New grad with RN license

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Hello,

I graduated in May of this year and just passed my NCLEX on August 30th, now I'm officially a RN. I have my license number so the past couple of days I've been going stir crazy applying to positions online left and right. How many is too many job applications? Any former new grads or current, how did you find your first RN job? I would love some tips!

I know the market is tight since it is over run with recent nursing new grads. I live in Canton, Massachusetts and work at a magnet hospital that is part of Partners network but unfortunately since they aren't offering the new graduate RN program this fall I cannot be employed as a brand new nurse without one. So they are telling me that I can wait for it to come back around :roflmao: (basically continue my PCA position until next year) which is not happening lol or just come back when I get some RN experience elsewhere. I've come to terms with it and am actually looking forward to a new place of employment. I've been at my current job for 4.5 years, so basically all my references are my coworkers and managers. I will continue to work here till I accept an offer than I will put in my two week notice.

I would love to hear all your experiences with this particular transition in life.

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I completely understand your position as I was in it not too long ago. At one point I got frustrated just sending out applications online as I was not getting no call backs. One day I just selected few facilities to go to and drop my resume and cover letter. I dressed up just in case I may get an on the spot interview and luckily one facility interviewed me as the DON was not busy at the time. Needless to say I got an offer. BUT my story may not pan out for you the way it did for me, but what can you lose? I know that many new grads shoot for hospital jobs or acute care but realistically they are looking for BSN as well as grads with experience, so it may be in your best interest to be less picky and look for any experience rather that waiting for the perfect job as some of my classmates are doing (and still sitting at home).

You can also utilize your network, talk to some friends and co-workers, even at your doctor's office where you go for primary care, let them know you are a new grad with health care experience and is actively looking for a job and you would be surprise who knows who. Good luck!!!

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hello,

I live in Boston so I'm close to you. I graduated in 2015 with my BSN and agree it is hard to find a job with no nursing experience.your PCA experience is great though. I applied to probably 200 job postings online because I was looking in and around the city. What type of nursing are you interested in? Check the Beth Israel website, the positions listed as "clinical nurse 1" are for people with 0-11 months RN experience so that could work if you want med-surg. Good luck! :)

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Thank you. I might try the drop by tip if by the end of the month I haven't received any call backs for an interview.

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@heather713, BSN, RN Thank you! I'm just looking for a job where I can develop my nursing skills (no preference of Hospital or Rehab) so I've applied to Norwood, Carney, Sinai in Stoughton, South Shore, Brockton Hospital, Spaulding and BIDMC, Boston Medical and I will continue to keep looking. I've applied to a couple of those clinical nurse 1 positions already. Just waiting to hear back. I've only started applying just this past weekend really so I am patiently waiting. In the meantime I apply to a new position elsewhere everyday. I wouldn't mind starting off at a rehab and if after a month or two with no success I will have to look into a LTC. I have two friends that got a job at Norwood on the Psych unit just two months ago.

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I would say as many as you can while also tailoring each application. You should submit a unique cover letter for each position, and also look up the mission statement of each place to get a feel for what they find important. Address this in your letter so they know why you are interested, and also recognize that you have researched the facilities values. For me, I got tired after 4/day. Recommend keeping tract of all your applications in a little notebook or word document too.

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Thank you @ oceanblue52, BSN, RN I will use the tips you have provided and it is now day 9 and I'm tired too! But will keep applying.

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Patience. Some hospitals take a couple/few months to even respond to applications. I applied to hospitals in July that are just now contacting me wanting to schedule interviews.

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Consider relocating. I live in Florida and had a job offer before I graduated contingent on passing the NCLEX.

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Consider relocating. I live in Florida and had a job offer before I graduated contingent on passing the NCLEX.

Thank you for the advice but no relocating for me. I want to get established out here in Massachusetts. Funny thing is I used to live in Florida about 8 years ago, left to come back up here & haven't budged yet. I actually had two interviews today, with an offer to come in for a 2nd interview from one of them. Plus I went to a job fair yesterday with two more coming up. So the poster that said to have patience was right. Now to nail these interviews and accept an offer. ������

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Specializes in BSN, RN-BC, NREMT, EMT-P, TCRN.

Your facility doesn't hire legacies?

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Worked at a magnet hospital for 8 years. Graduated as an RN, no jobs. 400+ applications in year 1. Worked in IT, volunteered as an RN. Year 2, 400 plus apps (graduated at the 'top of my class', which by the way means SQUAT), they all want 1 year of RN experience, plus BSN. Worked in IT, volunteered as an RN, prn an RN home. Year 3, ~100 apps. Same as year 2. Year 4. I mostly didn't care anymore. ~ 10 apps, got offers from Magnet, North, Magnet South, Magnet hometown, town 30 miles away, town 20 miles away all with large hospitals. The volunteering/rn home exp is paying off. Work prn now, took another job that I enjoy much more... and for that job, I put out close to 1000 apps nationally, and got the job I wanted. So, how bad do you want to work?

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