JMRN09

Sandra, thank you for responding! I had originally asked about the Texarkana area since I have relatives who live in Wake Village and offered to let me stay with them. I'm a little afraid that the adjustment of moving across country and being in a place without knowing a soul coupled with starting as a new grad would be too much for me to handle. At least if I stay in the Texarkana area, I can come home to familiar faces who are there to offer their love and support...However...as a new grad, I need to be flexible in this environment; right? So I will apply to Good Shepherd, and count on seeing my relatives on my days off if I was offered a job. Some questions about Good Shepherd: How do you like working there? What kind of areas do they hire new grads in? What are the ratios like? What are some nice, safe, areas to consider near there? Thanks again for your input!!!

Hi everyone...looking into relocating to your beautiful state from dreary NJ. New Grad, interested in Titus Regional Medical Center (TRMC) and Christus St Michael Health System. Please, please, help if you can. I want to hear the good, the bad, and the ugly. THANK YOU and God Bless :heartbeat

I'm sorry...same boat as you. I always thought my financial/self esteem issues would be solved once I graduated. I dreamed of this all 4 yrs of my program while eating Ramen noodles every night and worrying about how I was going to pay for gas commuting over an hour to school. This has been a complete nightmare for all of us and I am also on the verge of bankruptcy...I am starting to apply to temp agencies that need people for secretarial/office work because all of the time spent on networking with people that swear than can get me a job, calling HR and applying is just not working for me. I always thought nursing was a calling and that I was destined to be a nurse...but If God wants me to be a nurse, why all of these delays?

Congrats and good luck!!!!

I have been doing really well with my diet but haven't been exercising much...I have been really depressed lately and of course NOT exercising only makes depression worse! Oh well, I will set my alarm so I can just get up and go tomorrow morning, and I'll leave my workout gear right next to my bed. I'm still scared to weigh myself I think I'm only going to do it once a month b/c then I wind up just fixating on the numbers. Everyone is doing such a great job on here...it's helpful when I'm having a fat day and need inspiration.

Hi There... I applied in early December '07 for a summer '08 externship...I only applied to one hospital and (luckily) I got it. There was an online application, transcripts sent in after Fall semester was over (early Jan), then 2 phone interviews, drug screen, physical exam...all worth it in the end because I got my first choice of specialty area. Being that we are in the situation that we are in with programs getting cut left and right, I imagine that the competition for fewer spots is going to to be super fierce. I would first look up on the websites what the deadlines are, and then call, show up in person, etc. and ask when to apply in order to have the best possible chance of getting a spot. If you can fill out the application and then drop it off in person, even better. Apply to as many as you can to increase your chances of getting a spot (don't do what I foolishly did). Research the hospitals and try to pick the one that you would love to have a career at in the future, b/c the externship will really increase your chances of securing a job when you graduate. I have heard great things from classmates about all those hospitals you listed...only one person didn't like Somerset but that's only b/c she quickly learned that Med/Surg wasn't 'for her.' I did a clinical at Somerset and thought that it was a wonderful hospital so it's all relative (I was on the eating disorders unit which was really fascinating). I would just advise you and everyone else to look for programs that will assign a preceptor and allow you to pass meds/perform nursing interventions/etc maybe a classroom component and aren't going to make you into a glorified nurse's aide. If you love Mountainside and work there now, I would jump on getting an externship there because again, this will REALLY help you overall when you go back with your license...Good luck!!!

Hi everyone I would love to join your group...I really need it! I have about 30 more lbs to lose in order to be reach my goal..125 :) I have a nice 5 mile trail by my house and I just got that Wii fit thing so I'll let you know how it goes. I already lost 8 lbs just dieting..definitely ready to do the exercise thing and really seize the day with all this time on my hands. It would be amazing to be losing weight throughout the winter instead of eating holiday junk and gaining a ton of weight.

