New graduate jobs in the Las Vegas or Reno area?

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Hey fellow nurses.

I have graduated from nursing school, May of last year. So far, I have no acute care nursing jobs. It's very hard to find acute care nursing jobs here in Hawaii.

I feel really depressed right now because I have been working as a hospital CNA for a little over a year, applied to my hospital's new graduate RN program, but did not get accepted. It's pretty much a "popularity contest" of which nurse aides get admitted to the program at my hospital.

Hence, I went ahead and applied for an RN endorsement license to Nevada. I finally got my permanent Nevada RN license posted on the Nevada State Board of Nursing website, last week.

I don't know which hospitals accept new graduate nurses.

Could somebody here please list some hospitals in either the Las Vegas or Reno area that may be an option for me?

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My facility is doing their new grad program right now but it might be too late to apply. Not sure because i still see the postings. Hca which is mountain view, sunrise and southern hills. Umc does a new grad program too but I haven't seen any postings recently. St rose hospitals has a really good new grad program but it's very competitive. Theses are all in vegas. I'm not really sure about Reno.

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Hi JobSeekerRN!

I lived in both Reno and Vegas. I grew up in Reno, then moved to Vegas for nursing school. Graduated with a BSN there, and began my job search in both cities. I would recommend you focus on Vegas, and here is why. In northern NV, there are only 4 major hospitals with a handful of new grad openings in acute care each year: Renown, St. Mary's, Northern Nevada, and Carson Tahoe. It's a very small, highly competitive net. The northern Nevada region has four large nursing schools, plus online programs and the like. Yikes! The job hunt advantage goes to local new grads that are already familiar with the hospitals, either through clinical rotations or previous employment. If you go down to Vegas, the numbers game is A LOT more forgiving. The ratio of new grads to hospitals is better. If I remember correctly, Sunrise, Summerlin, UMC, St. Rose, Valley, Desert Springs, Mountain View, or Centennial Hills hired new grads. I haven't lived in Vegas for years, so things might have changed. But anyway, in the end, I found my first nursing job in Vegas. Also, one thing to consider before moving from Hawaii is to work in rehab/LTC for a year. You can still stay in Hawaii, and have an infinitely better shot at those new grad positions. You'd definitely stand out with prior CNA and non-acute nursing experience under your belt. It may take longer, but if you love where you currently live, give it a shot. My best friend and I started out in rehab/LTC, then moved on to medsurg. IMO, Rehab/LTC was a valuable and enjoyable learning experience. And, the hunt for acute-care jobs was so much easier after that! Best of luck to you! :)

-HapiCatRN

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I am from Hawaii, but graduated & started working Las Vegas. So I'm familiar with Hawaii's tough job market, but know more about Las Vegas nursing. I would highly recommend making the move to LV to gain experience. It is too crazy here in Hawaii. There are a lot more hospitals in Las Vegas, therefore more jobs and more new grad programs. The job search does take a lot of patience, as it does everywhere else, but you won't be looking for much longer. The Valley Health Systems in Las Vegas hire with no experience, St. Rose has the best new grad program. They put out apps every 2 months. So be on the lookout, it's only available for a week, in the beginning of the month.The hospitals mentioned about all still offer new grad programs. Keep checking for their postings everyday. I know those hospitals also hire without experience, as I have multiple classmates hired into them. Getting experience in Las Vegas was the best decision I ever made. My only regret is moving home too soon. Good luck! Let me know if you have any further questions.

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My facility is doing their new grad program right now but it might be too late to apply. Not sure because i still see the postings. Hca which is mountain view, sunrise and southern hills. Umc does a new grad program too but I haven't seen any postings recently. St rose hospitals has a really good new grad program but it's very competitive. Theses are all in vegas. I'm not really sure about Reno.

Hey momof3lv, thanks for the information. Now I'm not too familiar with the acronyms of the hospital....so what is HCA? UMC? Let me know, thanks!

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Hi JobSeekerRN!

