New Grad RN JOB HUNTING in FL.

Nurses Job Hunt

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Ok, so I dont know if there is a past topic about this but Imma start a new one, Im an internationally graduated nurse from the Philippines and Just Passed my NCLEX-RN exam less than a month ago. Iv'e been searching for jobs and applying only to be turned down because apparently no hospital accepts new grads for Staff positions. Iv'e come across RN Residency Programs which are supposed to be for new grad RN's but they too are turning me down because the school where I graduated from is not accredited! So sad that alot/most of hospitals require that! I mean the board of nursing gave me a license to work, but these hospitals have other requirements.... so anyway even at nursing homes they are requiring you to have graduated from an accredited school. How am I supposed to be employed? I'm looking for suggestions guys, thank you so much.

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Specializes in ED, trauma.

Market is getting tough in Florida, even for local grads.

Most if not all facilities require a graduate of an accredited nursing program as you are finding out. Perhaps check with the FBON and nurse recruitment at the places you are applying to see if completing a refresher course would make you eligible for these positions, as the refresher course would be from an accredited institution.

Also consider other factors that may be impeding your eligibility for these programs -

Do you already have a SSN?

Do you require sponsorship or other paperwork for them to complete?

How long ago did you graduate (many new grad programs don't care when you passed NCLEX, but require that you have graduated within the last 12 months)?

Are you local to their area or have a cover letter explaining your plans to move to the area?

Have you had your résumé and cover letter reviewed to ensure they are tailored to the position and facility to attract their interest?

Have you considered obtaining additional certifications to show your commitment to education?

These are just some things I can think of right now, but perhaps there are other factors to consider, and checking the facility website will be a great place to start. Good luck!

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yeah sad to say i don't have the means right now to do a refresher course, yes i do have an SSN and no needing sponsorship. anyways, yes i wont give up, just gotta tweak what i have, I currently have BLS and ACLS certifications, its really hard right now and as a last resort Im thinking of is goin to the military and atleast getting an automatic enlisted e4 rank(not an officer) but still not good enough as to salary, im currently looking for LTC positions but it seems they too are requiring experienced RN's, Its really frustrating, Iv'e been reading about people not having a job for months and months with hundreds of applications filed.

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Specializes in ED, trauma.

You didn't mention how long it has been since you graduate from your school - that could be the issue. If its more than 12 months, many employers feel that your skills aren't as sharp as someone who has only been out of school say 6 months.

Definitely keep plugging away. I've been turned away from some Florida Nursing Jobs because of GPA (3.4 wasn't high enough apparently) or not having recent tech experience (some candidates already work at this facilities, LTC/SNF/Acute Care, etc).

Good luck!

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Yeah its been a while since school, I graduated Oct. of 2011. so, its pretty much impossible to get a hospital job... I am now trying out some LTC in the area and hoping to hear from them. Thank you for your replies. My Transcript is not that good also. Well Hoping for the best, trying not to be discouraged, I wont waste all that time in nursing school for nothing.

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Specializes in ED, trauma.
Yeah its been a while since school I graduated Oct. of 2011. so, its pretty much impossible to get a hospital job... I am now trying out some LTC in the area and hoping to hear from them. Thank you for your replies. My Transcript is not that good also. Well Hoping for the best, trying not to be discouraged, I wont waste all that time in nursing school for nothing.[/quote']

Try very rural areas. Like Okeechobee or Wauchula or Lake Placid. They seem to be new grad friendly in those places, because the population is older and there is a genuine need for nurses. I worked in Lake Placid in a nursing home many, many moons ago - great job. Fair ratios for CNAs, lots of Filipinos (from when they used to recruit from Philippines), but the town was boring. I've since moved on from the area but will never forget who gave me my start.

Best of luck to you.

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I have the exact same problem as you. I graduated in the Philippines in 2011 and just moved to Florida last month. I'm looking for jobs everywhere but I'm still not hearing from those I applied to even in LTCs. May I ask which part of Florida are you looking for jobs?

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I have the exact same problem as you. I graduated in the Philippines in 2011 and just moved to Florida last month. I'm looking for jobs everywhere but I'm still not hearing from those I applied to even in LTCs. May I ask which part of Florida are you looking for jobs?

Hello batchmate, yes I applied through all of those too. you have moved here from another state? Im looking for jobs around Tampa area and widened my search statewide but no luck... at this point i would take any jobs in a hospital just to "get in". I even tried to apply as LPN even though I have RN license. one more painful thing is that we graduated internationally so the schools we grad. from is not "accredited"

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I'm from California and since I had trouble getting a license there, I moved here in Florida hoping the situation here is better but to no luck. I'm looking around Tampa/St. Pete as well. I don't think being international graduates is a factor. We just have to do more than just applying online. I called some clinics and skilled nursing facilities and some said they can help us apply if we go to their facility. I'm gonna try and do that. It might help. Hopefully!

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I see well, same freakin thing. Ca. was my port of entry back in Jan, i already knew how the Ca BON and the Concurrency problems they have with international graduates. So i went here in Fl. iv'e been searching for about 3 weeks now. but yeah, I never really walked in any hosp/facilities cuz i thought they are just gonna tell me to look online. anyways what facility/ies did you contact that told you they were gonna help you? so as to check it out myself too... im on the verge of enlisting in the military and i just dont wanna give up looking for a possible job yet... (sorry for wrong grammars and punctuations)

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I'm from California and since I had trouble getting a license there, I moved here in Florida hoping the situation here is better but to no luck. I'm looking around Tampa/St. Pete as well. I don't think being international graduates is a factor. We just have to do more than just applying online. I called some clinics and skilled nursing facilities and some said they can help us apply if we go to their facility. I'm gonna try and do that. It might help. Hopefully!

Yes, be careful of some of these facilities, some do like to hire foreigners especially if there's a high nurse to patient ratios, offer lower starting salaries, little to no benefits and many times, get stuck there or in another similar setting as it can be more difficult to get into more acute jobs. I have a few kababayans in CA (but have been there for a few years) and still unable to make the move outside of LTC or SNF's.

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Yeah byt at this point i would take the the job nonetheless, better than nothing for a new grad, and by the way @ yhammie015 do you have previous volunteer experience back at Ph.? Also being not US citizen yet we cant apply to those veterans hospitals (which are new grad friendly) cuz of their citizenship requirements, and again the "accreditation" problem none in the ph has "state accredited" school...were only considered Regionally accredited...unless you go to an accredited school here and study all over again.

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