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)
Sorry to say this but hoping for a RN job is like waiting in line at Walmart during a holiday season, hoping you will get rang up next. Hang in there and take a number, there are many just like you. Enjoy your free time while you can, because once you start working you will be tired.
Sorry to say this but hoping for a RN job is like waiting in line at Walmart during a holiday season, hoping you will get rang up next. Hang in there and take a number, there are many just like you. Enjoy your free time while you can, because once you start working you will be tired.
FYI even if you do everything right, it may just not be your time, hence you are not chosen.
definitely trying to enjoy my free time. got a few trips planned.
of course they dont want me to move out! it just feels as if they dont think i can make it on my own... and its quite discouraging.
:)
When I graduated from college, I lived at home the following summer while I studied and took the N-CLEX. I started job hunting and told my mom that I applied to a few different jobs out of state and was thinking about the logistics of moving to a new state (I had lived in the same town my entire life so I wasn't sure how someone made a long distance move...do you rent a truck, what?)
She basically said "lets just talk about that later when the time comes".
Well...the time came, I accepted a job in another state and when I told my mom that I was starting a new job next month and was moving, she was like "what do you mean you took a job out of state!? how will you get there!?"
Uhhhh we talked about this, I was serious! I told you I was planning to move!
She eventually believed me and got used to the idea
When I graduated from college, I lived at home the following summer while I studied and took the N-CLEX. I started job hunting and told my mom that I applied to a few different jobs out of state and was thinking about the logistics of moving to a new state (I had lived in the same town my entire life so I wasn't sure how someone made a long distance move...do you rent a truck, what?)
She basically said "lets just talk about that later when the time comes".
Well...the time came, I accepted a job in another state and when I told my mom that I was starting a new job next month and was moving, she was like "what do you mean you took a job out of state!? how will you get there!?"
Uhhhh we talked about this, I was serious! I told you I was planning to move!
She eventually believed me and got used to the idea
they dont even want me to apply to another state.
even mentioned that i shouldnt even bring up GA anymore...
its quite discouraging because i really do want to move there and not be tied down here for two years with contract!
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.
thank you for your advice.
Please know this has absolutely nothing to do with you, but it makes me absolutely sick that there are places wanting new grad RNs to volunteer before landing a job interview. That should never happen, period. It also makes me want to question what kind of employer is this that they would take advantage of a new grad this way. I am honestly taken aback right now. Like I said, this has nothing to do with you.
I live in an area where nurses are desperately needed. I will be applying to a new grad residency program though. I have been comparing the benefits of the hospital systems in my area and think I found where I want to work for. I'm just not sure if being in my next to last semester is too early. It's 6 months long which I think is perfect for me. I know coming out of school, I will no where near be prepared to work day 1 on the job. Even if I had 1 month of orientation, I don't think it would be enough. I know the LPNs that graduated our program had job offers before they even took the NCLEX. But they were in LTC homes and only had like 3 days of orientation. Pretty much sucks when you have never inserted a foley and have maybe run a couple of IVs. No way I would be prepared for that which is why I am looking at residency programs. Besides, I don't want to be in LTC and the only RNs that are hired there are DONs and I certainly don't want that.
I have volunteered at a hospital before. Up here, you work the gift shop, run labs to the lab, work in the information booth, take people in to their cars in wheelchairs, deliver flowers, run paperwork, may help min. in the pharmacy. You can also bring little children crayons in the ER and rock babies who don't have parents. Their parents may have had them taken away due to drugs or they may be in prison. We have a huge heroin problem in my area. The statistic my professor quoted is that 70% of babies in my county are born addicted to drugs. That's right, 70%. I was told by a friend who works on our county drug task force it was 60%, but my instructor says 70%. The reason why is a whole other thread, and why our federal government has no idea how to deal with the prescription drug problem in our county.
OP, just be careful with this volunteer thing. I feel it's setting a bad precedent, but I also understand your need to find a job in a saturated market. I just feel like you are giving away your skills for free, or that they will expect you to do a tech job for free. Don't devalue your skills because you want to get out of your parent's house. Believe me, I know the feeling. I also think if you took 6 months once you found a job and saved absolutely as much as you could, you could get a little apartment and be on your own. I wouldn't take away my poor, 1 bedroom apt., surviving on Ramen noodle and spaghetti sauce days away for nothing. I became scrappy in those days and I learned the value of a dollar.
Then, I made the big move from Pennsylvania to Indiana. It was for a job. I met my ex-husband and we got married when I was 23. Now, I am divorced and 39, have met the man of my dreams and have the best son in the world. I would never take back any of my choices because my beautiful son came out of it and if I hadn't of moved here, I would have never have met my soulmate. I am a true believer in fate.
I live in Atlanta, the most competitive area in Georgia for new grads (there are 5+ BSN programs and 5+ ASN programs within an hours drive), and every hospital here hires new grads, so I am not sure why you are operating under the assumption that new grad positions are that hard to find. My school graduates 140 people each year, and something like 95% of the class had offers BEFORE graduation last year. The trick is you have to apply when the residents you programs are open. They have start dates of two to three times a year. I believe applications are opening now for start dates of Jan and feb. Stop using your parents as an excuse. Stand on your own two feet and make your life happen instead of waiting around for something to fall in your lap. It doesn't work that way.
Please know this has absolutely nothing to do with you, but it makes me absolutely sick that there are places wanting new grad RNs to volunteer before landing a job interview. That should never happen, period. It also makes me want to question what kind of employer is this that they would take advantage of a new grad this way. I am honestly taken aback right now. Like I said, this has nothing to do with you.
