New rn desperate for advice!!!! =(

[CaliToHawaiiRN]

Hi guys! I am a new grad and just got my RN license this week in the mail, so recently I've been been applying around Oahu. I'm desperately in need of a job in any hospital. Just want to get my foot in the door at least, but it seems like even though I apply for a lower level position, no hospitals are calling me back. From reading all these threads/posts about how hard it is to find a job in Hawaii, I am getting really depressed. I really want to be in Hawaii, but I just need some help getting any kind of job in a hospital until a new grad position opens up. I made this huge transition to Hawaii from Cali knowing what I was getting into in terms of living expenses, which is why I decided to rent a room for really cheap from a friend of a friend until I get my feet on the ground, but I can't make this move work in Oahu without a regular job. I was even thinking about being a waitress for a little bit just to have some cash while I look for a hospital position. Any advice? I really need some help. All these years and money spent getting my BSN and now I have my RN license, but no jobs are available.

Which hospitals are the hardest to get into and which ones would I have a better chance at getting any kind of position as soon as possible because I need to get a job already that even somewhat related to working in the medical field. How about doctor's offices? Will that count as experience if I get a job at a doctor's office? What should I do AND what should I avoid. If anyone can help me out, I would really appreciate it.

[ticked]

Try Nurse Finders, they're an agency that places nurses; also Altres places nurses those are two agencies that I can think of off hand that hire nurses . As far as hospitals go: Straub, Kaiser, Queens Med. Ctr, Kapiolani Womens Med Ctr, St. Frances. Then down the chain to Nursing Homes - there's plenty of them, start with Nurse Finders and Altres to get started.

Good luck to you. We need good nurses in the community and I sincerely hope that you can get going with your new job. Hope this helps!

[Ceteris Paribus]

Well take this advice for what it is worth from someone who takes pride in being viewed as an over the top "psycho": Here's what I would do:

1. Monitor www.indeed.com daily. Use the advanced search feature to list only jobs posted in the last several weeks. They list virtually EVERY job from all websites. Try to be the FIRST to apply. Also I would apply even to the ones that I was SLIGHTLY underqualified for (those say asking for a year of experience).

2. I would actually start VISITING the nurse managers on a regular basis at the hospitals/units where I was interested in working. Ask them to consider you in the future even if they do not have anything currently available. Tell them (if you are) that you are willing to work any shift and EVERY holiday. If you can become more than a NAME then you will have something of an edge. I've heard of people who wanted to work in certain difficult areas (to get jobs) like labor and delivery who utilized this approach. Also it might be useful to get business cards to leave in lieu of or in addition to a resume. During nursing school I was successful in getting an L&D interview for a classmate just by walking in and asking the manager during clinical downtime. Often people will respond positively by polite "in your face" audacity. Unfortunately, some of the time the response will be negative so you have to be ready to roll with rejection and take it in stride.

3. Take the waitress job or whatever, but as hard as it will be MAKE yourself use every available free hour looking for nursing work. If you could find a second or third shift job all the better since it would leave more time during the days (when managers are in) to look for employment. If you cannot find an RN job right now consider taking an aide/Tech job. At least this will give you SOME relevent experience and more importantly people (other nurses and managers) will get to KNOW you!