to do a New Grad Residency Program. I'm going to explain why. Nursing school prepares you take and pass the NCLEX not to do the actual job of a nurse. Two years is such a short period of time. Once you put back a little money move out of your parent's house if it's that horrible and find an apartment. You live in Miami for goodness sakes!!! A residency program gets you the skills needed and to learn the job of a nurse. Why earth would you want to be fed to the wolves immediately, make a mistake, and possibly end up killing someone? Your career is over and you live with the guilt that you made a mistake and killed a person. A residency program usually gives you about 6 mos of training. That's like 6 mos of orientation with an experienced nurse there making sure you are a safe nurse. You passed the NCLEX but you are not ready for the practice and art of nursing.
You are 22. I know to you this seems like you know it all. I thought I did at 22. I got married at 23 and I was so not ready. I moved out of my parents house at 18. If my 39 year old self could talk to my 18 year old self, I would have done several things differently. Get your experience in Miami, then move to wherever the heck you want across the country.
The other thing I see, is that you are applying to places that mainly hire LPNs. Pediatrician's normally have medical assistants, LPNs, and some Nurse Practitioners. And why are you volunteering as a RN? You are giving away your skills for free. I have never heard of volunteer RNs. Are you sure you are not just a regular volunteer? If you are volunteering as a RN using the RN scope of practice, that sets a dangerous precedent, I think. You are willing to work for free now? Then why doesn't the hospitals just get a bunch of new grad people to volunteer for free every day? I don't even think that is legal. If I were you, I would check to see what this volunteer position is about because I think you are mistaken.
How are your interviewing skills? Is your resume up to par? These are things you need to look at and practice how to interview. Look at the hospital websites and see what they are hiring for. See what is required. Make your cover letter stand out. A canned response from someone is not what you need. I feel like you are saying Well, I applied to three hospitals. They aren't hiring new grads. Oh well. There is a reason all of your classmates have jobs and you do not. That should say something to you. You either are not applying to the right places, your resume is terrible, or you don't stand out in an interview. There are lots of free places on the internet that will help you with the resume. There are templates all over the place. Have a family member do a mock interview with you. Have you ever had a job before? I hope you have interviewed before. Again, buy a book on how to conduct yourself for an interview, how to dress, and how to answer the questions. If you really want this, you will put lots of hard work into it. If you don't have a job right now, this should be your job.
I have less than a year to go in school so I've been looking also. The residency programs where I live pay you a new grad salary while you're in the program. Most of them are about 6 months long. That being said, there are few hospitals where I live and the job market is saturated, so I have always planned on moving after graduation.
The VA has a wonderful internship program for new grads. You might want to check that out. Good luck!
I was having the exact same problem. I had to branch out and apply up to an hour away. Do you have your BSN? I live in Jacksonville and couldn't find a job close to me because I won't have my BSN until December. Your best options are to apply to the residency programs. There is a nursing shortage...of EXPERIENCED nurses. It's throwing off all the new grads. Don't worry, keep trying!
ive heard psych nursing is last resort when bedside nursing years are over...
thanks
Wow just wow! There are those of us out here that truly want to be psych nurses! It's why I'm going to nursing school. Mental illness is an illness also you know. I'm speechless. Just wow!
Your best bet is going to be to do a New Grad Residency Program. I'm going to explain why. Nursing school prepares you take and pass the NCLEX not to do the actual job of a nurse. Two years is such a short period of time. Once you put back a little money move out of your parent's house if it's that horrible and find an apartment. You live in Miami for goodness sakes!!! A residency program gets you the skills needed and to learn the job of a nurse. Why earth would you want to be fed to the wolves immediately, make a mistake, and possibly end up killing someone? Your career is over and you live with the guilt that you made a mistake and killed a person. A residency program usually gives you about 6 mos of training. That's like 6 mos of orientation with an experienced nurse there making sure you are a safe nurse. You passed the NCLEX but you are not ready for the practice and art of nursing.
You are 22. I know to you this seems like you know it all. I thought I did at 22. I got married at 23 and I was so not ready. I moved out of my parents house at 18. If my 39 year old self could talk to my 18 year old self, I would have done several things differently. Get your experience in Miami, then move to wherever the heck you want across the country.
The other thing I see, is that you are applying to places that mainly hire LPNs. Pediatrician's normally have medical assistants, LPNs, and some Nurse Practitioners. And why are you volunteering as a RN? You are giving away your skills for free. I have never heard of volunteer RNs. Are you sure you are not just a regular volunteer? If you are volunteering as a RN using the RN scope of practice, that sets a dangerous precedent, I think. You are willing to work for free now? Then why doesn't the hospitals just get a bunch of new grad people to volunteer for free every day? I don't even think that is legal. If I were you, I would check to see what this volunteer position is about because I think you are mistaken.
How are your interviewing skills? Is your resume up to par? These are things you need to look at and practice how to interview. Look at the hospital websites and see what they are hiring for. See what is required. Make your cover letter stand out. A canned response from someone is not what you need. I feel like you are saying Well, I applied to three hospitals. They aren't hiring new grads. Oh well. There is a reason all of your classmates have jobs and you do not. That should say something to you. You either are not applying to the right places, your resume is terrible, or you don't stand out in an interview. There are lots of free places on the internet that will help you with the resume. There are templates all over the place. Have a family member do a mock interview with you. Have you ever had a job before? I hope you have interviewed before. Again, buy a book on how to conduct yourself for an interview, how to dress, and how to answer the questions. If you really want this, you will put lots of hard work into it. If you don't have a job right now, this should be your job.
i have never heard of RN volunteer programs either. but this is definitely an RN volunteer program, and after completing the volunteering, i get to interview for a job. i went to talk to the volunteer services, and they told me they do this RN volunteer program to give new grads experience and the chance for an interview after the volunteering is over. its a once a week thing for 8 hours.
at this point, im fine with volunteering as long as i get back into the hospital setting until i have a job. right now im waiting at home, doing absolutely nothing, until the applications for the residency programs open up in october/november. yes, i am still applying to other open positions apart from residency programs.
Wow just wow! There are those of us out here that truly want to be psych nurses! It's why I'm going to nursing school. Mental illness is an illness also you know. I'm speechless. Just wow!
mind you, i never said mental illness was not an illness. i am very aware it is.
i was just stating what others have told me about trying everything else before getting into psych nursing.
there are some like yourself who fell a calling to do psych nursing, and i respect that. but that is not my calling.
This is true and can testify this is what happened to me- I was a new grad and was in the same position as you- applied all over the place and was only able to get a job in an ambulatory clinic. That was 4 years ago and now when i apply for other jobs they say I lack experience. No one will give me experience because of my position now.
This is true and can testify this is what happened to me- I was a new grad and was in the same position as you- applied all over the place and was only able to get a job in an ambulatory clinic. That was 4 years ago and now when i apply for other jobs they say I lack experience. No one will give me experience because of my position now.
Kandiegirl1020
35 Posts
Just FYI...I'm in Virginia and VCU Health (formely MCV hospital) hires new grads. They have a posting up about it now!
Start Your Career Search - VCU Human Resources - Virginia Commonwealth University Health System