Violet08

I signed the contract. The other nurses with experience in orientation were really surprised that we had to sign. Just to be clear, this is a contract just to be hired as a new grad. The hospital didn't pay for school or offer a bonus. I did find out that they just started the contracts a few months ago. They said they have a problem with retention, but I think it may just because the pay is low for the state. I will say that it is considerably less than the $10,000 to $15,000 that the other posters quoted.

The way the test questions are designed in nursing school is different and takes a little time to understand. Trust me, it isn't just you that got thrown through a loop with the first nursing test. The best thing you could do is get an NCLEX review book (I like Saunders Comprehensive Review). Do the practice questions and review the rationale. Make sure you understand why the right answer is the best right answer. In the beginning of most review books there is also a section about reading the question and how to take tests. Review your test questions at the review session and figure out what you are doing wrong.

There is not a sign on bonus. I don't really have a choice about signing the contract, the job offer is contingent on signing and I don't have any other offers. I am not that concerned about it, other than the parts that say they can change their end of the agreement. I just didn't know if it was standard for new grad jobs. I was told it would be a 8 week orientation but the contract said they could shorten the orientation. I talked to the educator today and the total time in orientation will be 11 weeks, so I really don't think they'll put me on my own earlier.

I was just wondering how common it was to sign a contract to stay at a hospital for a certain length of time if they hire you as a new grad. There is a large penalty for breaking the contract. Did you sign a similar contract? My main concern is the contract says the employer can change pretty much anything as they see fit and I can't. They can change the unit, the length of my orientation and if they decide to let me go I am still responsible for the penalty for not fulfilling the contract. I imagine if they let me go and expected me to pay, it would be for something I did that was seriously wrong.

I interviewed for an office nurse position and was offered $20/hr. The closest hospital to the office starts at $27.50. The office offered benefits for the employee only (not family).

SueNYC - Thanks for clarifying for me. Hospitals in NJ are hiring some nurses but they are favoring internal applicants or nurses with experience or have new grad programs that want a BSN. I did finally get a job in NJ this week and start in next week. I applied within an hour drive of the New Brunswick area. Let me know if you have any questions about the NJ, I've become familiar with the hospitals and the application process over the past few months.

I would go with Jersey Shore. I've been at both for clinical and really liked Jersey Shore. Several people I know work there too and like it. Let us know what you decide!

They went with someone else. They asked if I was interested in per diem and that there may be another full-time position opening in a month or so. I said I was interested in working per diem, but I haven't heard anything else, like when I would be oriented. But today I was offered a FT position at a hospital!

http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/nursing/jobsearch_resume.html There are some good sample resumes here and all around good information. The samples on there do include clinical sites, but I did not put them on my resume. I am revising my resume now, and I might make another version that does include clinical information. I think including the clinical sites would be a good idea if you are applying to a hospital or unit you were on as a student.

I took A&P I online. I got an A, but I did not like the course and really don't feel like I learned as much as people who took it in person. But I don't generally like online classes. The labs were self instructed. We had to buy a lab kit from at home science (I think it was fairly expensive too), along with an extra technology fee for the online course, books and the tuition. It ended up being more expensive than the in person version. Let me know if you have any specific questions about it and I'll do my best to answer.

Hi, sorry if I wasn't clear. I live in NJ now and have a current NJ license. I was hoping to expand my job search into Staten Island, since the NJ job search has been unsuccessful so far. Thank you for the hospitals, I'll look into it this weekend.

I have my ADN and graduated in December. I just received my NY license number and I am looking to apply to hospitals in NY. I will be living in NJ so I was probably going to try for jobs on Staten Island since that is the closet area NY to me. What hospitals would be a good place to apply? I am not picky about shift or floor. I was a nursing assistant and did an externship in a Neonatal ICU. Thanks for any advice.

I just want to point out that different states, hospitals, and schools have different rules about what nursing students can do. We were NOT allowed to start IVs or give IV push meds ever in clinical. Follow your clinical guidelines and look at what the school has outlined for your clinical experience. You should have some sort of sheet that explains what you should be able to do each semester. I really agree about staying on your clinical instructor's good side. They make the patient assignments, evaluate your performance, write letters of recommendation, are references for employment and work in the hospitals you may work in or want to work it.

I can relate to you! I hated clinical because I felt like I didn't learn anything. I spent a lot of time waiting around for the instructor to check my meds with me or answer a question. We did assessments and AM care or PM care and then waited around for something to happen. We had 10 students in each clinical group. When we were on smaller floors it was really difficult for us all to have something to do. 3rd semester I had a great instructor who really made sure we all got to chance to do all the skills on her list. Some ideas to help: 1) Injections-one of our teachers asked students to volunteer at a flu-shot event. The students that went spend hours just giving injections. See if something like that would be available. 2) Externships (I think this may not work out for this summer but sometimes externships are offered over winter break as well). 3) Get a job at a hospital. It will help you feel more comfortable in clinical and you will pick up those little things that help you. Part of getting a good experience in clinical is pushing for experience. I am not good at that, I am not very forward and it was difficult for me to jump in and offer to do things or go see something. Keep a list of things you have done and things you want to do in clinical and bring them up to your instructor or the nurses on your floor in clinical.

