new grad orientation

nrsang97, BSN, RN · Oct 30, 2007

Have you thought of applying as a nurse extern? This gets your foot in the door and you get to practice some of what you learn in school. You get to practice assessments and time mgt.,foleys, etc.

I did this for the last few semesters in nursing school and it was a big advantage.

PS I think applying now is too early. Wait unil you are closer to graduation and orient some before you take your boards. This way you can keep up your skills.

AprilRNhere · Oct 30, 2007

I was told the same thing. I think honestly...unless you have connections...it doesn't matter. I applied everywhere...and got nice, polite rejection letters saying thank you, and to make sure to "update my resume" when i graduated.

Do apply before boards though....as most will hire a new grad "pending boards" and will wait for you to pass.

Many women I went to school with had worked jobs either as a CNA or an LPN. They applied to their current employee and had jobs lined up.

elizabells, BSN, RN · Oct 30, 2007

My hospital does orientation 10 months/year. The other two months they only hire in-house.

SEASTWOODRN · Oct 30, 2007

I Just Graduated this past may, and had been working since the prev. October. I also had several friends/classmates that worked at their place of current employ prior to graduation.

My experience has been that I 1. Depends upon the facility.

Some only like to hire NEW NURSES from IN HOUSE..meaning that you allready know their Mission, and protocols, and the lay of the land. So getting an internship with them is good for job security, and to keep up on and learn new skills prior to graduation. Not to mention it will help you with NCLEX.

Other facilities, don't like to hire until you have actually passed boards..mainly because they have been burned in the past, and they do not wanna waste the money in orientation, wages and the like, all to have you fail state boards.

So, it's really up to you, what you prefer to do, and what facility you apply to and what they offer for Nursing Students. I had several class mates that were Hired before Graduation, immediately following their clinical rotation on a unit, simply because they seemed to mesh with the staff, and the staff was impressed with their ambition and learning ability and offered them positions. Your clinical instructors and Department chair of your program will also be good sources of information relative to what facilities in your area have programs / positions for Nursing students, or Graduate Nurse programs prior to NCLEX.

Good luck!!

MNmom3boys · Oct 30, 2007

Hello. I will be graduating from an ADN program in May 2008. "Everyone" keeps telling me to start applying for a job now, or asks whether I have something "lined up yet?". I was intending to apply for jobs after I pass the boards next summer. Is there a reason new grads should apply this early? Do hospitals typically only have one or two "new grad orientations" per year? Why are people suggesting I apply now or soon? Thanks for the info.

I am a year ahead of you on the curve. I did the same thing - waited until after passing boards in May to apply. I am finding that I missed some new grad opportunities because I missed the deadlines. I think "now" is probably too early, but I would (knowing what I know now) not wait as long as I did - so "soon". You would probably be well served by taking some time over either Christmas or Spring break to do some research into the hospitals/clinics that you are interested in applying to. You can than be certain of not missing deadlines that are important to you, but not stress about getting applications out before they are due if you are otherwise occupied w/ clincals, finals, N-CLEX prep, etc.

Hope this helped!

Piki · Oct 30, 2007

It's probably a bit early yet, but the hospital I got hired (I'm a new grad from june 07) - posted on their HR site in DECEMBER hiring for summer 07 grads and summer interns. I was interviewed in January and had a job offer by the end of January. Most of my classmates lined up jobs in the springtime before graduation. Honestly the few that waited to take boards -- had trouble getting hired b/c the new hire grad slots are already filled - orientation, classes, etc. One just got hired now, in October. So if you wait that long, you may have trouble, then again maybe you won't. Is there a specific reason you want to wait and pass boards first? And not apply for your temporary practice license (GN)? There is the risk that if you don't pass boards your first try you lose your GN. But, OTOH, if you wait you may well miss the boat on new hire/new grad orientation.

carrie13 · Oct 30, 2007

I think now is probably a little early but you can start looking at hospital websites to see if they have any job fairs or postings for their new grad programs. I think many start posting in December/January for the interview process for May grads. The hospital I'm at takes new grads year-round but many hospitals around me have formal new grad orientation programs that run only a couple times per year.

RN1989 · Oct 30, 2007

If there is a heavy saturation of nursing schools you should start looking now. Many hospitals are cutting back on their orientation, especially for new grads without experience. Once the hospital has met their quota, you could be out of luck. Especially if their nurse techs are going to fill a nurse position as soon as they graduate. Call around to employers and see how they do things. Just call HR and talk to one of the desk people, act like you don't know anything but were just wondering when they have new grad orientations, do they suggest you apply for jobs now, that kind of thing.

deeDawntee, RN · Oct 30, 2007

I think it really depends on your part of the country. Some areas have new grad orientations only twice a year and if you miss out, you may have to wait for 6 months before you can start.

My advice is to pay attention to what is recommended in your area. Perhaps, you could even give a hospital a call and talk to one of their recruitment specialists or HR. They should be able to tell you what they recommend to assure employment as a new grad soon after you get your license. You see many threads where new grads are very frustrated with finding that first job because of the issues mentioned. Don't let that happen to you.

UNCgirl · Oct 30, 2007

The hospital where I just accepted a job (I'm a Dec. grad) has had their new grad intern positions for May 2008 grads posted for about a month now. I don't know if they are interviewing yet but they are definitely accepting applications. Some other hospitals hire later though.