New Grad RN, BSN in So. California Seeking Nursing Job Alternatives - Please advice!

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Hello all! Like many new grad RN's I am having more than my fair share of difficulties in getting a job. I have applied to many hospitals, pharmacies, managed care (HMOs, insurance), nursing homes/LTC, correctional facilities, blood donor centers, etc. I have left no stone unturned, not to mention, I even tried applying to Alaska and joining the military.

My background:

RN, BSN w/ Cum Laude

Holds both IL & CA RN licenses

Certified in BLS, ACLS, NIH Stroke Scale

Extensive Pharmaceutical experience

No CNA experience, but have completed 640 clinical rotation hours.

Unemployed since graduation in October 2010.

American Red Cross volunteer.

Open to any nursing positions that will allow me to gain experience and/or further my education.

My dilemma:

#1: Due to lack of work, I am contemplating of going back to school to complete my Masters. My school is offering MSN/MBA program (that seems to be the only Masters program that does not require the student to have any hospital experience). Does anyone know of any assistance programs that I can apply to help me pay for my Masters program, while looking for an RN job?

#2: Does anyone have any suggestions or advice as far as nursing job alternatives that I can look into to get some education or experience so I can get my foot in the door? I have thought about getting certified in Case Management, but that requires money and hospital experience. I am thinking of nursing research i.e. clinical trials, pharmaceutical, private labs? Eventually, I want to get my PhD in Nursing.

Thank you in advance for your help!

i'm from the bay area and i can tell you there are very few new grad programs/positions here. it seems like so cal has had far more new grad programs available over the last few months. however, as we all know, there are so many new grads out there that it is ridiculously competitive....hundreds to thousands of applicants for only a handful of positions.

at this point i’m considering the same thing you are, going back to get my msn. you can try looking for universities that offer a cnl (clinical nurse leader) masters program. it’s a generalist degree and you don’t need experience to apply. like you, i also want to get a phd (eventually i want to go into nursing education) so it would not hurt to start a masters program now. perhaps during the next two years something would open up in an acute care setting and we can get our experience on the floor while obtaining our advanced degree. wouldn’t that be nice!!!!

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Mama of 2 "I'm from the Bay Area and I can tell you there are very few new grad programs/positions here. It seems like So Cal has had far more new grad programs available over the last few months. However, as we all know, there are so many new grads out there that it is ridiculously competitive....hundreds to thousands of applicants for only a handful of positions."

That's exactly the reason why my DD1 will be staying in SoCal because there are no jobs here in the Bay Area. Lots of older nurses have two jobs between hospitals because their husbands got laid off or just simply they have so much bills to take care off. She will graduate his June and very lucky she was offered a job in a RN Residency Program in SoCal. She's been working as a Senior Hosp. Asst. (PCA or CNA equivalent) for 6 months now.

Next year my DD2 will be graduating with BSN, she goes to NY for summer internship. Hopefully next year she gets a job here in SF/Bay Area or go back to NY.

Keep trying. Go to indeed.com and search everyday. Good luck!

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I started my job search in April 2011 and luckily got 2 hospital RN jobs. The first one was obtained by faxing my resume to the nursing manager.The Second was by continuing to apply for RN positions at one particular hospital over and over again when they posted a new position. After 2 weeks of doing that I recieved a call stating, "I see that you have applied many times to positions, how would you like to start our new grad program". Keep applying, be persistent. All "new grad" programs that I applied too, I never once got a call back. It is true apply to hospitals who don't list a "new grad" program or to places where other new grads wouldn't want to work. Good Luck!

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Specializes in ICU, PICU.

micalove62, I am in Bakersfield. Where are you?

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Honestly, the best way to find a job right now is through connections :/ I, myself, was only able to land a job because I had connections in a hospital that I interned at.