I've seen ads on Craigslist for Dr.'s office positions for LPNs in Central NJ. If you already have 3 years of office experience that should help a lot. I went to the job fair in New Brunswick yesterday and the only company there that said they would hire new grads was Genesis Healthcare. You may want to look into that company.

Does your program have a med-calc book required? Maybe you could get that early and practice. I really did not find the math portion of nursing school difficult but many students did. We lost quite a few due to the dosage calculations exam. Is math usually difficult for you? A&P is good to review, especially the systems you will cover each semester. The one thing I wished I did earlier in school is get an NCLEX review book. For me, the tests were difficult and a different style than I was used to. Get an NCLEX book first semester and use the questions from each section as you do that section in school. (I like Saunders Comprehensive Review NCLEX-RN because it breaks it into sections based on system or topic which makes it good to use as a student before you cover all the material).

My advice: Get a job in one of the hospitals as a nursing assistant or a PCA. Keep the job until you get a job as a nurse. The hospitals in do prefer experience and a BSN but the have been hiring new grads. The only people I know that were hired as new grads already worked for the hospital as a nursing assistant or a PCA. Apply for externships too! I know Community Medical Center had one and so did Ocean Medical Center. I am pretty sure Jersey Shore has one too (I know people that externed at CMC and OMC). Develop a good relationship with your instructors, especially clinical instructors. Your clinical instructors will be who you ask for a letter of recommendation or to be a reference. Remember when you meet nurse managers at clinical, you may interview with them once you graduate. Good luck in school!

Congratulations! Let us know how it is when you start.

I graduated in December and am still in the process of finding a job. A few things that I would recommend: 1) Make a list of everyone you know that works at a hospital. Ask them to keep you updated and that you are interested in working once you graduate. People that work at hospitals already generally have a good idea of the hiring practices. 2) As you apply for positions make a spread sheet of all the positions you apply for. I have an excel one that has a column for hospital system, hospital, unit, shift, status, follow up, position filled, nurse recruiter, nurse manager and date applied. This will help you keep track of the positions you apply for and who to contact. 3) Call the hospitals you want to work for. Ask what units they hire new grads onto (some hospitals only hire you full time med-surg, others will hire part-time or into specialties). Ask if they have a new grad program or internship. Keep track of this information. 4) If you aren't already, start working at a hospital before you graduate. Even if it is only per diem it will help you because you will be considered an internal applicant once you become a nurse. The people that graduated with me and started working were all internal hires. I can't get an interview at either hospital but people I went to school with are off orientation. When I graduated in December I really did not think it would take this long to find a job. I was an extern over the summer and had a great evaluation. They encouraged me to apply for nursing positions when I graduated, but I haven't even been able to get an interview at the hospital I worked at. All the positions are going to internal applicants (which I am not considered because I haven't worked there since August). Good luck!

Hi, I graduated in December 2008 with my ADN. I interviewed to work in a Pediatrician's office yesterday, there are 7 pediatricians and 1 NP for the two offices. I was called back today for a second interview on Monday. The hours are great and the commute would be 5 minutes since it is in my town. I have a couple of questions for experienced nurses. 1) What should I expect when I work there? What will I learn? What tasks will I likely do? The interview was short and he said immunizations, height, weight, breathing treatments, telephone triage. He said they rarely draw blood. 2) The second interview is with the nurses that already work there. What will they ask? What should I be prepared for? The interview process is different than what I exprienced at the hospitals. 3) If I am offered the position and accept how will starting in an office setting affect my career or my ability to be hired in a hospital later? I am concerned that a year or two experience in an office setting won't help much when I apply for hospital jobs later on. I have applied for about 75 positions since I graduated and have had 4 interviews (including this one) but no offers. 1 position went to an internal hire, 1 went to someone with experience and 1 the nurse manager wanted to hire me but HR wanted an internal hire. The office job sounds nice and I do think I would enjoy it, but I don't know how well it fits in with my long term goals. I am interested in pediatrics, NICU (I worked in a NICU as an extern) and Women's health. At this point I really need to have a job. Thanks in advance for your help.

Thank you! I mailed my application off yesterday afternoon.

I am graduated in December and live in NJ. I have a NJ RN license. I am filling out the application for NY and there is a section about child abuse coursework. What do I need to do to complete that requirement? Is there somewhere online I could complete it?

I have worn a suit to all my interviews. It is a navy jacket and skirt that is knee length. I wear a white blouse, pantyhose and black loafers. Hair back, minimal makeup and jewelry. Short, clean nails. Lord and Taylor's has a good selection of suits. I got mine off the clearance rack for 75% off. Check out department stores for good sales.

I am sorry to hear that your entire group failed. I would be surprised if they would let that many people not graduate. I imagine that they may adjust what score they expect based on the difficulty your group is having. Have you been taking ATI assessments throughout your program? We took them for every area and had to pass them every semester so it was not a new task thrown on at the end. To pass the ATI look at your score report and it will tell you what areas you were weak in. Then go back and look at those sections in the ATI books and DVDs to review and do the practice assessments. Hang in there for the next two months.

It was the same at my school when I graduated (December 2008). However the passing the ATI was a requirement for passing the last semester of nursing. It was included in our tuition and you had the opportunity to retake it once, if you failed the retake you would have to pay to try again. Just take it and pass. Everyone passed on the first or second try in my program.