I graduate in May of 2010 with my Associate's. I am already working on my Bacherlor's as well.
I am looking to move to the NYC area, but I'm VERY nervous that I won't be able to find a job as a new grad without my BSN.
My question is (for anyone with any insight) if I will even be able to find a DECENT job (like ER, Med/Surg, OR) considering I will be a new nurse who does not have my BSN but is actively working on it. I have literally been stressing about this for months and ANY help would be greatly appreciated.
I seriously doubt its about who you know. I know a lot of people and its hard enough for them to keep their jobs without trying to find one for someone else. I though nurses were in demand. I guess I didn't get the memo that LPN's are a dime a dozen. If someone knows the secret to getting hired tell me please.......
I have been an actress for 10 years total, and 7 years before starting nursing school. What we are all experiencing is what actors go through all year every year. It stinks and it is a game of survival of the fittest! Everyone who is getting a job is keeping it real quiet because they don’t want YOU to dim their star baby! Same with actors!! I can tell you right now that the only way I have been able to sit and chat with recruiters is persistence (I know how to “stalk” hospitals because its been my life to stalk casting agents)…and NAME throwing… They have all said the same thing. I will share this with you!
1) All the recruiters say that DR’s offices, nursing homes, outpatient clinics DO NOT COUNT AS EXPERIENCE. Is it better than working at old navy? I am sure! However you will still be at the BOTTOM of the pile when it comes to that hospital job
2) They speak of horror stories about local hospitals in NY taking on new grads only to let them go after orientation!! There is one hospital that let go 40 new grads. We are competing with them on top of those who keep graduating!
3) Got an associates nursing degree like me? Ha! They no longer are looking for us because of magnet status which brings the hospital money or whatever, however they only want nurses with BSN’s. It shows that they have more “professional” staff. Let me say this!! My ADN program is the hardest in the area!! Why why why did I suffer through?? Ahhhhhhhhh!!
4) They will HIRE from WITHIN first. That’s right! so start applying for clerical jobs, NA jobs, JANITOR positions, kitchen workers, soup makers, I don’t know anything!!! That’s what I am doing!
5)Certify your self with every ******* expensive certification you can so the “poor” hospital doesn’t have to pay for it. ACLS, PALS, ABCDEFG!!
6) Have a plan B in store. I call mine T 2.0. Now I will become phlebotomy certified and try and get a job doing that along with clerical work at the hospital that I KNOW PEOPLE there already! Too bad my extremely brutal nursing program conveniently didn’t include this in their teaching! Who cares about blood borne illness spreading throughout the students!!haha JK!
7) Travel if you can! If I travel my relationship wouldn’t survive and he has a good stable job so that’s out for now. If you can DO it, DO ITTTTT!! Join the gosh darn army if (you don’t mind going to Iraq). They WILL hire you in a second (if you make it out).
8) Apply for any and all fellowships even if you can’t see your self working there! Currently I am going to apply for the O.R. fellowship where I know the recruiter and she has said its a possibility instead of NO! Maybe its my calling?? Who knows? The NR’s have all said it might be little easier to get into those than the star of the show med/surg! We can’t all be stars baby! He he heeeh
9) School school school. If you have an associates go back right away for your bachelors! Make sure its a state school since I am sure you are all broke like me! They are cheaper and this way you can get federal aid up the WAZOO! There are two online programs in NY that are accredited. Empire state college and Dheli! I am currently waiting for my acceptance letter for Fall 10 to Empire.SOME recruiters will put you between the BSN and the ADN’s if you are IN a program. The middle is better that the bottom!!!!
I like that number because it is so NOT final, like our careers, so I will stop there. This is all the advice I have gotten from NR’s and I share it with thee!! Good luck everyone and fight til the end but look good doing it!
Try applying to Staten Island University Hospital for PCA patient care assistant. I applied for that position but the result was I'm overqualified. They are looking for High School diploma. And their orientation starts on May.
