TeeTee,RN

pink_monster, I have been a nurse for 10 months. I feel exactly as you do. I am disppointed in what nursing has become. I want to be a good nurse, but I'm a nervous wreck most of the time because we are always short staffed, my patients are demanding and don't appreciate any of my efforts. I am considering leaving bedside nursing as well. It has not even been a year and I am burn out already. TeeTee,RN

I noticed on the archives that many have been searching for report sheets. We use our census and many draw a makeshift report sheet on the back of their census. Well, I have to be neat and organized, so I created a report sheet which most find very helpful. There may be some things specific to your hospital that you may want to add. You can put the census face down in the printer paper slot and copy this report onto the back of your census. They are attached below. DAYSreportsheet.doc NIGHTSreportsheet.doc

I have read some posts that say not to call and follow up because it annoys the HR department. But I called and that wasn't the case in my situation. I actually called two hospitals to follow up and it got me interviews with both. I got the job with one of them. There are hundreds of new grads, so you need to stand out from everyone else, so call and be noticed.

I hear new grads make close to $28/hr in Philadephia and they definitely have a shortage there. There is not a shortage in alot of cities, but Philly has one.

I just recently got a job at Grady. I start in June. I am excited because Grady was my first choice also. I know they have had alot of problems in the past, but they have a new CEO and I hear things are getting better. Anyone else work at Grady? Tell us your experiences good and bad.

Try following up on your applications like I did. It worked for me. I read on some other posts that you shouldn't call and follow up because it annoys the HR department and they don't have time to talk to all the applicants. Well, with both of the hospitals that I called, that just simply wasn't the case. There are hundreds of new grads...you have to stand out.

Hi, I graduated in Dec.08 with a BSN from the University of Southern Mississippi-Gulf Park campus in Gulfport, MS. I recently moved to Atlanta and got a job at Grady Memorial Hospital. I usually post on the Georgia threard, but since I was born and raised in Mississippi and am truly a Mississippian at heart, I feel I can represent here also. TeeTee

I am convinced that the whole "nursing shortage thingy" is a myth perpetuated by universities and nursing schools to boost enrollment.....and it worked!! Where I am from in Mississippi, there are waiting lists for all of the nursing programs. I have moved to the Atlanta area but my classmates in Mississippi say jobs are scarce there. Here in Atlanta its just as bad. I spoke with a nurse recruiter at one of the big hospitals and she said there is no nursing shortage in Atlanta because it is so heavily saturated with nursing schools/programs, thus an abundance of nurse grads. She said there are areas in other states that have a tremendous shortage but it is usually a remote place that no nurses want to go to which is why they have the shortage in the first place. For those who may be willing to relocate, I know there is a shortage in the Philadephia area. A nurse recruiter from a Philly hospital called me and offered me a job over the phone without an interview. I asked him how he got my resume and he said one of their affiliate hospitals in Atlanta shared the new grad resumes because they despearately need nurses. He actually said, "I will make it worth your while, I can pay you much more than they will offer in Atlanta." Unfortunately, I don't want to relocate. But if I were younger, single, without children....I would be in the city of brotherly love. :) Also, I want to say that experienced nurses don't have a problem getting a job here in the Atlanta area. There were over 600 nurse jobs listed in the local paper (ajc.com), but its the new grads that are having trouble here. The hospitals require that you have at least one year of experience unless you get into one of their nurse residencies. They only take residencies twice a year and there are usually only about 10-15 positions available and there are literally hundreds of new grads every May and December. So, if you are experienced you wouldn't have a problem finding a job in Atlanta.

this is a copy and paste reply from another post by me. new grad, i am also a new grad. i posted my frustration on https://allnurses.com/georgia-nurses/...es-390038.html. i graduated in dec. 2008. i had applied to every hospital within an hour away. i was frustrated, disillusioned and broke. then i decided to be more assertive. i called two of the hospitals i had applied online with and spoke with the hr/nurse recrutier. the first one talked with me for about 10 minutes. i explained my frustration to her and she was very nice. she then asked me which area i was most interested in since i had applied for every residency position listed. i had about 8 positions pending with my application. i told her icu was my preferrence and she said, "i will print out your application and resume and make sure you get one of the interviews for the icu residencies." i was very excited. so i called another hospital i had applied to asked them if they would please print my application and resume out and send it to the floor managers. she was just as nice and said she would send it that day. apparently she did, because the next week a floor manager from hospital #2 called and offered me an interview. i went and got the job. so, my advice to all my fellow new grads; be more assertive, attempt to stand out from the hundreds of other new grad applicants. call hr and follow up with your applications. it will pay off, i am living proof. i know how you are feeling. i was very disappointed too, but keep at it...something will happen. good luck.

