New Grad RN-NYC/NJ Job Search

[jncnurse]

Hello!

I'm a new graduate RN from NYC looking for a job in NY or central/north jersey and I just passed my NCLEX mid August. I have 2 years experience working 1-1 with a boy with severe cerebral palsy and 3 summers as an extern for NewYork Presbyterian. (I'm still waiting for an HR rep at my hospital that I know is going to find me a job. It's just that the commute is KILLER and I'm hoping for a different hospital)

I am not getting any calls back on the tons of applications I've sent out. I'm not saying my experience makes me the best new grad out there, but I was hoping it would at least get me an interview or a phone interview. I know so many students I graduated with working for the best hospitals that didn't do much to have a good resume. I'm wondering what I could be doing to better my chances. I have a few questions if anyone can give me some advice and answer these specifically.

1. Is it okay to ignore "Relevant Experience 1-2 years of RN experience in Med Surg/ *insert speciality unit* and apply anyway?

2. Thoughts on messaging recruiters on LinkedIn?

3. How long does it take to get a NJ license once you have your NY license?

4. Are cover letters absolutely necessary, how personal to the hospital and specific position should they be?

5. ANY advice for a new grad nurse. I'm looking to work at Morristown, RWJ, Children's Specialized, NYP lower manhattan, Staten Island University, Hackensack, or NYU. Am I missing any great ones?

Thank you anyone and everyone that can help.

[alexis_brickcity, BSN, RN]

Hi, I stumbled upon your post and I decided to answer you. Im a new grad as well and while I don't have an answer to all of your questions, I do have an answer to at least two of them. Btw, I live in NJ and I passed NCLEX the end of July and was offered 2 positions at the beginning of August.

Also, I do have some questions for you. Do you have a BSN or ADN? Are you applying for specific specialties or for everything?

First things first, Congratulations on passing NCLEX !

1. If a job posting is requiring experience then that's exactly what they are looking for, somebody with experience. And they mean nursing experience. That is not you, you're a new grad, you have no experience as a nurse. You need to be applying for jobs that do not require experience OR jobs that say experience PREFERRED.

2. I never did it just something that's impersonal and weird to me. It's like how do you even know if they are who they claim to be.

3. It took me two weeks to get my physical license but I got my license number the day after I took the NCLEX. But keep in mind I live here so the wait time may or may not be longer for you. Check the website and see , the answer to your question is probably on there.

4. I only attached my cover letter if they asked for it while I was doing the application. I have my own opinion about cover letters so there's that

5. My advice for a new grad from a new grad is to apply to hospitals that are new grad friendly. Some of the hospitals you named are "high in reputation" so they are harder to get into if you don't have GREAT experience . It sucks I know , I used to think "well how am I supposed to get experience if hospitals like you won't hire me". You should be applying to teaching hospitals, not only do they hire new grads by the ton but they usually have amazing new grad orientations, good unit cultures, and they welcome growth.

Here are some quick facts about some of the hospitals you named:

Morristown- they are under the Atlantic Health System. They only hire BSN prepared nurses and they do not hire NGs UNLESS you go through their nurse residency program which is only available at 1 of their hospitals(I'm not sure if it's Morristown or Summit). And they only accept a small amount of NGs for it. The residency started taking apps in like March and I'm almost certain that it's going to start soon, if it has not already.

RWJ- are you talking about Robert Wood Johnson or RWJBarnabas Health ? Two different hospitals systems.

Children Specialized Hospital in NJ ? If so, they DO hire NGs, not a lot but they do hire them. Make sure you read the job postings carefully though sometimes they require things that a NG wouldn't necessarily have.

Hackensack- they rarely hire NGs straight from school BUT there is hope , lol . They also have a residency program for NGs, it starts in January ! So go apply !

Have you heard of Saint Joseph's Regional Medical Center? They are a teaching hospital so you know what that means. . .they hire NGs like it's nobody's business:roflmao:. Seriously though, they have a pretty good reputation and they hire in ALL SPECIALITIES.