New Grad RN.... In need of serious help!!

gerry79 · Mar 4, 2007

Yes, the job market for new grads in this area seems bleak but be patient. I recently graduated and got my license last week and fortunately had a job 2 months before I graduated. I was told by several new grads last year to start the job search before I graduated and was glad I listened to the advice given. Many graduates from the May 06 class of my nursing school are just now starting to land jobs. I know that Good Sam in Brockton is hiring as a classmate of mine turned down a job offer from them and accepted a postion working at Childrens Hospital in the cardiac ICU. If you have a BSN the Brigham is starting a new grad program in April or May. PM me for the nurse recruiters email address as I dont know if I am allowed to display it on an open forum. Also I hear many of the hospitals will start their new grad programs this summer. Where have you applied to thus far? And are you willing to work south of Boston?

DolphinRN84, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · Mar 5, 2007

I graduated May 06, took the boards in July- PASSED, and it took me till November to land a job here in Boston. I had applied for jobs in February...so it was way before I graduated. It was so frustrating how I wasn't able to find a job right away. But I'm glad I did...now I can get experience and hopefully go anywhere now. What places are you interested in working at?

Mulan · Mar 5, 2007

What about New Hampshire?

gerry79 · Mar 5, 2007

Hi Lena! I start orientation on Farr 3 Tuesday! Wish me luck!!!

DolphinRN84, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · Mar 5, 2007

Hi Lena! I start orientation on Farr 3 Tuesday! Wish me luck!!!

Good luck Gerry! Farr 3 is cardiac right? I'm actually working tomorrow too, but 7-11 then I have BLS in the afternoon. Good luck! I'm sure you will be fine!

Dominicana1 · Mar 5, 2007

Thanks everyone for the replies to my post! I also began looking about 3 months prior to getting my license, and I had no luck finding a job. I thought that when I got my license I would more marketable, but I guess not. Congratulations to you all on finding a job eventually, and I can't believe that it took awhile for some of you.

I want to follow up on my applications, but I don't know how aggressive I should be before I seem like a crazy women trying to land a job LOL! Does anyone have any good advice? This site is an excellent source of support, I feel a lot better already! I'll keep applying and send a follow up message when I finally find something. Thanks again.:nuke:

oualie20 · Mar 14, 2007

Dominicana:

Lena, myself and a couple of others were having the same issue you're having now. Be proactive, call the recruiters, give them your story. Also try hospitals outside of Boston, and don't limit your search to only hospitals.

good luck, you'll find something!

KellieNurse06 · Mar 14, 2007

You do need to be aggressive ..but in a positive way.

A friend of mine who has been a nurse for 30 years told me to physically bring the resume to the human resources dept....even better the nurse manager's office.......she told me too many people send or email their resumes and they most likely just get put into a pile or filed and never even looked at ....and when they do need help...they probably just randomly pull out a resume.......and she said something that really struck me that made alot of sense.......anyone can send a resume....but when you hand deliver it it shows you are very serious about seeking a job....and to call the nurse manager directly...don't wait to get a call or call human resources......go right to the main person..........I am following her advice after going through this myself........At The Brigham you have to pretty much know someone to even get an interview there.........her sister has worked there for 25 years as a nurse so she knows it is impossible to get in there....if you can you are lucky.....

kanzi monkey · Mar 30, 2007

You do need to be aggressive ..but in a positive way.
A friend of mine who has been a nurse for 30 years told me to physically bring the resume to the human resources dept....even better the nurse manager's office.......she told me too many people send or email their resumes and they most likely just get put into a pile or filed and never even looked at ....and when they do need help...they probably just randomly pull out a resume.......and she said something that really struck me that made alot of sense.......anyone can send a resume....but when you hand deliver it it shows you are very serious about seeking a job....and to call the nurse manager directly...don't wait to get a call or call human resources......go right to the main person..........I am following her advice after going through this myself........At The Brigham you have to pretty much know someone to even get an interview there.........her sister has worked there for 25 years as a nurse so she knows it is impossible to get in there....if you can you are lucky.....

I have a few comments in addition to this. I just completed my painful job search, and I was given similar advice. It did not work for me. Perhaps my expectations we too high--I went to the nursing office at Brigham to deliver my resume directly into the mailboxes of specific nurse managers, and was told by the secretary that they would probably get thrown out. I found a nurse manager's email address for a floor I was interested in, and sent her my resume--by mail and email. She told me she'd send it to HR for screening. I went to the nursing office at BI and could not even leave a resume, nor get the names of any managers. In HR departments at BI and BMC I was told that I needed to apply online. Which I did--everywhere--for over 60 jobs.

Now, it's possible that I was just extremely unlucky, and perhaps my timing was chronically terrible. Maybe so. But things ended up turning out alright anyway--here's why. I had assumed, based on my personality (which is a bit introverted) that I would be utterly pathetic at "networking"--so I felt completely reliant on getting in the "traditional way"--ie, by being noticed by a nurse recruitor simply because my resume is nice looking. But, in the latter part of my search, I just started talking about my situation to everyone I met. Here's what I found out--people that you know (and I mean you, new nurse, looking for a job) are connected. You may not know it now, but I discovered, with very little digging, that friends of friends (and even one of my cousins!)knew people who were extremely well connected. And not only that, they were very interested in helping me get in to a job that was right for me and where I was right for the job.

So, my advice to you is, understand that you as a registered nurse (new grad or no) are a valuable asset to any hospital/clinic/whatever that you want to work at. The connection is there--your desire, their need--you just have to be creative in your approach, keep it real and keep your confidence up (I was about to write a memoir "the only unemployed nurse on the planet"--so I understand it's not easy). And talk to people. I met someone at a party who used to work in HR at a big Boston hospital. Who knew? Any lead at all, FOLLOW THROUGH, promptly and efficiently. Ask advice from friends, advisors, references, etc. if you are stuck with that feeling "how do I show I'm interested and motivated without making myself look desperate"

I had people double checking every email, every card I sent, and before I called anyone I reheorificed it with my poor husband. Because, I don't know about you, but I WAS desperate--desperately BORED. And boredom is nothing to joke about--it stinks. Especially when you just got this great education and now have so much to offer to help improve the lives of others (and yours in the process).

Good luck! You can do it, just keep talking to people, and follow through even with something that doesn't seem feasible. If you're trying to get a job at one of the big Boston hospitals, expect that it will take some time. But don't let up--you will get in. If you aren't limited to public transportation, you may find it easier finding a job sooner in a community hospital--and may not encounter the "protective shield" that pretty much surrounds the entire Longwood medical area.

Oh, and I did find out some solid info (not good info, unfortunately)

-Cambridge Health Alliance does not typically hire new graduates

-BMC is not currently taking new grads (unless you're already working there as a PCA or something--or you know someone there who really likes you)

Spartak · Apr 8, 2007

Getting a first job for a new grad in Boston is ridiculously difficult. And the pay rate is low comparing to the cost of living. A lot of new grads have to move out of state to get a job.

GeekyRN · Apr 8, 2007

Unfortuantely I think the "nursing shortage" is largely manufactured. My opinion, but nursing is a second career for me, and they did the same thing with computer science all through the 90's , said there was a shortage which was really a ticket to open the doors for millions of visas, and eventual offshoring. I don't see a big nursing shortage, but then I'm not in San Francisco either.

You will find sometihng - might not be what you want exactly. Be patient, and you may have to take something you don't want for a while (nursing home, etc).

I send much good karma in your direction.