new grad, i am also a new grad. i posted my frustration on https://allnurses.com/georgia-nurses/...es-390038.html. i graduated in dec. 2008. i had applied to every hospital within an hour away. i was frustrated, disillusioned and broke. then i decided to be more assertive. i called two of the hospitals i had applied online with and spoke with the hr/nurse recrutier. the first one talked with me for about 10 minutes. i explained my frustration to her and she was very nice. she then asked me which area i was most interested in since i had applied for every residency position listed. i had about 8 positions pending with my application. i told her icu was my preferrence and she said, "i will print out your application and resume and make sure you get one of the interviews for the icu residencies." i was very excited. so i called another hospital i had applied to asked them if they would please print my application and resume out and send it to the floor managers. she was just as nice and said she would send it that day. apparently she did, because the next week a floor manager from hospital #2 called and offered me an interview. i went and got the job. so, my advice to all my fellow new grads; be more assertive, attempt to stand out from the hundreds of other new grad applicants. call hr and follow up with your applications. it will pay off, i am living proof. i know how you are feeling. i was very disappointed too, but keep at it...something will happen. good luck.

Thanks for all the CONGRATS. Most hospitals in the area require at least one year of experience or you have to do a residency. But Grady does not. I was told that I would have a 6 week preceptor and after that if I didn't feel ready for the floor, I would be sent through a classroom type residency program. I start on June 8th. But most of the other hospitals have residencies only twice a year in Feb. and August. If you don't get into the one in Feb, then you have to wait 6 months for the one in Aug. The HR sent me a packet and study guide for a pharmacology/dosage cal test. So, I'm studying as we speak, I feel like I'm back in school. You have to pass this test before you can start work.

New Grad, I am also a new grad. I posted my frustration on https://allnurses.com/georgia-nurses/atlanta-area-nurses-390038.html. I graduated in Dec. 2008. I had applied to every hospital within an hour away. I was frustrated, disillusioned and broke. Then I decided to be more assertive. I called two of the hospitals I had applied online with and spoke with the HR/nurse recrutier. The first one talked with me for about 10 minutes. I explained my frustration to her and she was very nice. She then asked me which area I was most interested in since I had applied for every residency position listed. I had about 8 positions pending with my application. I told her ICU was my preferrence and she said, "I will print out your application and resume and make sure you get one of the interviews for the ICU residencies." I was very excited. So I called another hospital I had applied to asked them if they would please print my application and resume out and send it to the floor managers. She was just as nice and said she would send it that day. Apparently she did, because the next week a floor manager from hospital #2 called and offered me an interview. I went and got the job. So, my advice to all my fellow new grads; be more assertive, attempt to stand out from the hundreds of other new grad applicants. Call HR and follow up with your applications. It will pay off, I am living proof. I know how you are feeling. I was very disappointed too, but keep at it...something will happen. Good luck.

Frustrated, Remember I told you that I'm a new grad with a BSN, just relocated to Atlanta and having trouble finding work too? Well, I had an interview with Grady Hospital yesterday on Monday May 11. Human resources just called me a few minutes ago and offered me the job. I'm so excited. So, don't give up. Keep putting those applications and resumes out there. I think I have applied for EVERY hospital in the Atlanta area.

Guess what, A floor manager from Grady called me on Friday May 8. She invited me to an interview on Monday the 11th. I was so excited. The interview went great. Anyway, I just got a call from the human resources department making me an offer for the job. I can't believe it. As soon as I vent and rant....I get a job!!! YAAAAA ME!!!

