New Graduate Job Search

PCnurse88 · Jul 28, 2015

St. Francis, Hartford Hospital, and Stamford Hospital all do a new grad residency type of program. I know all 3 post the residency in March, not sure if they do it several times a year (some do, some don't). I know Danbury is on a new grad hiring spree at the moment. Backus, Lawrence & Memorial, and Middlesex also have new grad programs. I'm told it's rather difficult to get into Hartford Healthcare at the moment but that if you do get in, it's a great place to work. I would start applying once you pass the NCLEX. To my knowledge none of these hospitals hire GNs anymore, but I can't say that for sure. Be persistent but not pushy with your applications.

Best of luck!

SwampCat, BSN · Jul 29, 2015

As a new grad with acute care experience, rocking GPA, and stellar references, I have have only received "Thanks, but no thanks" from the 33 positions I have applied for since late May. This does not include the 20+ I applied for when UConn was telling us to start applying which was the before the midpoint of our final semester. The vast majority of my applications were/are at L&M, Hartford Hospital, IOL, Backus, and UCHC. And I'm talking I have put in for everything I am qualified for, not just one specialty. Everyone is beginning to require 2+ years of experience. The residency programs are fierce and you basically have to have an insider pulling for you. I know of only a small handful of people in my graduating class that were able to get in any residency programs and most who did had done their capstone at that site. I would suggest staying down in the SW corner of the state as I have been seeing more job postings down there. HH is gobbling up a ton of small hospitals followed by massive layoffs. The hospital I worked for before I became licensed was bought out by HH 2 years ago. There are now 120+ jobs being cut and they are closing the critical care unit and another floor has been closed. Only ED, One day, L&D (which the main group has left and now will only be staffed by laborists) and a 30-bed floor will be open. More layoffs means more nurses with years of experience taking the jobs that new grads may have been decent candidates for.

What is bringing you to CT? The job market is terrible here, it is constantly ranked as one of the worst states to live in financially. Just a quick comparison of NC and CT shows that housing is 65% more here.

The fact is the job market is saturated here. There are 8 universities churning out BSN's, 8 with ADN's, and then the one diploma. We are a tiny state and can't employ all these new grads. It makes financial sense to hire only those with experience.

/rant

Sorry for being a Debbie Downer.

I'd start applying now.

turtlesRcool · Jul 29, 2015

Given your December graduation date, Stamford's grad program might work really well for you. It has grad openings 3 times per year - Feb, May, and August. Usually the application deadline is a month or two earlier. I think the Feb deadline is October or November, so keep a lookout for that. Bonus - it's one of the highest paying hospitals in CT. Competition, however, is really fierce.

I graduated in December, and had classmates get jobs by February at St. Francis, Hartford Hospital, and Yale New Haven. I think most of them were applying in December and January. I don't think they were specifically for grad residencies. So just apply for anything that doesn't state experience required. You say you want to apply ASAP, but I'm not sure how far you'll get applying for jobs six months before you'll sit the NCLEX; any jobs posted right now will be filled by then. It probably makes more sense to wait a few months and apply for an opening you could realistically fill.

No advice on how to get your foot in the door without being here. The students who had jobs before graduation were ones who worked as techs/aides, and got hired into their departments. Do you know anyone up here who might be able to put in a good word for you? To be honest, we had no clinicals at St. Francis, Hartford, or YNH, and people still got hired, so I'm not sure how much was networking and how much was just having strong recommendations and graduating from a good program. Does your school in NC have a strong national reputation? That might make a difference.

PediatricRN73 · Jul 30, 2015

Just from what my former classmates have shared so far (we graduated in May 2015) , there are graduate programs at the smaller hospitals also, they just do not advertise the same way that the larger hospitals do. St. Marys Hospital and Charlotte Hungerford are two examples I know have already hired many of my classmates with and without previous hospital experience. They offer new graduate training courses and preceptorship for several months but it's not something they openly advertise most likely to cut down on the amount of applications they're receiving. Many former classmates are currently training in med surg and ICU floors. I know one of the hospitals hired 10 graduate nurses at once including ADNs and BSNs before they even passed their boards. I would also suggest applying for Midstate medical center or The hospital of central CT. Many of these smaller hospitals are only saying 'Previous experience preferred'. BSN is becoming required at many hospitals so that's a plus you will have your BSN. With the proper resume and references, you should be able to land a position, but again, I'm going by what I've seen first hand with my own classmates. It would help to start calling the hospitals two months prior to graduating and see if/when they plan to hire new graduates throughout the year and what they are looking for. Starting at a smaller less competitive hospital can be a good experience as a new grad and resume builder to move up to one of the bigger hospitals.

yoganurse22 · Jul 30, 2015

Thank you all for such thorough responses! I understand that idea about working at a smaller hospital first. I will definitely apply to as many as I can. I have always been eager to make moves regarding schooling and a career so I am just trying to plan out all the places I can apply before the time comes. I am also networking as best as I can because I know that could be the answer I'm looking for. Thank you so much you all have been extremely helpful!

WCSU1987 · Aug 4, 2015

Avoid New England if looking for a part time or full time work. Your best bet be Bristol Hospital, ECHN, Gaylord, Waterbury, St. Mary's, and possibly St. Francis/Sharon/Middlesex. Hartford Hospital and network is in midst of budget crisis so not sure if on a freeze. The state is on a hiring freeze, but corrections has openings for nurse's. L&M is soon to be a YNHN hospital. WCHN has a good residency program.

