-No experience, except from clinical rotations from the nursing program
-I stay in the Northern California (Bay Area)
-Want to work in the hospital setting. Prefer ED, ICU but is willing to get my foot in the door through MedSurg.
-BUT NO NEW GRAD PROGRAMS IN SITE!!!!! I have heard some in the Bay Area starting in the summer, but I anticipate it is going to be about 300 applicants applying for about 5-7 positions.
-All hospitals turned me down because I have no experience or they are not accepting new grads at the time.
That's basically my situation in a nutshell. Now I've spoken to a few recruiters, friends that are RNs who already work in the hospital, and family and they all recommend I start looking at "skilled nursing facilities" to get experience for about 6 months to a year. Now my question is...
-Are nursing homes the only skilled nursing facility? (Is a skilled nursing facility basically a nursing home or are there other types?)
-Is it common for new grads to begin their career in a skilled nursing facility? Will skilled nursing facilities accept new grads?
-Given my situation, is a skilled nursing facility my only best shot to begin my nursing career?
-Is 6 months to a year at a skilled nursing facility adequate experience if you are considering to work in an acute care setting (ED, ICU) if they ask for experienced nurses?
-Pros and Cons on working at a skilled nursing facility?
If you plan to work in a far location, how does the interview process go? Since I'm in the Bay Area and I wanted to work in SoCal, would I have to take a trip down there just for an interview even though its not a guarantee I'll get the position?
That is correct. I drove down twice to SoCal in 1 week for different new grad open houses. Times are tough especially for new grads in CA and you got to do whatever it takes to get something unless you want to wait around. Of course there are no guarantees driving down south for an interview. Hospitals hold all the leverage. I'd be the happiest person in the world to even get an interview. I will go anywhere at this point.
\ As for Glendale Adventist...I was interviewed by the rudest and least professional nurse recruiter I have ever met. She interrupted me in the middle of my sentences and asked ridiculous questions (like my GPA in nursing school?? Hello, I graduated and passed my boards, it's good enough to be an RN obviously) I wasn't sad to see that they "chose another candidate with qualifications that better suited their needs." :)
Asking what your GPA was in nursing school isn't remotely ridiculous. Not every interviewer asks, but some do. Times have changed, and hospitals are looking for whatever they can to differentiate between the many new grads who apply. This hospital evidently values hard work in school and proven retention of knowledge. That's not ridiculous.
Specializes in Emergency, Critical Care Transport.
If you plan to work in a far location, how does the interview process go? Since I'm in the Bay Area and I wanted to work in SoCal, would I have to take a trip down there just for an interview even though its not a guarantee I'll get the position?
In sum: Yes.
That's sorta what the application process requires. Remember that an interview is a chance for you to interview them as much as they interview you.
Getting a job took a lot of work on my part.
I couldn't imagine working somewhere that I hadn't seen and sensed the "vibe" of.
I graduated in June. I moved to SoCal. I have a job, and I've been working since October to get one. There are a couple of good forums on this topic:
Glendale Adventist is one of the facilities I have been looking into... this sounds horrible... what happened? what to avoid with her?
Just make sure you do a lot of research on the hospital before you go...their mission statement, their awards/accolades/honors....have a list of all your clinical rotations with specific dates and times you spent on each floor, she's just unnecessarily intense....if you are a good candidate and have researched the organization and reheorificed answers to common questions and are not intimidated you will be okay. Good luck!
same boat as OP. SoCal is bad right now.. i thought after literally going through hell to pass Nursing School and the NCLEX it would be easy to find a job, but nooo. I thought hospitals would be lining up to throw jobs at me, but noo. its really irritating and infuriating.
50caliber
229 Posts
That is correct. I drove down twice to SoCal in 1 week for different new grad open houses. Times are tough especially for new grads in CA and you got to do whatever it takes to get something unless you want to wait around. Of course there are no guarantees driving down south for an interview. Hospitals hold all the leverage. I'd be the happiest person in the world to even get an interview. I will go anywhere at this point.