New Grad RN Pay - Princeton Area

AllAngelsRN · Feb 5, 2009

To get a job in NJ at this time, you must consider yourself LUCKY!!!

Are you doing their OR job or Princeton House?

The market in NJ is an employer's market since we had 8 hospitals in 2008 closed. I think they offer between 27-28$/hr and again if you like the job, take it. In one yr you may switch to another job and at that time, you will be more marketable b/c you will not be a new grad :)

Best of luck!

Qtp2t RN · Feb 5, 2009

Thanks, AllAngelsRN!

I've decided to accept a position in the OR training program. On Monday, I will be asked to sign an employment contract promising 2 years of employment following completion of the Periop 101 training course and at least 4.5 months of clinical training. I think I'm at peace with that now that I've met some of my coworkers, many of whom seem very pleasant and supportive. I know it's extremely difficult to find a job as a new grad anywhere around this area and I do feel very lucky, and even moreso to have found a job in a specialty that I find absolutely fascinating. God forbid I decide to leave Princeton sometime down the road, I will have 3 yrs worth of experience under my belt and excellent training (from what I've heard :-)

Thanks again!

AllAngelsRN · Feb 6, 2009

Good thinking Cathy! You said that you like the specialty area then go for it full heartedly and learn all that you can in these few yrs. You never know, maybe you will find home in this place and decide that it is the place to be for a long time. But if you don't, you can find another job in a heart beat :)

I wish you all the best in your new job and the beginning of your career :)

Qtp2t RN · Feb 6, 2009

Wow! I just realized my last post sounded like I already plan on leaving this job at the end of my contract. Lol! That is absolutely not how I intended it to come out. :lol2: I was told by some of my coworkers today that if I can make it in Princeton as an OR nurse, I can make it anywhere...a full schedule daily and very hectic to say the least! I'm looking forward to the challenge and am actually becoming more and more excited each day. Honestly, I was hesitant to accept this offer when I first received the phone call, feeling like I had no place in the OR as a new RN. Now that I've taken a good look at my schedule for the next 8 months or so, and met some of my coworkers, I feel grateful to have received the offer and am in awe of how much information and how many skills experienced OR nurses have mastered. I know the OR will always be a challenge, but they make it look so easy... I can't believe how much I will learn in this position! It's a little intimidating, but so exciting! :redpinkhe

puddingpie · Feb 13, 2009

Are you still in Princeton, if so, how is it?

Qtp2t RN · Feb 13, 2009

Are you still in Princeton, if so, how is it?

Hi puddingpie!

Yes, I'm still at Princeton and it's great! I'm currently only in the didactic portion of my training and will remain in the classroom for another 4 weeks, then it'll be time to being learning how to apply all that new knowledge during my 4-6 months of clinical training. My first week was mostly HR stuff and the HR department has been very easy to work with. The rest of the OR staff has been extremely informative and welcoming, for the most part, as well.

Is there anything in particular you were curious about?

NHurleyRN · Feb 16, 2009

Hello,

Do you know if Princeton is still hiring? I've heard its hard to get hired as a new grad at princeton...How did you do it? Just email a resume? I just graduated in Dec. and passed the boards on Feb. 10th. How much did they end up paying you?

Qtp2t RN · Feb 16, 2009

Hello,
Do you know if Princeton is still hiring? I've heard its hard to get hired as a new grad at princeton...How did you do it? Just email a resume? I just graduated in Dec. and passed the boards on Feb. 10th. How much did they end up paying you?

Hi NHurleyRN,

I believe Princeton is still hiring. They keep their employment page pretty up to date and there are plenty of postings for RNs at the moment. Check out https://jobs-princetonhcs.icims.com/jobs/intro. I honestly do not know how difficult it is to get in as a new grad. I saw an RN training program posting and decided that I'd submit my resume. The posting stated that they wanted 1yr of med/surg, but new grads would be considered. The worst that could happend was that they would either not call or say "No," right? I received a call from them about a month later or so telling me that someone backed out of the training program and they now had another opening. I interviewed the following day and was offered the job less than 2hrs after leaving the interview. I don't know a single person that works there, so I can honestly say it was pure luck that I was offered the job, and I am extremely grateful.

I will send you a PM with additional info.

I hope this is helpful! Good luck!

gogatsby · Feb 17, 2009

It looks like they're mainly hiring for their psych units, or any other RN position expects at least three years experience. Not so good for us new grad out here!

AllAngelsRN · Feb 17, 2009

Nope it's not looking good for new grads in NJ period. I had to look outside of NJ and within a week I had 2 offers from different states. NJ's jobs at this time are very thin and they mostly don't advertise for them (only "insiders" might know about them).

Having said all of that, Cathy's OR job at Princeton wasn't an "insider"; they advertised for it a little while ago (Dec or Jan).

Qtp2t RN · Feb 17, 2009

BTW, AllAngelsRN was right about the new grad pay.