louiemed5

I am in a similar situation. I was just hired into the IMU (Intermediate Care Unit-sister to our MICU), after being out of school for nearly a year! I'm very nervous, but confident that if i ask a lot of questions and just keep my eyes and ears open things will work out. Although, if anyone else out there has any other bits of advice for new R.N.'s on the units, please PLEASE fill me in!! thanks! :)

that's so great! i don't think you'll have nearly as much trouble as i have had. i chose to work in a snowboarding shop (rather than get my emt or cna) while in school, and i'm paying for it now. just try to network as much as you can while still in school...as i'm sure you're working in a hospital while in school. you're genuinely on the right track, and again, i wish you the very best of luck in finishing your degree!! don't hesitate to contact me if you have any other questions. although, it sounds like you would be a great resource for me since you've been on the floor so much longer! :) take care!

i am not sure i follow what you are saying, but yes, i am a new graduate. i have applied to over 100 positions all over denver, surrounding areas, and even cities throughout colorado. i did have luck in being offered a position in cheyenne, wy, but in the end, i just was not willing to move. if you are persistent with nurse recruiters, and plesant with nurse managers, sometimes they will invite you to career fairs. in those situations...make a wonderful impression (a.k.a. put on your "stunna" cap). i went to one, and it might have just gotten me a position (i'm still waiting to hear back). something else i recommend is a suggestion i read from a posting here: if you see a position available (something obtainable-many hospitals do not like to put new grads in specialty areas unless you did an internship on that specific unit), find out the name of the nurse manager and when he/she will be on the unit. next, type up a cover letter, resume, and even get a few references if you can to have in hand. bring them to the unit, and meet the nurse manager in person. introduce yourself, give the papers, and say something simple, like, "i would love to work on this unit, and i just wanted to put a face to a name amidst all of the other resume's you have receieved." i did this and got an interview on that unit. unfortunately, the position went to someone with experience, but she invited me to the invite only career fair. oh, i do not know what ltf is? i hope this helps marynochka! :)

Sweedish is not hiring new grads right now (and won't for some time). Quite frankly, everywhere in Denver it will be difficult for you to get a job right now. Times are tough, and hospitals are retreiting to nurses with minimal experience (1,2,3 years) so they can pay them less, but feel confident because they know what they're doing. Hiring freezes have taken place all over, unfortunately. I've been here for three months and have yet to find a job. If you are looking for a Magnet hospital, the only two in Denver are The Medical Center of Aurora and the University of Colorado Denver hospital. The new grad program at CU-Denver is a tough selection, and requires letters and an essay. The Med Ctr of Aurora is less stringent, and they do not take huge cohorts, but rather hire on a unit-by-unit basis (at least, that is my understanding, but I could be wrong). The sad part is, they don't want new grads right now. Overall, you might have a bit more luck this summer, as that's when the spring classes will graduate, but for now...the pickin's are sliiiiiiiiiim. I wish you the very best of luck! Be persistent and positive! :)

Hi everyone, i just wanted to pass on this piece of advice that I have from my experience. I finally passed the NCLEX the THIRD time i took it, and here's how I did it: 1) BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. i used notecards and wrote my name, with R.N. at the end, and posted them ALL OVER (my car, my mirrors, my computer, everywhere). There is a lot to say about the power of positive thought! 2) Every study question you get wrong, write down the rationals in a notebook. Read them at night, that way you are solidifying your weak points. 3) PRAY! 4) E-mail the DEAN at your college, or a local university (if you moved) and see if they know of any NCLEX study tutors. You'd be surprised. I moved back home, and called a local college, and was promply e-mailed (BY THE DEAN) the name and number of someone. (Tutors tend to go straight to the 'higher up's" when getting their name out there to help students study). My session was once a week for 10 weeks, but I am sure that every tutor has a different schedule. 5) ...and possibly the most important...RECORD YOUR WRONG ANSWERS, LAB VALUES, and anything else that you don't know. Listen to it on your iPod, in your car, running, ALL THE TIME!!! This helped me SO much! I have an apple computer, so I used garageband to record my voice and imported into iTunes, and then put it on my iPod. I must have spent at least 100 hours listening to my lame voice telling me questions i got wrong and the rationals...but it helped!!! I wish you all the very best of luck. And please remember, life is nothing but peaks and valleys...you just need to believe that your peak is right around the corner! :redbeathe

Just wanted to say MAD THANK YOU YOU!!!! I did that today, and I'm set up for an interview TOMORROW!! I know it's no guarentee that i'll get the job, but it's my foot in the door and that's more than I've gotten 99% of the rest of the time!! No joke, going around the recruiters is the way to go!! SO MANY THANK YOU'S!!!!!