Hi everyone...I am going to join this 'pity party' because one, all of you new grads understand, two, i have no one to vent to and be brutally honest at the same time about my feelings (except my loving, non-healthcare family), and three, when we get off this crazy train we are all going to be better people and nurses for it!!!!! So....I had a 3 hr interview at a surgi center...and let me just say I think it's so awful when recruiters/managers act like you already have the job during the interview only to reject you!!! My interviewer...the nurse...She was so nice...I really liked her, and I really, really wanted this job. Gave me a tour, full introductions to docs and nurses, took my transcript, references (who were never called), old employer info (who were never called), I was asked so many questions, and then she wanted to hear all about what was going on with US...the new grads. She was an alumni from my school too..she wanted to know I was very positive...I did not want to come off desperate, bitter, AT ALL. I said it was a tight market and challenging for the new grads but that it makes me value my license and career choice even more and once I secured a job I would work extremely hard. She was very empathetic. I was willing to be flexible as possible, and would cross-train for scrub/PACU/circulating. She told me that she had a ton of resumes...more than any other year for them...but she had called me for the interview BECAUSE i was a new grad. This is what she told me when she initially called me. So I finished the interview. Sent my thank you letter in the mail. No answer, I followed up...she said she'd let me know. Haven't heard anything in 3 weeks. Although I did see the ad back with 'per diem' positions posted instead of full-time. So it's back to the drawing board.. I have been reading this thread since it started and all the posts...I wish all of you luck and I'm so glad I can be jaded for a few minutes here.

Thanks everyone for your great comments. I am going to think about school in Fall 2010 part-time study. Right now just focusing all my energy on networking, filling out apps, etc..Good luck and many prayers to all of us!!!

They should be outraged about the fact that the hospitals are still short staffed but refuse to hire an untapped resource ie: new nurses...If they all made a stink about it maybe it would put more pressure on them to give us a chance. We are out there, waiting, ready to work....thousands of us. It's so disheartening!

Just wondering if any of you had your schools/professors react to what we are dealing with right now. I wish that my school was more helpful...maybe contacting our clinical sites and really pushing for them to hire new grads or something...I don't know. We have had no help from our professors...I started to ask for advice and guidance in February. Needless to say they were stuck in academia and totally out of touch with what was going on in the area. By graduation, it was "apply outside the hospital/something will open up/you all will be FINE." So much money, time, blood sweat and tears that we spent; I would think these smart nursing professors would be outraged. Can we maybe start a letter writing campaign to the ANA or something...I just want them to acknowledge what is going on.

Congrats, Ilovenursing09!!!!!! I wish you the best in your new job!!! I had the interview and all I know is I did the best I could. Interviewer was very empathetic/concerned about the 'new grad job situation,' and kept me there for a looooong interview. I am waiting on them to make a decision. I know that even if I don't get the job; it was still a good experience. We'll see what happens...I sent a thank you note and also called a few days later to ask a question. I am just praying and trying to remain positive. I really want this job...I want a chance! CONGRATS again!!!!!

Thanks for your concern, llg....very good point. I hate feeling so desperate with these jobs. Would I be any better off in an LTC that threw me to the wolves? I just don't know anymore. I will go for the interview and see what my gut instincts are...They assured me that they have trained nurses who have had no OR experience most with 2 yrs of med/surg. Yes, I know, I cannot argue that those 2 years are very, very important. I also was told that I would NOT be circulating/scrubbing for quite a while. They would start me in pre-op starting IVs...I would then move on to learning post-op care. Assures me that they would work with me as a team and not let me drown. So hard to tell if I can trust this.

:yeah:That would be amazing...My dream job and 55K? Not bad considering the day I got the phone call I was filling out an application to Starbucks. Wish me luck.

I haven't seen any 'official' starting salaries on the hospital websites, but word-of-mouth has been anywhere from 25-28/hr.... The other thing I was thinking about was that this place is part of a large corporation (a franchise even?) so maybe they will offer me a competitive rate with the hospital. I will be their FIRST new grad ever...