No jobs in florida for new grads

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Hello everyone. I am getting increasingly frustrated because I have been looking for a graduate nurse position since October. I graduated in December and passed the NCLEX last week. I have been on two interviews with no luck. I feel like the interviews go amazing but then I hear that it has been filled with someone else. I work for a hospital for 4 years and I thought that would give me a toe in the door. Florida hospital does not have anything on their website for GN's and Orlando Health has one. When I called about it they said that they have someone for the position and they are just waiting for them to apply. This is ridiculous. Why did I go to nursing school to have such a problem with finding a job? I am starting to look into nursing homes which is a complete 360 on the area I would really like to work which is postpartum. I haven spoken to all the managers of floors for the hospital I currently work for and my manager said they arent taking any new GN's in the pool. What am I suppose to do??

And does anyone know the starting salary in the orlando area for GN's??

Thanks for letting me vent.....

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there arent any jobs for new grads in connecticut either....

If there is please let me know...

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Bump for more responses...

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Specializes in Home Care.

Starting salary in Tampa Bay is around $22 an hour for new grads, if you can find a job. I imagine the Orlando area pays similar.

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At this point I would not assume you will get into a specialty that you want. You want advise? Take anything for now, get your foot in the door, and then you can move to the floor that you really want to be on.

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I live in Miami and I am in the same situation, I graduated in Dec, pass nclex last week and haven't found anything. They request experience everywhere I try to apply, it's very frustrating!!!

Does any one know about a RN residency program I can apply?

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You are just starting really to search. I know people I graduated with in August still have not even had an interview. I went on three, got two offers, one almost two months later (because I followed up with the nurse manager I interviewed with). I know Florida Hospital has GN programs (I think some just started), but I am not too sure as to when. I know there was one in October open, so just keep your eyes out.

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Thanks for the replies everyone. I am definately going to keep looking. I guess I will have to just apply like crazy everywhere and continue to bother the nurse managers and just take whatever.

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Specializes in NICU,MB,Lact.Consultant, L/D.

Are you willing to commute outside of Orlando? You may want to check Davenport- Heart of Florida Hospital, Winter Haven - Winter Haven Hospital and Lakeland - Lakeland Regional Medical Center. All have websites showing openings...they do not say new grad wanted, but nor do they say no new grads....

FLOBRN

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Also....last heard that the VA is hiring. They have a large hospital in Gainesville.

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Specializes in ER/Transport.

Although it's not your desired start, specialties like OB, ER, ICU, usually need a base of Med-Surg experience. Although not for sure, most hospitals will hire new grads into a general med-surg floor. Once there, make some friends on the unit that you want. You can even often times take courses offered to specialty RN's even if your not "required" to by the med surg floor. For example - a great course would be NRP, for most OB units it's required, but you could take it as an elective, meet some faces and get your foot in the door. Then, once you have some experience, you will have a leg up because you will already have some coursework under your belt.

Believe it or not, hospitals that have to "train the green out of you" actually spend alot of money to do so...so just keep at it. Try to make yourself look so good, that it would hard for them to turn you down...

Best of luck to you.

~NJEDRN

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I am finding the same situation in the Sarasota area. I have put in resumes to the major hospitals and a few rehabs, and contacted a hospital inquiring about their new grad program. I have not heard from anyone of the places..not even a automated response. I am getting discouraged and want to start practicing.....:confused:..

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