ME TOO! It's crazy hard out there right now!! There's no easy solution until the market starts to bounce back. People are putting off surgeries and not going out and messing themselves up (hence, needing hospital care)! Here's to hoping for something good to happen in the near future! *wine (at least, this is what i've been doing to pass the time)

I think she is just frustrated because she worked hard enough to get through school and her boards, but has yet to reap (not just monetary rewards) but the self satisfaction that her years of work finally are going into something meaningful.

OH MY GOSH! I should have read your message before I posted mine (just now). I just moved to Denver (with my license and all), and CANNOT FIND A JOB!!! It is SUCH a rough time right now. I'm finding myself sitting at home a lot just trying to figure out my next move, but knowing how hard I have worked to get where I am and STILL cannot find a job...it's aweful! I completely sympathize with you. I have also applied to jobs as far as an HOUR away from where I live, and NO ONE will hire a new grad. Please keep me posted on your progress!

I just moved to Denver, CO from the midwest and am having the HARDEST time finding a job! I have counted my applications, and they tally somewhere in the neighborhood of 90! I am so frustred from hearing the phrase "we are looking for someone with experience." How am I supposed to get experience if no one will give me a job! I don't know what to do, and I'm about to resign to working at Einstein Bagels!! I AM A REGISTERED NURSE, and this is the best shot i've got?? I am doing a little bit of babysitting on the side right now, but I need something more stable. I need to pay rent and utilities, and unemployment is not agreeing with this. I don't know what to do? Does anyone have any advice for me? I interviewed for a job on Thursday (my first and ONLY interview in two months), and am praying to the Lord that I will get this job. (Truth be told, it is my dream job). But, that dreaded phrase haunts me...and I think might be the demise for me possibly not getting this job. Again, advice?? I'm desperate.! Thanks for reading.

You can also go on the Pearson Vue website, login, and find out your scores after 48 hours (even on the weekends). You have to pay a fee of ~$10...but the peace of mind is worth every penny. At least you will know you can either take a deep breath, or need to find another study plan and gear yourself up for round two, three, four, etc. I wish the very best of luck to you! :)

MsLady 06 that is inapproprite, and certainly does not help this man/woman. compassion and advice are much more befitting. i hope that you have more concern for your patients than you seem to show on this thread!

I have read quite a bit of the replies and I just wanted to mention something... I just graduated and (very clearly) remember my clinical experiences. Every single time I walked into the hospital, I just wanted the nurses to treat with enough respect to be able to come up to me and ask me to do something when they saw me walking slowly in the halls or helping one of my peers during "down time." To me, that meant that they had enough trust in me and my skills to get certain tasks done. I looked up so much to my nurses!! (Granted, I would hunt them down during "down time," as well, asking over and over, "what can I do to help out" or "got anything you would like me to assist you with?") I think there is no excuse for reading in clinicals...but sometimes students are standing around because the nurses do not want them to do anything for their patients (which really translates to me as, "i don't want your help, because you'll probably just F- something up, and then I'll have to deal with the repercussions." so, in short...take us under your wing! If we ask you if you need any help...let us help you! If you see us sitting around, approach us and ask us to perform or help perform a task! There was SO much confusion on the floors, that sometimes lines just got crossed in terms of the "who, what, where". Please be patient with us, and allow us the opportunity to look up to you and become our leaders. After all, clinical seemed, at least to me, a paramount time to learn by example.

You can actually pay $8 to Pearson Vue and find out on their website. I am so sorry, though! Keep your head up...it happens. I didn't pass the first time either, and I just KNOW i'll get it the second time around. And, I know a bunch of my friends that didn't pass their first time, and are working as nurses right now in exactly the unit they want! You'll pass, and all your dreams will come true! Try to stay positive...how you view the exam (that is, mentally) actually plays a BIG part in how you will take it that day. So, look at yourself and keep saying "HEY!...I'M GONNA BE A NURSE! I CAN DO THIS!" ...cause you can, and we all have faith in you!

that is so great!!! congradulations! :) cheers to you! :chrs: