Old "New Grad" in DFW area

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 21, 2012

Hi, there. Welcome to the forums! Congratulations on passing NCLEX.

Although you recently passed NCLEX, you are no longer a new grad because you graduated more than three years ago. I'm going to be blunt and mention that you have several things going against you.

First of all, the national economy is in a slump, and nursing jobs have been affected. Secondly, HR managers and recruiters are going to be suspicious of the nurse who graduated three years ago and has no paid nursing experience. Unfortunately, you are no longer considered a new nurse, even though you do not have experience other than the volunteer position.

In addition, the DFW job market is glutted with new nurses because there are so many nursing programs in the area that pump new grads into the employment pipeline every few months: Texas Christian University, UT Arlington, TWU, El Centro, TCC, Weatherford, TVCC, Hill College, Southwestern Adventist, Collin County College, Dallas Nursing Institute, and many more.

I will also mention the fact that nurses who are originally from out-of-state have been relocating to DFW over the past two to three years, which saturates the job market around here even more. I'm originally from California. Since I have been living here, I have met nurses who moved here from Iowa, Virginia, New Mexico, Oregon, Mississippi, Georgia, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Missouri, Utah, Oklahoma, Kansas, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Florida, Louisiana, Ohio, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, and other states.

In this economic climate, it is unlikely that you'll find an internship since three years has elapsed since you completed school. You are competing with grads from the classes of 2010, 2011, and 2012, and it seems that everone and their mama wants the exalted hospital position. I didn't say that it was impossible, but it is very unlikely.

I would personally start applying at home health companies, nursing homes, hospices, private duty agencies, clinics, doctors' offices, psychiatric facilities, and group homes because these settings are more open to hiring inexperienced nurses. Local hospitals are receiving several hundred applicants for every position open.

Good luck to you!

allnurses Guide · Oct 22, 2012

Your ticket in would be connections on the inside. Hopefully you are networking. Attend local nursing seminars and join local nursing organizations and get social at both.

I kind of doubt you would be considered for an internship but you never know. Generally those openings happen twice a year - January and June. Interviewing starts a few months before. The jobs post up and often come down within days or even hours so keep a close watch. Your BSN will give you a slight edge. Consider a refresher course. Your clinical skills are going to be pretty rusty and employers will be aware that you are actually going to require more effort to bring up to speed due to it being years since you graduated compared to more recent new grads.

Be prepared for your job search to take six months to a year or more. That isn't to be discouraging as much as to encourage realistic expectations. New grads are taking about six months to find a job around here at times. You are at a bit more of a disadvantage. I can't stress to you hard enough the importance of networking in this part of the country.

Good luck on your job search!

Niki_RN · Jan 12, 2013

Thank you for all your suggestions. After 2 months of looking, I finally got a job! Yey!

nursingstudent2013 · Jan 15, 2013

Where did you get a job at? I'm moving to Dallas after graduation in May and I know it will be a rough market. Any advice would be great!

indnur87 · Jan 22, 2013

Congrats Niki_RN

I am in the same situation as Niki_RN. I don't have recent clinical experience.Finished my graduation in 2009. I am started searching jobs in DFW area. No positive moves yet. May I know where are you working? (hospital or clinics etc..)