Hi, I will try to help even though I am actually new to the area. I live in Norcross and wouldn't recommend you move there. I know that Cobb county is nice. As for hospitals, there is Emory Hospital (very good place to work from what I hear), Grady Memorial (the only Trauma 1 and Burn facility in the area - it is in the Metro area and so its very busy but you get great experience. Atlanta Medical center, Dekalb Medical Center, Northside Hospital, St. Joseph's Hospital and Peidmont Hospital. They all pay about the same. They start new grads out at about $23.00/hr. and a two dollar shift differential for nights. So you should get a little more. I am a new grad. It is hard for a new grad to get a job right now, but with two years experience you should not have a problem. I checked the local paper online (ajc.com) and there were 638 nursing job listed today. As for getting a Georgia license, read this thread: https://allnurses.com/georgia-nurses/frustration-getting-ga-224458.html . A few people have had a hard time with it. TeeTee

Frustrated, I am in the exact situation. I moved to Atlanta from Mississippi in December. I also graduated in Dec. 08. I am a new grad with a BSN. I have applied to all of the residencies in the area with no luck yet. I wouldn't recommend any new grads move to Atlanta area looking for a nursing job. I spoke with several of the nurse recruiters in the area and they tell me they have a handful of residencies and hundreds of nurse grad applications, along with the school/hospital affiliation that you mentioned....it doesn't look good for us. I have a BSN and yet I have resorted to applying for clerical jobs. I tried to get a cna job and was told I need a cna license....BUT I'M AN RN!!! Anyway, I have started searching outside the city in areas like Cumming and Newnan.

Hello everyone, I am TeeTee,RN and I am living in the Atlanta area. I am a new nurse grad. I graduated in Dec. 2008. I am excited about entering the nursing field. So far it has been hard to find work as a new grad, but I'm hopeful that things will change.

Tanzanite, Yes, it would be hard to get into a hospital after starting in a LTC facility. They don't believe you receive proper training for med/surg or other areas unless you start in the hospital setting. I am thinking about moving. I am sad because I really love Atlanta. But, I need to work.

This is my second career. I went into nursing because it has always been my dream. I wanted to be a nurse when I was a child and I always had one of those little nurse kits with the little white hat and all. I love nursing. I'm good at it. I graduated with a 3.2 gpa. I didn't get into the field for job security, no job can actually give you that. But we were fed the nurse shortage bull all through school, so I didn't expect to be struggling to pay my rent because I can't find a job. There is no other element. I am a new nurse grad with a BSN and I can't find a job. I have talked with other new grads that are in the same boat. Hospitals want you to have some experience otherwise you have to do a residency. But how can I get experience if no one gives me a job. I talked with the recruiter from Atlanta Med and she said they only have about 40 residencies and over 200 new grad applications.

A residency is the only way a new grad can get hired at a hospital. Did they use to hire new grads without a residency? Because they don't now. All new grads have to go through a residency that lasts about 4 to 6 months then they stay on at that facility. You are paid during residency but the positions are limited. Once you've completed a residency you have some experience and can apply for other positions.

If I hear the term "NURSING SHORTAGE" one more time! That is an urban legend. I am a new grad with a wonderful BSN degree. I can't get a job. I have no experience. I have applied for all of the residencies in the city but so have hundreds of other new grads. And to top it off, they only offer residencies twice a year. I am broke. I need a job badly. I am now applying for clerical positions since I have experience in that area. I will be a bank teller or secretary with a BSN. I am so frustrated. I worked very hard to get this degree and now I can't get a job because I have no experience. So, don't feel bad. You are in a better position than new grads with a BSN. Experience is defeintely more valuable it seems.

OK... I graduated in Dec. 2008 with a BSN. I moved from Mississippi to Atlanta around the end of December. I took the NCLEX in April and got my license. It took four months for me to get my ATT. That was nerve wrecking, but anyway I have my license now. I have applied for every residency in the area (Grady, Emory, Dekalb Med, Atlanta Med, Gwinnett Med, Piedmont, Northside, Kennesaw.....& more) I have talked with the recruiters at all of these facilities and they tell me that they don't have many residency positions and they have an abundance of applicants. Most of the facilities only offer residencies twice a year! So if I don't get one this summer (Aug 2009) then I can apply for next Spring 2010. WHAT?!! I don't have a job. I need one badly. I even tried to get a cna job temporarily until I get a residency and I was told I need a cna license. Again, WHAT?!! I tried to get a medical assistant position but when I told them I have a BSN they were not interested because they knew I would leave as soon as I could get a nursing job. I am so angry and frustrated. During nursing shcool all we heard was "there's a nursing shortage so you guys won't have any problems getting a job." Well, there doesn't seem to be a nurse shortage in the Atlanta area. I was in the clerical field before nursing school. I am tempted to get a clerical job until I can get a residency. But I feel so stupid working as a bank teller or secretary when I have a BSN that I worked very hard to get. Please talk me down....I am so disillusioned. Was nursing the right choice? TeeTee