New Graduate

[Juhn]

Good morning, good nurses!

I am writing this morning for a little direction. I recently graduated in May and interviewed here in Colorado for the nurse residency program with UC Health, but was not accepted. I know it is a competitive program, but I graduated with a Bachelor's degree and a 4.0 and passed the NCLEX on the first try and was a little surprised. That stated, I am now in the process of re-applying for the fall cohort but my wife is getting a little anxious about the job situation and is having me look into other avenues, which I am willing to do (Here Here to all those supportive spouses that helped us get through nursing school!). As I am looking at alternatives, all the RN positions I am coming across require previous experience, but as a new graduate I obviously do not have any and thus is my conundrum. Long story long, I guess my question is how do I get that first job with no experience?

Thank you in advance for any advice and direction

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

apply anyway! the worst that could happen is no interview. You will fail to get a job that you didn't apply for. And apply everywhere, even jobs that aren't in the hospital or your preference. Some experience looks better than none. And your GPA, employer generally don't care (some do, most don't). Depending on where you are, the market may be over saturated with RNs, especially new grads, would you be willing to move for that first job and experience?

People are finding out that due to oversaturation that RN/NP/CRNA does not guarantee a job in every market. Look to see what's available.

Good luck with the job hunt, and don't stress it too much. A great job is right around the corner!

[2Ask]

My first job was at a rural hospital. Apply at rural hospitals and commute. Stay for at least a year. I stayed 3 years and future jobs were very impressed with that- they like hiring someone who has a track record of staying in a job. Apparently it is rare.

[Juhn]

hoosier and 2ask,

Thanks for the advice! I am keeping my optimism elevated!

[beekee]

One of my nursing school instructors was quite vocal about the 4.0 GPA students. She repeatedly said if she was a patient, she’d rather have a nurse who was a B or C student than someone who had a 4.0. Apparently, it’s impossible to be caring and smart. ?

Just be aware that some do not see a 4.0 GPA as a positive. I wouldn’t mention it in an interview, but I’d probably list it on a resume. Be sure to emphasize that you are more than just “book smart.” Have examples of volunteer, job or clinical experiences that emphasize your ability to connect with patients, be a team player and provide excellent customer service.

[Juhn]

Beekee,

thanks! that makes a lot of sense.

[Nunya, BSN]

Is there a glut of nurses there? Years and years ago a friend worked there and she found it very difficult to get a job there (despite experience) and the pay was horrible. Why? Because it's such a great part of the country and lots of nurses want to live there.

[Rionoir, ADN, RN]

I've talked to people in hospital HR in my area and they basically told me there are 3 schools in the area they put on top of the pile, and the rest go to the bottom. Some schools are harder than others, so a B student from one of the preferred schools would have more of an advantage than an A student from a less stringent school. I'm not saying you went to a bad school, just throwing it out there that GPA isn't always your top selling point.

[dennis8, ADN, BSN, CNA, RN]

My suggestion is to apply to every nursing job you can find. Go to every interview you can get, and weight out your offers. Any experience is better than no experience while waiting out for that hard-to-land hospital job. It will look much better on your resume. I would not bet on grades alone. Also, do you feel that your interview went well? Try practicing in front of a friend or family member and see what they have to say. Sometimes we need an outside opinion to see where we can improve. You don't want to be without a job for too long. The longer you wait, the more and more "fresher" new grads who look more appealing to hire will be pumped out from the local nursing schools. Good luck, you got this

[TriciaJ, RN]

I seem to be harping on this a lot lately, but please check your written and oral communication skills. You mentioned your 4.0 GPA and also remarked "Here Here to supportive spouses". The expression is "Hear! Hear!" and is used to express enthusiastic agreement with something that has been said. You probably should have said something like "Hooray for supportive spouses."

Yes, I know you didn't use this on your resume, but please double check everything. Your 4.0 is a stellar accomplishment; don't let it be undermined by little things.

In a tough market, that first job can be a numbers game. Just keep applying and good luck!

[MiladyMalarkey, ASN, BSN]

Some hospitals in my area never advertise for new grads, but, they hire them on all floors. Apply anyway even if they ask for a year of experience.

[Luchador, CNA, EMT-B]

On 7/18/2019 at 8:36 AM, Juhn said:

Good morning, good nurses!

I am writing this morning for a little direction. I recently graduated in May and interviewed here in Colorado for the nurse residency program with UC Health, but was not accepted. I know it is a competitive program, but I graduated with a Bachelor's degree and a 4.0 and passed the NCLEX on the first try and was a little surprised. That stated, I am now in the process of re-applying for the fall cohort but my wife is getting a little anxious about the job situation and is having me look into other avenues, which I am willing to do (Here Here to all those supportive spouses that helped us get through nursing school!). As I am looking at alternatives, all the RN positions I am coming across require previous experience, but as a new graduate I obviously do not have any and thus is my conundrum. Long story long, I guess my question is how do I get that first job with no experience?

Thank you in advance for any advice and direction

One word: corrections