BreakRoom011 · Aug 9, 2015

It's way to early to start applying now. You should start 2 months before graduation or December for those who hire new grads for February.

Milford hospital is a nice small community hospital

The YNHH system may be harder to get into but anything is possible when applying í ½í¸‰ those hospitals include

-Bridgeport hospital

-greenwhich hospital

-Yale New Haven

-st Raphael

-soon L&M

I know my friend got hired at St Vincents Medical Center as a new grad and she said they have a 3 months orientation and weekly classes for new grads. She says they hire new grads in waves in February, August, October

Stamford hospital does the same by hiring new grads in feb, aug, October in their 3 month new grad program as well

SarahMaria, MSN, RN · Aug 11, 2015

Middlesex Hospital also has a residency program

yoganurse22 · Sep 11, 2015

When it comes to applying to places without residency programs, has anybody applied before sitting the NCLEX? Few openings leave out the requirement of having a current CT license when applying. Just wondering if any hospitals will review applications of future new grads or if I have to wait until after graduation and the NCLEX to apply to those types of positions. Thanks :)

WCSU1987 · Sep 12, 2015

If you have a BSN it's your golden ticket in. I mean I am a Tech worked at a good number of hospital's and some.of the big ones in the state. Working closely with recruiting did help a few people I know who.we're nurse's get a few job's. However, they were lucky they weren't full time gigs they were part time. It's a game of who you know and what are you willing to do.

The hospital has about 20 to 21 hospital's. Most of them are BSN so like I said you have a ticket to the show. At least should be able to.get you an interview.

Out of the hospital's Yale 's difficult to get into they have new grad program can go for it. However, willing to.travel and want to be in Yale go to their sister hospital's. Greenwich and Bridgeport they are actively seeking BSN nurse's then bam your part of Yale do a year can move over or find you love it.

Hartford is in the midst of financial stress I think they kind of fixed the leak. However, Hartford and it subsidiaries, Backus/Central/Rushford so forth, there difficult to find work normally have to go through a new grad program to get in.

Same with Danbury it's a hit or miss they have a new grad program at time's as well. Like I said I helped a few nurse's find work their. Look into.taking per diem job they love taking people from within. They do take ADN/ASN. I know they are in midst of expanding clinic's so may have a shot there. Also they partnered with Norwalk hospital so it's a 3 for 1 deal when you search their website. Nice hospital going places really growing. I figure near future they will be BSN.

Sharon small only profit hospital in the state. Worth a shot don't know too much about them.

Charlotte Hungerford I think it's a nice hospital. They expanded their mental.health service's which is great the area needs it. Your best shot is per diem with them. They are a tight knit group really only hire from within.

Bristol Hospital is going through a huge makeover I think to help with funding and seeing the change in the state they are going Magnet. So they are in the process of filling their ranks.

Middlesex love the hospital small community hospital. I heard rumors they want to change where their located, but only rumors. They as well are a magnet hospital. Very involved in the community they have an amazing Hospice/Palliative care service.

Lawrence and Memorial be interesting to watch. They bought out a hospital in Rhode Island few year's after that they are now being acquired by Yale. So it's up in the air how their hiring will be. I figure they will only be looking for staff if need be until thing's get squared away with Yale.

Waterbury decent hospital in midst of a financial crisis. They do however, look for float nurse's so willing to float floor to floor no set schedule go ahead. They are currently a ADN hospital...with their future and if they become profit who knows.

St Mary's don't know too much about them they have a Subway sandwich shop there ha! Again they are difficult to get into it's more who you know better shot being per diem.

St. Vincent's is a Catholic hospital like St. Mary's like St. Francis. I heard nurse's get paid decent their everyone else not so much. They just switched over to BSN/Magnet status.

St. Francis probably my favorite Catholic hospital in the state. Not sure the requirements for nurse's , but give them a shot they are an awesome awesome awesome hospital.

Don't know too much about ECHN a small community network think of one or two hospital's.

Day Kimball in Putnam stood alone, but think they were just bought out by Hartford Healthcare.

Heard great thing's don't know too much is Hospital of Special Care. Heard pay benefits are amazing. They do have an amazing Neuro psych unit there top notch!!! Not sure I think ADN/ASN can be hired.

Gaylord Hospital is a rehab hospital very famous rehab hospital. Again it's more who you know and what shifts willing to take there. They are a ADN/ASN hospital...Think they prefer BSNs.

Don't know too much about Stamford not sure of their requirements. I figure they will if they haven't go the BSN route because they are affiliated with New York Presbyterian. They redid their Cath lab over if something that interest you. Again not sure about their hiring status.

Their is also UCONN Health I assume they are BSN they never specify interested in Corrections. Heard mixed reviews from nurse's, but it's the state what you expect. Also state is making cuts so funding and job who knows the stability. DMHAS is on a big push for Forensic Nurse's.

Outside of hospital's not to familiar with nursing home's. Know a few in Litchfield county Candlewood Valley nursing home isn't bad use to go in there a lot. Bechtel has a great nursing rehab unit. There is the Hospice of CT...nurse's love it really good team I heard.

They are in the midst of making a huge new hospice in the New Milford area.

Best of luck pretty much every hospital in the state by 2020 will require nurses to have their BSN seems the way things are going so your ahead of the game with your BSN.