New grads out there having a difficult time of finding your 1st jobs??

[nina9]

Hi,

Is there any of you out there who is affected by the current hiring freeze out there? What are you doing to make your resume and your self stand out. Unfortunately i have not had any hospital work experience as a tech or such during school, and i kinda waited too long to start applying (never knew this would be coming). I waited till i took my NCLEX.

I read about taking certification classes, could any one enlighten me how i could go about that. What kind of certifications do i need to do as a new grad. I was planning to start out in Telemetry but right now i am willing to start out anywhere, as long as its somewhere i could put some experience under my belt. Any one who has an advice for me, please feel free to drop a line. Thanks a lot. And Good luck to my fellow new grads out there!!!

[ERRNinMI]

How long have you been a new grad?

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

I graduated in May 2008. I have with no prior healthcare experience, and my state doesn't have "Graduate nurse" status, so I couldn't start looking until I passed the NCLEX. It took me 10 months to find my first RN job. I start next week.

My only advice is to apply to anything that sounds interesting, and be willing to relocate. My job is 250 miles away.

[SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN]

bcls? other types of certifications are hard to get if you do not work in acute care. in fact many require years of work experience before you can test for them. maybe you can get acls or a basic course in tele offered by your local hospital? btw, some places only allow you to take their acls course if you are working in a particular area or if you have taken their pre-courses. so call around to find out about availability. gl!

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Hey - if you are willing to relocate to Texas, Louisiana or Santa Fe, NM let me know. I can hook you up - via PM - with nurse recruiters at our facilities. We are hiring new grads.

[rockstarjk]

I'm in Canada, and we also have hiring freezes going on...I'm not sure how extensive the US' hiring freezes are but I know of a few hospitals in Ontario that have them. I know most of my classmates are getting jobs but in Ontario the government funds something called the New Graduate Guarantee where you are guaranteed a full-time position for 6 months. A lot of places will hire for the 6 months and then you go onto be part-time in that area or on the Nursing Resource Team...blah.

I am a new grad and I've bagged a job in Neonatal Intensive Care in British Columbia...HUGE move but they pay for my relocation and also for the required training.!

[nina9]

Thank you all for your input!!

almostanurse25, i graduated in May 08', took my NCLEX in January. rebzemek:- my husband likes his job here in Richmond, VA, so relocation will not be an option for me at the moment. Thanks a lot for your advice though.

The good news is i just got a call from this hospital like 10 minutes away from where i live, which would be ideal. I am having my interview for their surgical unit this Friday!! Wish me luck....:)

[nina9]

Not A HAT person- Good luck with your job. 250 miles away wow....that means you relocated, right? What unit are you starting out btw?

[Ivanna_Nurse, BSN, RN]

Thank you all for your input!!

almostanurse25, i graduated in May 08', took my NCLEX in January. rebzemek:- my husband likes his job here in Richmond, VA, so relocation will not be an option for me at the moment. Thanks a lot for your advice though.

The good news is i just got a call from this hospital like 10 minutes away from where i live, which would be ideal. I am having my interview for their surgical unit this Friday!! Wish me luck....:)

Best of Luck! Ivanna