New Grad moving to Raleigh, NC and need advice, please!

birthrevolution · Jan 18, 2011

I got one phone call for one interview, went in and got a second interview and then got that job. I got absolutely no response from any other hospital in the Triangle. What hospitals did you apply to? I do know that a lot of people have gotten calls from different hospitals in the last week offering them positions. I think that the second round of interviews for new grads will probably start soon. I also know people who graduated in May and it took them a while to get calls. Some hospitals, like Duke, were calling people two months after their applications were in. I also think that's it's probably harder for an out of state new grad to get phone calls. You might have better luck once you have a local address.

newgraddec · Jan 18, 2011

I applied to Duke, Wake Med and Rex. I did see that I was in the running at Wake Med, but NEVER got even a call. My hopes were trashed after that. I'm a little bit older too and I was hoping that didn't have anything to do with it. I'm just concerned I won't be able to find a job and it seems that nobody wants to hire new grads. Maybe I should stay in Illinois. I got two job offers here :-(.

newgraddec · Jan 18, 2011

By the way....CONGRATULATIONS on your new job!!

birthrevolution · Jan 18, 2011

I do know that hospitals are hiring new grads, they're just slower than they used to be. I wouldn't get discouraged! From what I understand about Duke is that they have a ranking system where they give you points based on how many clinicals you did there. The people I know who got jobs there did their externships there over the summer and even then it wasn't guaranteed. They are still posting CNI positions on their website weekly, I don't think it would hurt to keep applying. Rex is still calling people, I'm still under consideration, but haven't heard anything. Did you try UNC at all? Other hospitals to consider would depend on where in Raleigh you move to. You could try Central Carolina in Sanford. The health departments might also be good to try, Wake Cty or the State DOH hire nurses, but I'm not sure about new grads.

Sheepwithagun · Jan 18, 2011

Does it have to be Raleigh? Wake Forest's Baptist Medical Center (Winston-Salem, NC) is hiring new grads. I've got an interview for an OR job there later this week (and I'm from out of state). I do have a license in my home state, so I don't know if that helped. Good luck!!

McGwillis · Jan 21, 2011

I did my application for WakeMed online, and then delivered my resume and a cover letter in a folder to the unit where I wanted to work. I just gave it to the unit secretary to give to the unit manager. I got the job, but I also knew people who worked there ... It's worth a try!

angielocks · Apr 7, 2011

I did an accelerated program out of state and tried for about 6 months to get a job in the triangle area (part of that time I was still in nursing school). I graduated in May, took the NCLEX in June and finally/desperately accepted a job in Fayetteville in August at an LTAC (I used my parent's address while looking for work). During this time I got engaged and really felt the urgency to move to the triangle since my husband-to-be works in Durham. I applied to any Feb New Grad positions I could in the area and finally got a call back from REX for their ICU! I started a month ago and LOVE IT! My point is, DON'T GIVE UP with the Job Search thing. I applied to new grad positions up until I knew I would have six-months experience. Then I would have just applied to regular RN positions anywhere in the area. While I did feel a little guilty leaving my first employer after six months of work, I can say now it was totally worth it. Also, I had no idea that working just a few months as a new grad would open up an ICU opportunity since I had no prior critical care experience. I wish you the best