CocoChanel

On the unit I work on, we are required to take 40 hours of call per schedule (4 weeks) in 4 hour increments. We get $3/hr for being on call and time and a half if called in. Over the 4.5 years I've been on this unit, our call has increased from 24 hours/month and to 40! Our call is mainly used for staffing purposes (high census, call ins, short staffed, c/s). We will soon be switching to 6 week schedules, so it will be interesting to see how much call we'll have to take then.

Hey there. I live on the coast and I know what you're going through. I was in the same boat when I graduated over 2 years ago. It took me over a year before I was finally able to find a job. Now that I have 1+ years of experience, I still find it difficult now that I'm looking for something new. My only advice is to hang in there and be persistent. Make yourself known to the nurse recruiters. Even if they seem a little annoyed, they'll remember your persistence (that's what a recruiter told me one time). Also, try volunteering. There are a couple of free clinics down here that would love to have an RN volunteer. That's what I ended up doing while I was looking for a job. It gives you a chance to learn skills as well as network with others (sometimes it's about who you know rather than what you know:rolleyes:). It also shows that you were make use of your time while looking for work. Good luck to you. Feel free to PM me.

I too want to transition from med/surg to NICU. Would you recommend taking an NRP class to look a little more appealing?

I have been searching for a job for 9 months now and STILL nothing! I don't have any kids but I do have bills (especially from school). I have tried everywhere...hospitals both in and out of state, internships, nurse tech positions, doctors' offices, nursing homes etc. I don't even know how many applications/resumes I've put in any anymore, it's been so many. It's so depressing and discouraging not being able to find work, especially when I have people constantly asking me why I don't have a job yet and telling they don't understand why I'm not working when there's a "huge nursing shortage". When I try to explain my situation, they look at me in utter disbelief as if I'm making it all up. I've been volunteering several times a week as an RN at a free clinic for several months now, and while I'm learning a lot of different things and doing a good deed...it doesn't pay the bills. The doctors there are even willing to give me a recommendation but there just aren't any jobs out there. I've even had people tell me that I'm wasting my time by volunteering because it probably won't help any:o:angryfire. I just feel so discouraged. Sometimes it makes me wonder if busting my butt in school was worth it. I'm still trying to keep hope though....praying that a job will come along one day. Thanks for letting me vent.

Thanks for the info. I talked to a hospitalist who works at Memorial recently and he told me that pt. count is down right now so the jobs are very few. I had no idea HR was that bad there. I've applied for several positions at Memorial since January and everytime I called or went down there to do a follow up they always said my application had either been rejected (due to no experience) or the managers already had their applicants picked out for an interview. Now you have me thinking....did they ever get my application in the first place? I'll definitely keep what you said in mind. Thanks.

I have a friend that graduated from WC about 4 years ago, but she took her prereqs at JD though. She said she enjoyed it and they really made an effort to work with her when she had her daughter prematurely in the middle of the semester. From talking to her it seemed like they had better clinical opportunities than we had at USM. I've heard both good and bad things about WC nursing school, but I guess every school has it's quirks. Good luck to you.

The problem is not the amount of job openings available, because there are plenty of openings here on the coast but its a matter of are they willing to hire and train new grads. From my experience and several others the answer right now is NO. I'm sure in the Jackson area the job market is more favorable for new grads, but in this area it's not. The only position I've been able to find besides volunteering is a temporary job giving out flu shots. Hopefully this will give me the experience I need to get my foot in the door somewhere permanently.

Hopefully the job market will have picked up for new graduates by then. I started looking in Mobile for a job, but when I went over there they told me that they were slowly beginning to come off of their hiring freezes, so I just had to wait and see. Right now I'm volunteering at a free clinic in my area. I'm working with another new grad who is also having a hard time finding a job. Hopefully it will give me enough experience to get my foot in the door for an actual job.

i'm a (not so new) grad rn. i graduated back in december and have been looking for work ever since. i have applied everywhere...hospitals, clinics, dr.'s office, you name it.....and have still found nothing! i've put in about 60-70 applications so far and have only had 2 interviews! it's very frustrating because the only thing i keep hearing is i need experience. i've even applied for lpn and tech positions and still can't get anything. i also applied for an rn internship and got rejected from that too. nurse recruiters at the hospital know me by name now, because i call them so much (and lately they seem to be annoyed to hear my voice...lol :-/) one recruiter told me i should try in one of the neighboring states, work 6 months to get experience and then try at one of the local hospitals here. i'm just so tired of looking, applying, being rejected, and then having to explain to people why i still don't have a job. i just received my license in the neighboring state and will be applying there soon. it would be an hour long commute but at this point, i'm willing to do anything.

