New grad gets a new job...

[2ndyearstudent, CNA]

Hello,

I just wanted to share a good employment story on allnurses.

A friend of mine graduated four months ago with her ADN and passed the boards a short time later. She applied to many hospitals, but never got an interview. Her only RN job offer was working overnights at a nursing home, responsible for over 50 patients, which she accepted. It was hard, often frustrating work, but she did well.

Just last week, she interviewed at a very nice hospital 3 miles from her home and was was offered a full time job on the Med/Surg floor. Needless to say she is elated. But that's not why I wanted to share this with people who want to become nurses.

My friend's job search began 3+ years before she graduated when she got her CNA and worked in a nursing home and as a home PCA while taking her prereqs. She did really well in her prerequisites, earning a 4.0 GPA and getting into a very competitive program on her first try.

She worked as hard as she could in nursing school, but the best grade she could get was straight Bs all through the program.

Between her first and second year, she won an internship with a local hospital organization and did very well. Even so, that organization did not offer her a job or interview when she graduated. The nursing home she worked at did offer her the overnight RN job.

She kept applying at hospitals though and was hired 4 months later by the hospital where she did her internship.

My point is that your job search starts well before you get into a nursing program and continues all through the program. If you start your RN search when you graduate, you will be years behind many of your peers.

Good luck!

[KareBear0609]

Good story. I agree, I am completing my prereqs right now and I also just finished up my CNA certificate this past summer. I am now working as a CNA and will be taking the PCT course this spring semester while also finishing up my prereqs. Your advice is right on the money!!