Problem getting a job in hospital as a new grad?

[cathleenmermaid47]

My niece is graduating in 20 days as a RN she is told that it is almost impossible to get a job in a hospital as a new grad, is this the norm? She really need to work so she says she will go to ltc even though it is not her preference. I am asking for her as well as me because I am taking pre-reqs to enter nursing school and I scared to death I wont be able to find work. thanks for your imput.

[greygooseuria]

I am going to be rotating days/nights on SCU until August. You can plan what days you want to work there so you schedule yourself. Once classes start full swing in September for me I'll need to switch to nights. That being said, MANY units will snatch you up quick if you want to work only nights ESPECIALLY if you have EMT experience. I'd play that up, and if you have a BA or any previous degree play it up in your interview and how it will help you be a better nurse: they love it.

Also if you're in school, they are incredibly flexible in your scheduling because they want you to come back and work for them after you get your RN!

The companion program is interesting because it changes every shift. I've sat with extremely agitated patients to those that are just confused. I have not felt unsafe ever and it has been rewarding. Most of the patients I've personally sat with have been Alzheimer's patients or hallucinating patients and I've found most to be pretty pleasant once you've been there for 30 or so minutes. I think it is different for everyone. You basically sit with them and make sure any tubes that are in stay in, and if they need to go to the bathroom you keep them in bed and page the CNA if they're a fall risk. You're there to maintain health and prevent injury to those that don't know any better.

[MaineEMT2RN]

Thanks. The descriptions of what a companion does were so vague - I'm glad to get a more practical idea of what it's all about. The course instructor said that many students who do the companion program find that they can often get their homework done while they are there. Always a plus! I usually have homework with me on the ambulance and try to get some work done in between calls. It never works out as well as I had hoped it would, but sitting in one place will make that more likely.

I'm in and out of MMC with patients many times each day, so I've been able to learn a little about many of the departments there. It will be great to have an opportunity to see them from a different perspective during the CNA training.

Clinicals start in September for me as well, so nights will definitely be the way to go. The incentives for taking nights seemed pretty impressive to me, but we don't get shift differentials, etc., on the ambulance so maybe I'm just easily impressed.

One more question and I promise I'll stop. Scrubs - I know I won't need them until later in the CNA training, but I'm guessing I'll need them working as a companion. Right? Are there any special colors required? Are the scrubs I'll need for the CNA program different? At what point will I need them? (OK, so that really looks like more than one question, but they're all on the same subject. It's kind of like counting 6 cans of soup as one item in the express line at Hannaford.)

I'm really looking forward to the program. Now I just have to tell my partner that I'm leaving him. This won't be pretty!

[greygooseuria]

We all had our scrubs before class started because it was useful for some skills labs.

You need white pants and white shoes, but tops can be of any color.

As a companion, they actually prefer you wear street clothes and not scrubs because you can't do CNA work while you are with them. I am usually in jeans and a polo shirt or whatever when I do companion work. And yes, you can get a lot of homework done during third shift. I don't even do homework at home anymore because I get it all done there.

And I definitely don't mind the questions at all!

[MaineEMT2RN]

White pants? Yuck! Oh well, I can deal with it if I have to. On the ambulance we wear navy blue bdu's with the big cargo pockets for all the toys. They're great and nearly indestructible! I get pretty grubby by the end of a shift. Hopefully I won't get quite as messy.

I already have my shoes and some scrub tops, but I'll need to spend some $$ at Allheart and get some white pants in the next few weeks.

Thanks for all the info!

[nursing twin, CNA]

It's great advice to start out as a CNA. If you know you want to work at a certain hospital this will get your foot in the door. Even if there is not a position posted, some of the people I graduated with have got jobs at Maine Med this way. My sister in Mass who just graduated with me is having a harder time finding a job b/c she went to school in Maine. It's not easy in either state if you have no experience. Knowing people, clinical instructors, etc. helped me get my job and I felt so lucky to be where I wanted to be. good luck