Thanks for the info dRN1 and there's no need to be rude ct1989, she was just asking. I also sent you a PM dRN1

I live on the MS Gulf Coast

Can definitely relate. I just found out from a former classmate that one of our old instructors told her that none of the local hospitals will be hiring new grads for the next 6 months! Wow, I don't know exactly how true that is, but this particular instructor is pretty chummy with the nurse recruiters here. It looks like I'm really going to have to start looking out of state and commute, because I can't afford to move.

Glad to see that I am not alone! I just got my REJECTION letter from the RN internship last week, so I'm back on the grind again. I swear with all these applications I've put in someone should recognize my name by now:lol2:. Good luck with your search! By the way, what area do you live in?

No, I haven't been able to get on at Memorial. I've applied for several jobs there and did follow ups only to be told the positions had already been filled. I even signed up for the upcoming RN internship, but with so many people graduating in May, I don 't know what my chances are (I signed up 2 days after they started accepting apps and over 100 people had already signed up). Several of my classmates are having the same problem, so I don't know. I'm still looking and applying hoping something will come up soon.

Just curious. Any new grad RNs having a hard time finding a job? I graduated in Dec. and CAN'T find a job to save my life. I've applied for numerous jobs at all the hospitals and various clinics on the coast and STILL haven't gotten anything. Is anyone else having this problem? Any advice/suggestions? I'm willing to commute to get experience...

Thanks for the info. I graduated in Dec. '08, so it wasn't that long ago. I live on the MS Gulf Coast and the job market here for new grads is pretty slim. Alot of the hospitals in this area just aren't hiring new grads so I'm starting to look elsewhere. They have a RN internship here that starts in June, but when I applied they already had over 100 applicants (and that was two days after they started accepting applications). From what I hear they have alot of jobs north of here and out of state for new grads, but I can't afford to move right now, so commuting is my only option.

Hey all, I'm a new grad RN looking for a job and am curious about USA's hospitals-particularly the Women and Children's Hospital. Does anyone on here work there? Is it a good place to work, do they hire new grads? What do they pay? I live about an hour away from Mobile (in MS) and am willing to commute so any info on these hospitals as well as other hospitals in Mobile would be great. Thanks in advance!

Hello all, I'm a new grad RN, currently in search of a job. Like many new grads on this site, I have had NO luck in finding one. I've applied at all the hospitals in my area and have talked to numerous recruiters only to have them tell me their current positions are for experienced RNs only and they'll "keep me in mind" . Anyways, I was on the net today and came across this website: healthjobsusa.com. Has anyone ever heard/dealt with this company? Is it legitmate and were you successful in getting a job? It says that it's a free service that will help RNs (new and experienced) find jobs in their area. I saw a few old posts on here from people who have used it, but I was hoping to get a little more feedback. Any info would be great. Thanks

Thanks for the info. I'm actually having a tough time finding a job right now. I've talked to recruiters at SR and OS and they both said they're looking for experienced nurses right now. I put in at Garden Park but have not gotten a call back. So I'll be trying Memorial next and if not there the clinics.

Thanks for the info. I was just asking because a former classmate of mine was offered a job there and I think he will be taking it. Ever since I was little I've always heard bad things about Biloxi Regional. I've heard that the pay is pretty good but the working conditions are not. I've considered applying for job at Ocean Springs or Singing River. From what the nurse recruiter as told me, they seem to have a pretty good internship program.

Does anyone know if this is a good hospital to work at, especially for a new grad? I've heard mixed reviews about working for them (the majority of them have not been good) and was just curious. Thanks.

Thanks so much everyone . Thought I'd throw a few things out there....I used Saunder's 3rd edition and Frye's 3300 Nursing Bullets. I also studied some information one of my instructors gave us on priority and delegation. Priority and delegation is a definite biggy on the test, so I recommend studying and doing practice questions on this subject. Also, DO NOT constantly study around the clock. Take breaks! I know this is easier said then done but taking a break now and then will do you a world of good. It gives you a chance to clear your head and regain focus. And remember you are not a human computer, you are not going to remember every single detail about every single subject (even though we do try lol). I wish everyone good luck on the test and will definitely say a prayer for u!

Thanks everyone. I took NCLEX yesterday. I was shocked that the results were posted so quickly especially since MS doesn't participate in the quick results.

I PASSED!! OMG...I can't believe this! I just checked the state board website and when I did the search my license number popped up! I'm so happy right now. God is definitely amazing! Good luck to all the future NCLEX takers.

Please say a prayer for me too. I took the exam today and I am a nervous wreck. The computer shut off at 75, which means I either did really good or really bad. I had alot of priority and med questions (questions on meds I've never even heard of ) and several SATAs and infection control questions. I studied so hard for this, but I feel like I failed. Does anyone know how SATAs, infection control and med questions are rated? Are these considered to be at the difficult level?