New RN's...do you have a job ?

pat8585 · May 21, 2011

Thanks to everyone for replying. Good luck to all!

astroboyRN · May 22, 2011

Sometimes it is who you know and who can vouch you. Gone are the days when they would give nurses sign in bonuses. I graduated in October 2010, took the NCLEX and got my license in April and submitted close to 50 applications online. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the RN New Grad Program this Fall 2011. I will take whichever offers me a job!

RNyellow · May 22, 2011

~Mi Vida Loca~RN

Where is Northern Colorado did you get the job?

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · May 22, 2011

~Mi Vida Loca~RN
Where is Northern Colorado did you get the job?

I didn't get the job yet, just got an interview. Hopefully I get the job though. If I don't get the first one I interview for I am being set up with a few more interviews.

I don't want to but the name of the hospital on here though.

CorazonDeOro · May 25, 2011

I have a job lined up on the unit I have worked at for the past year as an NA and Nurse Extern. I have to remain an Extern until I get my license (NCLEX in 3 weeks!). I am very lucky but I also put in the time at a hospital while many of my classmates did not work in healthcare before graduating. It certainly helps.

craziechiq, BSN, RN · May 25, 2011

SoCal here, I worked as a NA for over a year at a hospital and did not receive an interview. I agree with the post that it is a gamble.

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · May 25, 2011

Should we believe that healthcare is booming?

Not if you spend any amount of time on allnurses!

I graduated and was licensed in September, 3 interviews after over 150 applications (I gave up counting at 150 because it was demoralizing, and this was about the halfway point for me), job offer in December and started work in January.

CoffeePlease · May 26, 2011

I love the posts that talk about how people actually got jobs. It's so good to hear that people are actually getting hired. I have passed my NCLEX but have not received my license yet, so, I'm not applying yet.

Here's what I plan on doing:

1. Stay positive.

2. Be flexible. Take a job that is offered. Be willing to work any shift or drive long distances. Or take any salary.

3. Have a great resume. (mostly what I'm working on now)

4. Practice interview skills.

5. Get a very conservative interview outfit.

6. Continue to network.

thatguyindenver · May 26, 2011

yeah me too. After 200 apps though it is hard to stay positive. I am giving it till around next summer. If nothing has happened then I am finding a good job doing something else. Or I will go in the Navy as a nurse(wich I really don't want to do. The interview stuff is a good idea. The only problem is that its so hard to get an interview. I am in Denver. There are something like 10 nursing schools here. Your resume never gets to the hiring manager sometimes. The nurse recruiters only send the ones they want to. I had an ER manager that said she might hire me. A friend told her about me. I applied. My resume never made it to her because the nurse recruiter didn't think they should hire anymore new grads. I tried to get it to her directly but then she never called me back. Maybe you will have a different experience. Good luck.

RNyellow · May 26, 2011

I did a very daring thing...after I graduated I moved to Colorado (where I knew no one) from Arizona, where I did my schooling. I got married right after I took the NCLEX and my now husband lived in Colorado so now I am here! I knew the job market was tough but I tried to find any connections that I could. One of my dad's best friend's cousin's wife (its a mouth full) worked at a hospital in Northern colorado which is where I am living. I talked to her and she gave me some great contacts but there were no openings. I applied and applied for 3 months after I moved here and yes it was discouraging.

I decided to expand my search a little and look farther away. I called a Nurse recruiter at a hospital and she was super nice. I was really persistant with her calling and emailing her (not annoying though, I know it can be a fine line). She finally gave me a pre-screen interview and told me that she would talk to the Med/Tele directors and see if they need anyone. I called back in 2 days to see if she had any news and she did give them my information and were reviewing it. I crossed my fingers and said lots of prayers!

They called the next day to set up an interview! I went in with a portfolio of my resume, clinical evaluations, letter of recommendation, and gave it to them. I feel that if you make a connection with them, it really helps. I left feeling confident and worried at the same time because who knows who else they were looking at. About an hour later, the nurse recruiter called me and offered me the job!!!!

So if you are still looking, be persistant and prepared. I had many of my friends just go to the hospital and asked to speak to the nurse manager and got jobs just from that! Human Resources are a hurdle you have to get over or just go around it haha.

I thought finding a job would never happen at some point but right after I accepted the job, I got a call for an interview for a different job. So the jobs are out there you just have to make yourself stand out!

Leonardo Del Toro, RN · Jun 3, 2011

I believe if you want something bad enough, you'll go after it relentlessly.

I like that word: relentlessly. It seams that is the only way to go right now...as another post suggested, there are no hand outs out there, pardon there are as many as there are people winning the lotto

sbostonRN · Jun 4, 2011

I was just offered my first RN job yesterday at a local nursing center/rehab. I'll be working on a subacute rehab floor. It's not the hospital job I was initially seeking but I know I'll learn a lot and I"m really excited to start! And they will hire me as a new grad without my license and let me work as a CNA until I pass my NCLEX :)