nurstang

I appilied at St B over a month ago and had a phone interview, but that was it. I also graduated in june from CSUSB. I didn't think it wasn't going to be this difficult to find a job, and all my friends and family don't believe me. Anyways, not to brag, just wanted to point out that there is still hope, after filling out hundreds of applications, driving endlessly all over CA, and spending countless hours on the phone, I finaly landed a job! It is not a new grad program or the dream job to die for, but it will have 4 -6 wks training on medsurge, with a 40+ mile commute to OC each way, but beggers can't be picky...right? Forgot to mention that I will be making less than all my RN friends, but it is a job and a foot in the door. Everyone don't give up, cause I know the feeling, have spent endless hours on the phone calling various hospital with everyone telling me the same. If a hospital doesn't call you back and you can't get a hold of anyone, then move on and take the time to reflect on your interview; did you say the right things? were you negative? Was there a better answer you could have gave? Did you seem too desprate for a job? I heard from many hospitals that it has never been this bad. Loma Linda told me that they get over 40 new grads that apply for each position. The problem is that many retired nurses are going back to work after lossing their savings, and many hospitals are cutting back at the same time. One last note, some hospitals will maintain a wait list for their new grad program, so if they do, sign up for it.

I am having the same problem finding a job. It seem that everyone that has an open position has 30+ applications. I get better leads from my friends that are already working.

I know that in California, you have the right to refuse a patient, but it must be done before taking report. Once you take report on a patient, you cannot refuse them.

Incident reports are not part of a patient's chart, and almost all hospitals will do all that they can to prevent the courts from learning about them. It only states simple facts and can be very dangerours to a hospital in a court.

I live in southern California, LA area. I was offered from $23 to $32 for day shift. Nightshifts pays an additional $2.50 to $7.50 per hour. However, don't look only at the pay, but look at the whole picture and ask questions regarding their New Grad program/training. I made the mistake of going for the $32.82 hr job and didn't ask any questions. The new grad program with a preceptor on telemetry was only 3 wks long, and many new grads didn't make it, including myself. When I look back, I should have taken the $23 hr that included a 18 week new grad program.

Working as a new grad is not the same as school or a student extern. Just becasue you get A's in clinical dosen't mean much becasue when you start working, there is a expectation that you know your stuff and know what to do all the time. As for experinced nurses, they forget what it is like to start as a new grad. If ICU nurses are telling you to start in med surge, than maybe you should listen.