I got the job!!!! Two in fact!

[itsnowornever]

YES!!!!!!! So last week I was hired by a CCT company as a transport nurse. This job was SUPER part time with few RN runs and mostly on call waiting for them to need you. So part time that I haven't even had a chance for an orientation run yet! BUT I got that job because of my military background. They were asking 2 years experience in ICU, but he said "With military experience I know you wont panic and can handle a situation"...so WOOOOT! Got that job!

Last week I got a call for an L&D job and I TOTALLY flubbed the phone interview! I didn't expect her to ask questions on the phone and when I was asked about my experience I said, "Well, I have 8 years military experience and I have two kids, so I have L&D experience"... :/ really? My husband was sitting right next to me and gave me the oddest look and I was thinking "OMG! Did I just say that?!?!?!?" Then she asked, "Why do you want to work L&D" and I again totally messed up and said "Because its a happy place in the hospital"...WTH??!?!?!? I am NOT that dumb! Anyway, she took a chance and asked for an in person interview and that was this morning! I rocked it that time! LOL! I was so caught off guard over the phone that I was literally dumb founded! Again, during the interview she said that my military experience is what drew her attention on my resume! (I guess those 8 years really did do something to help me!)

I am so excited!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am in the club! FINALLY! LOL!

Those that are still looking? It's out there! Apply to EVERYTHING! I graduated August 23, 2012. I took NCLEX Sept 5, 2012. I got my license number Sept 20, 2012. I got my first job October 2nd 2012 and my second job October 8th 2012; in the time between Sept 20-Oct 2nd I had put in over 300 applications. Just over one month and I am well employed! I am in a VERY large Metro area. The jobs are there! APPLY! Do SOMETHING to stand out. On top of school, I have volunteered at my kids elementary school for nearly 2 years as a nutrition and exercise counselor (I talk about hand washing, covering your mouth, eating right and I play sports with the classes that I teach!), I coached soccer for two years, and I just instituted a first aid team for the local soccer club staffed with volunteers from my school. You just have to find SOMETHING to put on your resume that makes you stick out and be special! Get all the certifications you can.

The jobs are out there! You have to be willing to sweat blood to get them though. You have to be willing to sit there and apply to MANY jobs. Don't think you are qualified? Oh well, apply anyway. What are they gonna do? Tell you no? Who cares! There will be many other applications to follow! You can get the jobs! They are out there! Do NOT limit yourself to new grad positions only. You and 2000 other people are striving for that one spot! I landed a job in one of my top three dream jobs! Its OUT THERE! You can do it! AND they are gonna piggy back me with their new grads too! It's not like I wont get a good orientation and education! It's out there! You can do it!

[itsnowornever, BSN, RN]

So, I have to chime in...

First, congrats on getting the jobs!

But I'm wondering about the CCT transport job... If CCT means Critical Care Transport then, unless you've been a paramedic for several years, you are severely underqualified and likely unsafe to take on that role. The reason the job listing had 2 years ICU experience as a requirement was that as a CCT tranporter you'll be transporting critically ill patients. That means they can be on pressors, ventilators, and might require advanced life support resuscitation.

We recently used a CCT ambulance to transport a patient (per family request) from our community ICU to a large hospital on the other side of town. The patient was on a vent, no less than 7 drips, and was in multi-organ system failure. We had the family sign the MOD with a notice saying that he might die during transport. I can't think of any new grad who would be qualified to handle that safely. Heck, I was just hoping that the paramedic really knew what he was doing.

If CCT means something else, you might be okay, with a lot of training nonetheless. I just wanted to make sure you know what you might be getting yourself into- putting your license on the line.

Our CCT is by no means that serious. If they aren't stable, we dont transport. If they are on a ventilator, we have RT that transports with us. Arterial lines? Wont transport. I know exactly what I am getting into and took a run to see what it was about before accepting the job. Thank you for your concern, but I do believe that (a) having the ability to remain calm in a situation is important and (b) that new grads are completely capable of being trained to understand what they are doing. There are several nurses with years of experience doing this job who are willing to go with me on the more serious runs (because even if you ARE experienced I do believe that having a critical patient may require more than an EMT and an RN). Thanks again for your concern.

[LearningByMistakes]

No offense, but then you're not doing CCT, you're simply doing IFT (i.e. won't transport unles stable, no vent, no arterial lines). And, as you've been told more then once, you do NOT have enough experience to do CCT. New Grads are NOT capable of being trained to do CCT. It appears that you don't have enough experience to UNDRESTAND that you do NOT have enough experience.

And, what exactly IS this military experience, that keeps making you so qualified as a new grad?

[MaumauMom]

Congrats on earning your jobs... I'm glad to see a veteran succeed and thanks for your service!

[kvalentine]

I didn't give up. Now I'm starting orientation on a Med-Surg floor.

[Alum08]

Thanks. I am right around 300 applications in Dallas. Thanks for the encouragement.