I live in an area where nurses are desperately needed. I will be applying to a new grad residency program though. I have been comparing the benefits of the hospital systems in my area and think I found where I want to work for. I'm just not sure if being in my next to last semester is too early. It's 6 months long which I think is perfect for me. I know coming out of school, I will no where near be prepared to work day 1 on the job. Even if I had 1 month of orientation, I don't think it would be enough. I know the LPNs that graduated our program had job offers before they even took the NCLEX. But they were in LTC homes and only had like 3 days of orientation. Pretty much sucks when you have never inserted a foley and have maybe run a couple of IVs. No way I would be prepared for that which is why I am looking at residency programs. Besides, I don't want to be in LTC and the only RNs that are hired there are DONs and I certainly don't want that.
I have volunteered at a hospital before. Up here, you work the gift shop, run labs to the lab, work in the information booth, take people in to their cars in wheelchairs, deliver flowers, run paperwork, may help min. in the pharmacy. You can also bring little children crayons in the ER and rock babies who don't have parents. Their parents may have had them taken away due to drugs or they may be in prison. We have a huge heroin problem in my area. The statistic my professor quoted is that 70% of babies in my county are born addicted to drugs. That's right, 70%. I was told by a friend who works on our county drug task force it was 60%, but my instructor says 70%. The reason why is a whole other thread, and why our federal government has no idea how to deal with the prescription drug problem in our county.
OP, just be careful with this volunteer thing. I feel it's setting a bad precedent, but I also understand your need to find a job in a saturated market. I just feel like you are giving away your skills for free, or that they will expect you to do a tech job for free. Don't devalue your skills because you want to get out of your parent's house. Believe me, I know the feeling. I also think if you took 6 months once you found a job and saved absolutely as much as you could, you could get a little apartment and be on your own. I wouldn't take away my poor, 1 bedroom apt., surviving on Ramen noodle and spaghetti sauce days away for nothing. I became scrappy in those days and I learned the value of a dollar.
Then, I made the big move from Pennsylvania to Indiana. It was for a job. I met my ex-husband and we got married when I was 23. Now, I am divorced and 39, have met the man of my dreams and have the best son in the world. I would never take back any of my choices because my beautiful son came out of it and if I hadn't of moved here, I would have never have met my soulmate. I am a true believer in fate.
Reason for this RN volunteer, is to have a foot in the hospital im hoping to work at. I spoke with those in charge of this volunteer thing and they told me that i would be doing RN tasks, sort of like back when i had my senior practicum with a preceptor. It is only for 8 hours and once a week. I will be careful though.
Im glad to hear that your experience led you to having your son and the man of your dreams!
I am not in a rush to move out, because i know i dont have the means to move out right now. This is why im hoping to snag a job with not much of a big contract, so that i can save money for a few months and move where i would truly like to be in. To start my own life elsewhere.
I do see the benefit of residency programs to prepare me to be on my own feet as an RN. But im hoping to get into a program in the state i would like to move to.
I live in Atlanta, the most competitive area in Georgia for new grads (there are 5+ BSN programs and 5+ ASN programs within an hours drive), and every hospital here hires new grads, so I am not sure why you are operating under the assumption that new grad positions are that hard to find. My school graduates 140 people each year, and something like 95% of the class had offers BEFORE graduation last year. The trick is you have to apply when the residents you programs are open. They have start dates of two to three times a year. I believe applications are opening now for start dates of Jan and feb. Stop using your parents as an excuse. Stand on your own two feet and make your life happen instead of waiting around for something to fall in your lap. It doesn't work that way.
Ive looked into Piedmont, CHOA, and NE Healthcare Systems in GA! CHOA being the one i would like to apply for residency. If you have any info on any of these, i would greatly appreciate it!
Im planning on sending my application to CHOA once the program opens which i believe should be in a few days (october).
I have applied to other RN positions here where i live, non-residency, but basically all other positions require 2+ years of experience. I applied anyway, because i have some friends who have been hired despite the position needing years of experience.
I am trying to make do with what i can. Yes, i do need to stop using my parents as an excuse. I am 22 and can make my own decisions about my career, whether they be good or bad, and deal with the consequence. Thats the only way i'll learn to get my life going. Which is why im going to apply to CHOA despite my parents not wanting me to.
Im not familiar with NE Ga other than knowing they DO have a residency program. I know the residencies for Fall grads are just starting to open up, so I would just keep checking. Piedmont is usually one of the last ones to post theirs. CHOA is VERY new grad friendly! Loads of my classmates work there as techs, I will ask around for you.
Carilion Clinic in Roanoke VA is looking for RN's. Level 1 trauma center. New RN pay is embarrassing but a nurse union is needed!!! With the cheap cost of living etc. its not a bad gig spite their disrespectful pay. (31% lower than the national avg.)
Im not familiar with NE Ga other than knowing they DO have a residency program. I know the residencies for Fall grads are just starting to open up, so I would just keep checking. Piedmont is usually one of the last ones to post theirs. CHOA is VERY new grad friendly! Loads of my classmates work there as techs, I will ask around for you.
Iknowwha2du
91 Posts
Sorry to say this but hoping for a RN job is like waiting in line at Walmart during a holiday season, hoping you will get rang up next. Hang in there and take a number, there are many just like you. Enjoy your free time while you can, because once you start working you will be tired.