jade381

Hang in here! According to where you live, large hospitals may offer new grad programs...Persistence will eventually pay off..You are in my prayers..

I am a new grad nurse, (graduated from nursing school in May, 2008 & became a licensed RN in August, 2008). I finally got hired and start orientation on April 21. I say "finally" because I started serious job hunting on January 1, 2009. I was getting very discouraged because I sent resumes, made phone calls, even pounded the pavement in search of a job for a solid three months. ( The "search" became my full time job.) I was even getting call backs, but when the prospective employer realized that I was a new grad...I kept getting..."Oh, we're sorry but we are not hiring new grads at this time".....Well, my persistence finally paid off...I studied too hard in nursing school to give up! So I would say to anyone still searching...I know the frustration...But, don't give up!!

Thanks, I have actually applied to another psych facility today. Sometimes I just have to scratch my head and say "huh"? Thank you for all of your support!!

As far as I know there is nothing fishy in my background....I have received child abuse clearance, no criminal record...even have been fingerprinted for clinicals, The only outstanding balance on my credit would be the money I owe for student loans...which aren't due at this time anyway....

Thanks for your reply!! You must be psychic....I did call her and left a message on her voice mail and basically said that I thought the interview went well and would she please call me back to get some feedback on the interview for future reference.

I am not an employee of this facility, which just adds to the mystery of their actions. Let me clarify- When I said that I worked at the same place for 12 years, I didn't mean the place for which I was Interviewing, but rather I worked at the same community mental health center at another location.

The HR person told me that they had hired someone else (even though they need staff nurses on various units- as is stated in their ad) and the final remark was that they would keep me on file. ...Yey, right.."the check is in the mail".

I really need feedback on this one!! After sending my resume and cover letter to an area psych hospital, I was called for an interview. I thought it went well, but was recently told that "The job you applied for has been filled, but we will keep your resume in our files". (blah, blah, blah) I am a new grad and this was the first interview I had for a nursing position. My background is 12 years in psych as a psych aide at the same facility. This is the field I am interested in. Anyway, I wore a recently purchased suit that I bought for interviews. (So that can't be it) The interview was pretty standard (Why do you think you should work here, Why are you interested in psch, etc, etc.), THEN the interviewer said that she was going to give me some scenarios. She proceeded to ask what would I do in the following situation- This may seem a little off the beaten path, but she said- "What would you do if you were on a one-to-one with a patient , who had inserted several plastic knives into her lady parts?" First, I thought that I was hearing things, but kept my cool and drew from the past years of my psych experience. At first I said that if the patient was on a one-to-one, I would have been within an arms length at all times, but she said what would I do if it happened anyway..(?) I think I said that I would first check to see if there was any injury and call for the appropriate help, remain calm when speaking to the patient...Another scenario was what would I do if I walked into a patient's room who was out of control and pounding on the wall..My response was that I would assume a non-threatening stance (having my hands in view at all times ,so as not to appear threatening), speak calmly while setting boundaries for the out of control patient and calling for assistance as necessary. Then she said,"Would you medicate her?" I responded I would first make sure that there was a doctor's order. I NEED A REALITY CHECK and some feedback from experienced RNs..I mean was I totally off base or did I sound like an idiot ?... She proceeded to tell me when they were having an orientation and that I would be better off with a 7-3 schedule as opposed to a 3-11 shift, as I would learn more on the previous shift. I gave her my references (whom I spoken with before the interview) Then, as we walked out she asked me if I had any questions. Can someone please give me some feedback.... I would appreciate it, as I am somewhat paranoid for future interviews... HELP!!!

Also, the funny thing is that one of my areas of interest is long term care. (I'm really not interested in a hospital, but rather assisted living. I was told that I'd have an easy time getting a job, since (I'm told) a lot of RNs do not want these positions..My other interest is psych...so why am I having such a tough time!?! Please advise..Thanks

Thanks for reading my post..Here in Philadelphia, even long term care positions say "at least one year experience". Please explain what you meant by "internships" and how would I find these?

I am getting very discouraged..I graduated nursing school in May, 2008 and passed NCLEX August 20, 2008. I started serious jobhunting around a month ago. Every potential job description states "at least a year experience" and they specify that it must be Nursing experience. I worked as a psychiatric aide at a mental health center for 12 years, which doesn't seem to count for much. I also take care of my 89 year old mother, who suffers from dementia (last 5 years). When she had a stroke, I basically became her case worker, as I set up services for her at the Corporation for Aging (Philadelphia, PA)....in-home medical services, day-care program (which she loves and calls it her "club"), and modifications to the home (stair glider, grab bars in the shower, sensor for the front door..she gets confused and lately gets upset at night (Sundowner's Syndrome) and implores me to "take her home"....I can't put that on a resume...Anyway, I got together a good resume and cover letters and have been sending them out via E-mail and regular mail...It seems that I keep hitting a brick wall..Oh, by the way, I am 51 years old, so "I ain't no spring chicken!", as they say. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

I am considering answering a job ad that I found online. I am interested in working in geriatrics and/or psych. This job actually combines my two preferences. It is a position working with a geriatric population in a short term acute care hospital setting. To apply for this job, it is requested that I attach my resume (no problem as I am happy with the results of my recently completed resume). It is also required to fill out an online application. This, also, is fine- except for the required answer for salary requirements. I am a 2008 graduate and licensed as an RN. (Passed NCLEX at the end of August) I am not sure what to put for salary as I really do not have a frame of reference. I have searched the internet for average salaries in my area- Philadelphia, PA. I remember reading that one should not disclose this information until AFTER an interview. I really do not want to get locked into something that I'm really not comfortable answering at this time. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Oh, also, I have 12 years(1991-2003) of experience working with an adult population at a community mental health center as a psych aide, mainly working as part of a crisis intervention team. Does this count for anything when applying for a job? Please advise. Thanks!

I graduated from nursing school in May, 2008. I am preparing to search for a job in psych/LTC. I am not sure about what approach to take in seeking employment. I am from the "old school" (51 years old) and have worked as a psych aide from 1991-2004. It seems rather impersonal to post my resume online. I'm not sure if I should walk into the HR Dept. of a possible employer with my resume and request an interview. I am planning to apply to several psych and LTC facilities in my area. Can someone please tell me what the most effective approach would be? The longer I put it off, the more nervous I become! Any advise would be greatly appreciated! I passed the NCLEX-RN on August 20, 2008.

I am a newly licensed registered nurse and am currently getting my resume together. I am interested in working in long term care or psych. I am unclear about what to highlight on each version of my resume. For example, on the resume for long term care, should I list ALL of my clinicals, even if they do not directly apply to long term care? (Ex: One of my clinicals was at a children's crisis center) On the psych resume, which clinicals should I list, as they do not apply directly to psych, except the crisis center. (Three are med/surg,one at a ventilator-dependent facility and one long term care) Also, I have twelve years of experience, working at an out- patient mental health center as a psychiatric aide and one year of in -patient, working as a psychiatric treatment assistant. Should I include this in one and/or both resumes? I would appreciate any feedback. Thanks!