If you go down to Vegas, the numbers game is A LOT more forgiving. The ratio of new grads to hospitals is better. If I remember correctly, Sunrise, Summerlin, UMC, St. Rose, Valley, Desert Springs, Mountain View, or Centennial Hills hired new grads. I haven't lived in Vegas for years, so things might have changed. But anyway, in the end, I found my first nursing job in Vegas.

^^ Awesome! I will definitely check out these facilities. However, the scary part, like you've pointed out, is that nursing students from the Vegas area, have better advantage than me, as they've done their clinical rotations or senior year preceptorships at these facilities. NEvertheless, it doesn't hurt me to try applying for positions.

Also, one thing to consider before moving from Hawaii is to work in rehab/LTC for a year. You can still stay in Hawaii, and have an infinitely better shot at those new grad positions. You'd definitely stand out with prior CNA and non-acute nursing experience under your belt.

As of now, my second "side" job is working as a school nurse, with an agency, where I do a lot of tube feeding, insulin injection, tracheostomy suctioning, and using basic nursing assessment skills.

I have had NO luck with the various new graduate nursing programs at all hospitals here in HI.

I cannot do LTC nursing here in Hawaii, because since it's super scarce to find new graduate jobs here, LTC and assisted living facilities require nurses to have experience as well.

Heck, even the school nursing job with the agency I'm working with, was hard to get employed with. Had it not been for another CNA at my hospital whom used to work for the nursing agency, I would not have gotten the job.

the hunt for acute-care jobs was so much easier after that! Best of luck to you! :)

-HapiCatRN

^^ THANKS!!! :)

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I am from Hawaii, but graduated & started working Las Vegas. So I'm familiar with Hawaii's tough job market, but know more about Las Vegas nursing. I would highly recommend making the move to LV to gain experience. It is too crazy here in Hawaii.

^^ Yes, it's really crazy finding an acute care job in Hawaii, let alone, get admitted to a new graduate nursing program with a hospital. I feel like garbage, as I know a lot of fellow CNA's at my facility either found an acute care nursing job, got admitted to a new graduate RN program, or heard word about new graduate positions elsewhere on neighbor island.

I would definitely make the move to Las Vegas,....given the fact that I'm offered a job.

I am not like former nursing school classmates who simply left Hawaii to live in California or elsewhere to find a job. I definitely want to have something in writing stating that I will be offered the RN job at the facility.

While I enjoy working at the current facility I am employed at, I feel that at times, I'm disrespected and ignored by other CNA's and RN's because I'm simply a CNA. It sucks. It eats away at my soul.

I even had cut-throat CNA's with RN licenses here write me up to HR for small issues, just so that my chances of getting into the facility's new graduate RN program does downhill.

There are a lot more hospitals in Las Vegas, therefore more jobs and more new grad programs. The job search does take a lot of patience, as it does everywhere else, but you won't be looking for much longer.

I hope so, because I will be honest, that I have applied to RN residency programs in the Seattle area, Los Angeles area, and even the US Air Force, where they all turned me down. I'm feeling really depressed and uncertain about my future right now.

I have family members here in Hawaii, which is keeping me anchored here.

I can definitely move as I have broken up with my girlfriend five months ago, so I'm single guy, and don't have any kids. I think my chances of finding a decent girl will be better if I leave the island! :D

The Valley Health Systems in Las Vegas hire with no experience, St. Rose has the best new grad program. They put out apps every 2 months. So be on the lookout, it's only available for a week, in the beginning of the month.The hospitals mentioned about all still offer new grad programs.

Will do!

Also check your PM.

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Aww I hear ya. Im also considered a new grad as I graduated from the Philippines back in 2012. Right now I am working as a Psychiatric assistant at one of the big hospitals here and I feel the same way. I too, have been trying to apply to new grad postings within the hospital but have had no luck. I have recently also been applying to postings on the mainland for new grad operating room as it is where I really want to be. It does get really depressing not being able to work as an RN here. Please keep me posted if you find some new grad openings. Lets just keep trying. 🙂

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