New Grad May 2014 No Job

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I graduated in May of 2014 and am looking for a job in Brooklyn. Any long-term care facilities that hire new grads with zero experience. I have never done a CNA job or anything, no volunteering. I wish someone would have told me in nursing school how important it is because I feel like all the CNAs get hired through internal hospital applications.

Thank you!!

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Specializes in Peri-op/Sub-Acute ANP.

While it's too late to be a CNA, it's not too late to volunteer. It might help you network and scope out vacancies before they go "public".

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

I agree with TTA- volunteering can help you network and gain invaluable experience. Look up free clinics and get in touch with them. Also, look outside of the traditional work environments. I graduated when you did, and I just got offered a full time clinic position today that I am super excited about (not my dream specialty, but for $100K+/year, I'll deal with it), but I have been working three random other nursing jobs. Have you been on Craigslist? Stalk CL- I found all three of those jobs on there. I have been working doing health fairs, home infusions, and attending births at a freestanding birth center. I have applied for jobs at a training facility for guide dogs, EMS transport, home health, all kinds of random positions. Having ANY kind of nursing experience will look better moving forward- consider opening yourself up to the random stuff, even if it pays crap. Two of the three jobs I had paid less than half of what I'm making now per hour, but the infusion job was in line with my new wage; it was just very PRN.

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Volunteer! I just got hired at NY Methodist, and I volunteered there for only a few months. I had no prior experience except nursing school as well. Once you start volunteering, get to know the nurse manager of the unit, and she will hire you. That's what worked for me. It's all about the connections you make...

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Thank you so much for responding to me did u tell them u were a new nurse when u volunteered? Can you give me details...i truly appreciate all your responses

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Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.
Volunteer! I just got hired at NY Methodist, and I volunteered there for only a few months. I had no prior experience except nursing school as well. Once you start volunteering, get to know the nurse manager of the unit, and she will hire you. That's what worked for me. It's all about the connections you make...

When you say you volunteered, do you mean you were a regular volunteer through the volunteer department (non-clinical on a unit) or were you a volunteer RN?

Sent from my iPad using allnurses

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I volunteered through the volunteer department. When you do so, make sure you get placed on a unit with patients and a nurse manager!! The nurse manager is the one who makes the hiring decisions (and who can push your resume through to HR) so you get hired. I would recommend volunteering consistently on the same unit so that you can become friendly with the nurse manager and staff.

At first, the volunteer department had me placed in a non-patient area of the hospital, but I made sure to get in a unit where I could meet the nurse manager.

And yes, they knew I was a new grad BSN/RN, and don't mind. They are hiring! Just get your foot in the door, impress them, and hopefully good things will happen! You know you're a great nurse, they just have to see it! Good luck!

(Feel free to ask me any questions. I've been looking for a job for so long, and I totally get how it feels!)

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Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.

I'm an experienced nurse with a BSN and a current job (I'm actually a traveler at the moment). I was hoping to do this as a way to switch specialties, thanks for the info!

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Thank you so much for getting back to me. I truly appreciate you passing along this advice because the frustration and depression I feel is insurmountable! I hope you are adjusting well to your job!!!

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No problem. Let me know how it goes for you :) feel free to ask questions

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@hellosmile I just applied to volunteer at NYM. I'm also a new grad who relocated from Chicago to the east coast. I've applied to a few volunteer positions but no luck. How long was the entire process from applying to volunteer at NYM and then getting an offer?

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I applied to NYM and got a call back for a volunteering interview this tuesday. Quick question can you actually be denied a volunteering position.What is the purpose of the interview? I am shocked that even some of the patient care positions are filled up??!

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