Try applying to Staten Island University Hospital for PCA patient care assistant. I applied for that position but the result was I'm overqualified. They are looking for High School diploma. And their orientation starts on May.
Not to rain on anyone's parade, but just put up a link to local news article regarding the number of nurses soon to be out of work due to St. Vincent's closing. About 500 or so experienced nurses will be soon looking for employment elsewhere.
The layoffs of nurses will occur as departments/units close down, and there is a good chance that some parts of the hospital such as their cancer care center will be purchased by another local hospital. However either way you slice it, there are going to be several hundred nurses hitting the job market right around the time nursing schools and programs are graduating new classes.
Right now your job is to keep your head to those books, finish school and pass the boards. No one knows how things will shake out in a few years or even months from now and you need to be in the best position to take advantage of any chances that come your way.
I agree with RN79sunshine list of what is going on in NYC. Many of us is getting off our Butts and looking for work. But most new grads who found jobs does have a connection. Most of the people who say get off your Butts are experience RNs who have a job and critiquing ADNs who can't find work. I just got a jobin a hospital, everyone there had a connection. I'm the only person there who did not have a connection, but somehow I won her over on a interview and she created a position for me.
Now since other hospital are closing, many Nurse recruiters will hire them 1st. But I think everything will turn around. But now, get into a clinic, dialysis center, until things get better.
I agree with RN79sunshine list of what is going on in NYC. Many of us is getting off our Butts and looking for work. But most new grads who found jobs does have a connection. Most of the people who say get off your Butts are experience RNs who have a job and critiquing ADNs who can't find work. I just got a jobin a hospital, everyone there had a connection. I'm the only person there who did not have a connection, but somehow I won her over on a interview and she created a position for me.
Now since other hospital are closing, many Nurse recruiters will hire them 1st. But I think everything will turn around. But now, get into a clinic, dialysis center, until things get better.
Actually think there were more than three NYC hospital closing in the past five years. Aside from the two RC hospitals in Queens (Mary Immaculate and St. John's), wasn't there another in Queens? Cabarini in Manhattan also closed recently. Also IIRC, Victory Memorial in BayRidge Bklyn was slated to or has closed.
In any even the landscape of NYC is littered with closed or merged hospitals. Doctor's Hospital on Staten Island, Richmond Memorial on Staten Island (merged with Staten Island University Hospital), Flower and Fifth, and so on.
Rumor has it there still may be at least two more Manhattan hospitals in "trouble", so this may not be the end of things. Also consider the many hospital closings in New Jersey, and Long Island. Nurses from each of these areas can and do commute to NYC for empolyment.
As for ADN grads, am beginning to wonder if that is the next shoe to drop. As the number of hospitals decreases, those that remain can be more picky about whom they hire. The recent passing of "Obamacare" does nothing to directly address the soaring costs associated with healthcare, and until that happens hospitals are going to contiune to look for ways to do more with less, and that includes nursing services.
I'm graduating in May and I agree that persistence really does help. Send your resume anywhere and everywhere and then follow up with a phone call or an email. Don't be too pushy but let them know how interested in their hospital you are and that you are looking forward to hearing back, etc. I had three interviews (NYP, MSK, NYU) and aside from some specific floors many of them are looking to hire over the summer more so than now. Five years ago Nursing Seniors had six offers in March but that is just not how today's market it. A hospital is not going to want you until you can actually be of value to them. Therefore they are less likely to offer you a position until after you have passed the NCLEX. Some also have certain new grad orientation days. I believe it's NYP that has one in July and one in August. So don't panic! Keep applying and calling and doing whatever else you have to do. Get an interview and wow them with your charisma and natural intelligence :)
As for everyone other than new grads, I'm sorry to hear you're having such trouble. I agree that it's unfair to hire fresh new grads with BSNs over experienced LPNs but you know what, go back and get that BSN! You have the benefit of all that experience and knowledge I bet you'd all sail right though!
:D
wanabenurse
19 Posts
let us know when you land a job in your dream city!!!!