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I'm in southern california. I saw an RN New Grad that had posted to a hospital that generally never posted a program and I told my friend about and she was called the next day. Search daily for positions at every single hospital in your area, leave no stone un-touched and you will find one. Don't get discouraged. This process is tough and many quit or just get tired. I don't know much about northern ca. There are some areas of hope in southern ca. Stay encouraged! =)

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Specializes in Ortho / Nuro / ICU Step Down.
I started my job search in April 2011 and luckily got 2 hospital RN jobs. The first one was obtained by faxing my resume to the nursing manager.The Second was by continuing to apply for RN positions at one particular hospital over and over again when they posted a new position. After 2 weeks of doing that I recieved a call stating, "I see that you have applied many times to positions, how would you like to start our new grad program". Keep applying, be persistent. All "new grad" programs that I applied too, I never once got a call back. It is true apply to hospitals who don't list a "new grad" program or to places where other new grads wouldn't want to work. Good Luck!

What hospital would the be? I have tried that very same tactic and it has gotten me nowhere.

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http://www.chwhealth.org/index.htm...... check daily for new grad positions and apply to open med/surg positions.

plaksa.com.....apply daily to each open RN positon.

Huntington hosp in Pasadena (new grad friendly)

Glendale Adventist Hospital....spoke with HR they pick from the new grad applicants every 3 mon of month.

Elmonte Hosp.....once you apply you will see all the other hosps from their company and there is a lot of positions available.

Google...citrus valley health partners....(new grad friendly)

Google.....list of ca hospitals...and click on top link which give you a list...Daily i literally went down the list and applied to every hosp that I could remotely go too.

In the month of May 2011....I went on 3 interviews from plaksa.com...and got 2 of the jobs. Stay encouraged. Hopefully this helps.

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thanks alot micalove62 :up:

i graduated on dec last year... and im still unemployed

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http://www.chwhealth.org/index.htm...... check daily for new grad positions and apply to open med/surg positions.

plaksa.com.....apply daily to each open RN positon.

Huntington hosp in Pasadena (new grad friendly)

Glendale Adventist Hospital....spoke with HR they pick from the new grad applicants every 3 mon of month.

Elmonte Hosp.....once you apply you will see all the other hosps from their company and there is a lot of positions available.

Google...citrus valley health partners....(new grad friendly)

Google.....list of ca hospitals...and click on top link which give you a list...Daily i literally went down the list and applied to every hosp that I could remotely go too.

In the month of May 2011....I went on 3 interviews from plaksa.com...and got 2 of the jobs. Stay encouraged. Hopefully this helps.

hi micalove62,

When you say Huntington hospital (new grad friendly) what do you mean by that? I have an interview with them soon and I was wondering If you have interviewed with them or know anything about it? Any info will be very much appreciated!

Thanks

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No I've never interviewed with them but I called them. When you go to your interview dress very professional, hair back in a nice controlled way. Have a portfolio folder with your resume, references, certifications and stuff like that. Be prepared to answer questions like: How do you handle conflict? What are your plans for the next 5 years? Why would you like to work at our hospitals? What area do you need to improve in? Be calm and always keep eye contact. After your interview mail a thank you card to your interviewer and then go home and wait. If you don't here a call back after 3 days then call the interviewer back and check on the status of your application. Congrats on your interview and I hope you get the job!!! =)

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http://www.chwhealth.org/index.htm...... check daily for new grad positions and apply to open med/surg positions.

plaksa.com.....apply daily to each open RN positon.

Huntington hosp in Pasadena (new grad friendly)

Glendale Adventist Hospital....spoke with HR they pick from the new grad applicants every 3 mon of month.

Elmonte Hosp.....once you apply you will see all the other hosps from their company and there is a lot of positions available.

Google...citrus valley health partners....(new grad friendly)

Google.....list of ca hospitals...and click on top link which give you a list...Daily i literally went down the list and applied to every hosp that I could remotely go too.

In the month of May 2011....I went on 3 interviews from plaksa.com...and got 2 of the jobs. Stay encouraged. Hopefully this helps.

Hi micalove, thanks for all of the great suggestions! I was just wondering...when you applied for the positions on plaska, did the positions say "minimum one year" experience?

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