New Grad!

Peppermint_RN · Aug 19, 2013

Just keep applying and try to stay positive! I graduated in May, licensed in June, and put in well over 150 applications and/or resumes within a 60 mile radius of my house. Finally received a job offer and start next month.

Are you keeping your options open? Like looking into LTC/Nursing homes? Google "medical" and send your resume or call every facility listed and ask if they have any openings.

Check hospital job sections daily. You want to be first to apply to the position when it opens. Make sure to reformat your resume and cover letters to fit the job position and what they're looking for.

Call the nurse recruiters at the hospitals you applied at (call HR and ask to speak to a recruiter). They'll direct you to what you might be eligible to apply for or may even give you info on job fairs they'll be having soon.

Check you state jobs section and the local VA hospitals. This is where I lucked out, finding a state nursing job.

Check careerbuilder.com and indeed . comment daily. Some jobs are listed on these sites and no others. I've had a few nursing school buddies find jobs through these sites.

Go in person and hand your resumes in. Get your name out there. You never know if they might be looking for someone and here you walk in, an answer to their prayers!

Good luck!

XcrMat · Aug 21, 2013

I'm pretty much in the same boat. It helps if you're willing to travel... Hopefully things turn around with the economy in the next several years and new nurses will see improved job prospects :)

SoCalGalRN · Aug 27, 2013

It took me 7 months to get a job on a med surg floor and I was about to get desperate and start applying to SNFs. I've been here a little over a year and I'm very ready to move on to something bigger and better.

Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN · Aug 30, 2013

Congrats on the graduation!

Stay positive... it will happen.

Maddie190 · Sep 1, 2013

I'm discouraged as well! Graduated in May, licensed in July as RN, started a job- but was sabotaged by LPNs at facility, almost to the point of losing my license for things I didn't even do! Resigned and now looking for another job. In NE there are more openings for LPNs than RNs. It seems like to get hired as an RN you have to have experience, well how can you get experience when no one will hire you? There all kinds of LPN positions open, because no one wants to pay RN wages. As an RN can you request LPN wages just so you can get a job? Oh, and at some of the bigger hospitals in NE if you're overweight they won't even interview you- trying to shed the pounds- maybe I'll get hired. In nursing school we were told you won't have any problems finding a job, well that is SOOO not true.

Maddie190 · Sep 1, 2013

How long did it take to get hired through the VA? I've heard sometimes it can take up to 1 to 2 years.

stcabr · Sep 3, 2013

Follow up with HR to reiterate your interest about the positions you applied for. Sometimes they will tell you not to follow up by phone...then send a letter or email. I graduated with my assoc. in may passed the boards in July and applied to numerous positions...finally recieved an invitation to a open interview at a major local hospital about an 1hr away. Went to the interview...followed up with HR and the manager on the unit the next week and received a call that same day offering me a part-time position in their transplant unit. I start next week. So my advice is...don't get discourage...keep track of where u apply and call to follow up on that application within a week or 2. It will happen. Good Luck!!!