New Grad Looking for med/surg... getting frustrated

[Secel]

I've heard stories from other graduates in the last two years - some of them (most that i've talked to say it takes a year or more time to find a nursing postion). I'm not sure if this is a nursing home position, or a nursing position for a specialty, such as med/surg or icu.

I've took my NCLEX exam in February and passed in 75 questions. I was so excited about this accomplishment (until i realized later that it mattered-little). With liscense number in hand, i started applying for positions. I applied in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maryland, and Virginia to stay close to family.

(Now I'm going to vent for a bit). I got one call back/ phone interview for a residency program at an ICU. (I'm worried that without the additional training and help from a residency/fellowship, that i wouldnt be able to survive in an ICU.) They scheduled an interview. I was so excited because out of 50+ applications, someone was finally interested!

I went down to Baltimore, arrange and paid for travel myself, and took time off work. When i got there, the secretary said it was cancelled. I was shocked. I said i didnt get a phone call. They checked my phone number and said they must have forgotten to call me. They did an extremly short interview because i was already there. They told me that they were accepting internal applicants first and if they had space left they'd call me back to finish the interview.

I was a little upset. Mostly discouraged. For all the time and money that i spent, they gave me $5 for their cafeteria. And no apology. I understand that things happen and i decided to change my strategy for positions. But it makes me wonder how to go about interviews in the future, if i have to take a plane for instance.

I've now applied to over 100 positions all over the U.S. Mostly med/surg, but in skilled nursing facilites too. No callbacks. It seems most applications i come across say 1-2+ years of experience. Obviously i dont have experience as a new grad.

I'm becoming frustrated. I kind of wish that nursing schools didn't go about quoting how low the unemployment is for nursing, when its largley new grads that are unemployed. Because now i have all these student loans that i have to start paying back... (Venting completed)

Can anyone give me advice? Does anyone know of any places that ARE hiring new grads for med/surg? Or can you give me advice on how to go about interviews that are far away? Or advice on where is best to start looking for a position? Help please! --- and thanks in advance

[itsnowornever, BSN, RN]

Apply more. I applied to over 300 positions for my first job. Hand walk in your applications/resume/cover letter for the LTC places. Revamp your resume and cover letter. Get extra certifications. Start calling HR. finding a job is now your job, 100 apps and you've had your license for almost 3 months? Too few applications.

Posting from my phone, ease forgive my fat thumbs! :)

[AgentBeast, BSN, RN]

Sanford Health, but you'll have to move to Bismarck, North Dakota.

[pequenopatoRN]

I too took the NCLEX this past February and passed with 75 questions. I started applying for jobs immediately after getting my license, mostly in NY and CA since those are the states I am licensed in. By the end of March I already had 150 applications in. One of my interviews was in NY and unlike you I had no job, so spending money to fly from Cali for NY wasn't going to happen. So I asked if she could possibly do a Skype interview. The manager said she's not tech savvy but her assistant manager was, so she would call to set something up. My luck! The skype interview never happened, she opted to just to a phone interview instead, and I was offered the job the next day. Just ask if it's possible...you never know they may say yes and if not then you just need to evaluate if it's worth going (which I think it would be).

As for hospitals that are hiring, just this rural areas near where you live and in the country. I always see advertisements for RN residencies in texas, kansas, arkansas, kentucky and a few other states. From everything that I have been reading, california and most of the the north east is swamped with new grads. I know out here in Cali a few of the residencies at the Big Hospitals (USC, UCLA, UC Davis, Stanford, Scripps) get over 1000 applicants for 10-15 spots...those numbers aren't good.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

I'm sorry you went through that OP. Unfortunately they were under no obligation to call you beforehand to let you know it was cancelled, though it would have been the professional and courteous thing to do.

All you can do is keep applying anywhere and everywhere, even outside of where you live. Lots of nurses have had to relocate to gain those coveted first years of experience. Be patient: in the current job market, 3 months isn't long: many new grads are searching for 6-12 months or more.

Also, it's really not the end of the world if you don't start in your desired specialty, nor is it necessarily a career dead-end. Many nurses start off in whatever they can get into and then work their way towards their desired specialty after a year or two. And yes, people have transitioned from non-acute care settings into hospitals. It takes a little work and isn't always easy or rapid in this job market, but it can and does happen.

Best of luck.

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

Duke just posted new grad positions. Med/surg being one of them.

[campercass]

I just started at Florida Hospital Heartland Division, in the ED. They have 3 hospitals. Its in rural Florida, but they are very new grad friendly in about every area but icu.

[Clovery]

What state are you in?

I tried for a few months to get into the local hospitals but not a single call back. Look into LTACs (long-term acute care). Around here (Philly) they are hiring and training new grads and the patients are all pretty complicated and great experience. It's nothing like a nursing home... it's like an long-term med-surg or ICU unit where the average stay is about a month. Most patients are on vents. Many of my co-workers are leaving because they're getting recruited to great jobs after working there for a year. I know my facility just hired 5 new grads who will be starting next month.

[YouwishiwasyourMA]

What state are you in?

I tried for a few months to get into the local hospitals but not a single call back. Look into LTACs (long-term acute care). Around here (Philly) they are hiring and training new grads and the patients are all pretty complicated and great experience. It's nothing like a nursing home... it's like an long-term med-surg or ICU unit where the average stay is about a month. Most patients are on vents. Many of my co-workers are leaving because they're getting recruited to great jobs after working there for a year. I know my facility just hired 5 new grads who will be starting next month.

Which facility do you work for if you do not mind me asking? I live in the philly area as well

[ClassyChristina]

I applied to 4 positions in Nebraska. Got hired on a med-surg/tele/oncology floor for nights. There are NO new grads that I know of who start on days, so be sure you are applying to night positions if you want a hospital job. : )

[Inori, BSN, RN]

Try aiming for 1000 resumes / applications that should net you a job. good luck and keep applying ... all of my friends/classmates got jobs before getting to 1000 so yes that goal works

[bryan_del, ADN, MSN]

All I hear is how impossible it is to get a job as a new grad and it's bothering me since I plan to graduate in 2016... I hope I don't go through the same thing because I want to work in a cardiac unit. That is my dream job for my twenties, then maybe become a nurse anesthetist :)