Old new grad, what kind of position to apply to?

[nur18]

There is my situation, I graduated January 2011. I took a job that November in Homecare I have since transition to an larger agency. The paid is excellent, lot more than I would make working in the hospitals. But yet that where I want to be even with the major cut in income. I have tried applying to new grad position with no luck. I have received rejection explaining I have too much experience and to apply for staff positions, which I have no experience for. It do seem like I am stuck in homecare where I don't want to be. I need advise as to what type of position should I apply to.

Have any old new grad applied to a new grad position and got the job? What about staff positions have you have better luck there or know someone who have?

[kiszi, RN]

You are not an old new grad IMO, because you have experience as a nurse. To start, I suggest thinking of yourself as an experienced nurse and make sure your resume is doing its best to promote you. What skills have you been able to work on in your current job? Strong assessment skills? Supervision? Communication with family members, doctors, etc? Utilizing community resources? Don't sell yourself short.

If hospital nursing is your goal, you could try expanding your search to outlying/rural areas. Focus on Med/surg units since these are the most likely to hire nurses without acute care experience. Other options to get experience on the floor are skilled nursing facilities, rehab hospitals, long term acute care, and long term care.

I wish you the best of luck.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Old new grads are those who graduated more than a year ago but have less than a year's experience. You have more than two years' nursing experience under your belt...hence why you're not qualifying for any new grad spots. I agree with kiszi: switch gears and start marketing yourself as a nurse with experience even if it's not acute care.

[nur18]

I understand that I have home care experience my resume reflect that experience but as far as the hospital are concern that is not the relevant experience that they are looking for. That is why I used the term old new grad. This is why I am asking if anyone in my situation applied to a new grad position and got the job or will it be best for me to apply to a staff position.

[kiszi, RN]

Only one way to find out! If the job description states acute care experience preferred and not required, then you're good to apply! Go for it, what have you got to lose?

[SquishyRN, BSN, RN]

As previous posters have mentioned, you are not qualifying for new grad positions because you are technically not a new grad. New grad positions typically have clearly delineated criteria concerning what they consider a new grad. Such criteria include having graduated from an RN program in the past year, having less than one year paid nursing experience, etc. Just because you think of yourself as a new grad, if you do not meet the criteria of the hospital, what you think is irrelevant in terms of getting hired into a new grad position. Technically speaking, you are an experienced nurse looking to switch specialties, so you need to start approaching your job search that way.

Like kiszi and Meriwhen have already said, start marketing yourself as an experienced nurse. You are shooting yourself in the foot by thinking negatively of the experience you do possess by thinking that “as far as the hospital are concern that is not the relevant experience that they are looking for.” Kiszi mentioned plenty of skills that you’ve probably acquired in home care that is definitely relevant experience: “Strong assessment skills? Supervision? Communication with family members, doctors, etc? Utilizing community resources?” It’s all about your perception and how you market yourself. When you make that simple perspective change, start looking into the “Success Stories in Nursing” forum of this site and you’ll find plenty of tips from people who’ve transitioned into acute care from community settings.

[nur18]

Thank you everyone for clarifying this for me and giving to a wake up call. At times job searching can be stressful with many directions.

To update anyone in my predicament or is wondering the same question. I continue to apply to both new grad and staff position. I now have two phone interview, one for new grad and one for a staff position. So I went from scare to nervous. Crossing my fingers for a offer.