jan18

Totally. When I called today I actually got someone right away, & I asked him how many they were processing per day and he couldn't tell me. I'd be interested to know. I'm ready to ask if I can volunteer there to help them out!

Hmm well that sounds like Michigan I guess. I can understand new licenses, but mine is by endorsement so I would think it would be an easy process.

That is so awful! What do they say when you call?? They've just been telling me it takes 6 weeks before they'll even look at my application.

I am a new grad, trying to get my MI license by endorsement from OH. It is taking FOREVER!!! I've been hearing 9+ weeks from other nurses. Has anyone else dealt with this or have any suggestions for me? I've been calling to ask about the status of my application but I wait on hold for 30+ min, then am told they haven't looked at it yet and it's been 5 weeks since they received it. This is so ridiculous...you'd think with unemployment what it is they would want to help people get jobs in this state!

When I called the recruiter she said you have to have your GA license just to apply there. So you can't even apply for a job unless you are licensed in GA.

I am located in GR also. I passed NCLEX Aug 19 and before that had no luck with interviews. Since getting my license I have had 5 interviews and I have 3 more next week. I have 2 offers so far. Most of these interviews are for med/surg. I would recommend getting your license then apply hardcore to everywhere you can. Even if the job says "Experience required" apply anyway. Call recruiters and managers to let them know your interest. I've been interviewing at the larger hospitals in the area...i.e. Spectrum, Borgess, UM, Toledo, Sparrow. Also, if you can, be flexible. It may not be possible to get your first job in critical care or L&D. If you have time to wait around to try to get hired in a specialty, fine. But if you want a job right away, go med/surg to get your foot in the door and your skills down then look at moving to another unit. That's my advice anyway.

Thank you. I did get ahold of a recruiter at Grady, who confirmed that I have to have a GA license to fill out an application to Grady. I don't mean to complain, but that's kind of a pain. The paperwork and money isn't a huge deal, but I have to go to GA to do my background check and fingerprints since that's what the GBON requires. So even though I don't have a job there and can't apply I have to go down to get fingerprinted. It doesn't make sense to me. Is anyone else facing similar issues?

Would you mind sharing the info on how to get hired at Grady as a new grad as well?

That doesn't sound bad for your initial license....OH is 6-8 weeks out from receiving applications and issuing ATTs. I turned in my app June 28th and still don't have my ATT.

But there are no postings for opportunities in the new grad icu program right? So you can't really apply until they repost openings.

Hi all, This may be a dumb question, so I'm hoping someone can give me some insight. I am a new grad from Ohio, taking the NCLEX in August & I would LOVE to work at Grady in critical care. I know you can't apply to any position there without having your license (when you go into the application the first question is "Are you licensed as an RN in the state of GA"). Problem is, I'm getting my OH license initially, then will endorse to GA if I get a job down there. So my question is, what do I put on the application? I can't say I have my GA license, but I would have an OH license. I don't really want to get a GA license if I don't need one, ya know? Is this something I should call a recruiter about? Thanks for any suggestions!

All this information was very helpful to me too, but I was just on the GBON website and I'm a little confused about the endorsing process. What's the deal with the part that says you have to have worked 1800 hours or three months as an RN? I don't get how new grads could get endorsement then?

When I spoke with the recruiter last week she said they are on a hold for hiring new grads until the end of the year. Just curious, what's your strategy for getting interviews in Atlanta? I'm applying like crazy but it doesn't seem like places want new grads right now.

Well I don't graduate for 5 months...so I don't think I'm too late as of now. But thanks for your reply.

That cannot be true. Not everybody gets their first job from where they did their clinicals. Though the market is tough right now, some hospitals hire new grads. Am I wrong?

Thanks so much for the suggestions. I don't plan on staying where I am, or where I've gone to school, so I feel I'm at a slight disadvantage because I won't be working where I have clinical. It's hard to make contacts when I'm not in the city I want to get a job.

Hello, When do you think new grads should apply for RN positions? Three months before graduation? More? Is there a disadvantage to applying too early...say six months before graduation? Thanks for your help!

Yeah, that makes sense, but in an ideal world, if I have the choice, is it more beneficial to go through a residency before starting my first nursing job? Do residencies provide more learning and make the transition smoother?

Hello, In your experience, is it more beneficial to get hired as a new grad at a hospital or get accepted into a residency program before getting hired? I'm not sure which route to go as I am graduating in August. What are the pros/cons to both options? I'm looking to work either ICU or med/surg. Thanks!

Thanks for the response...that's kind of discouraging though! It seems like with all the hospitals in the area, the job market wouldn't be that bad for new grads.

Hi all, I will be graduating in August with an MN (Masters of Nursing). It's a second-career program so I will have my RN but I have no work experience and am a new grad. I'm in OH now and would like to relocate to Atlanta, but don't know much about nursing opportunities there. I've been looking mostly at Grady, Emory, and the VA. I'd love to do ICU but would also work Med-surg for awhile. I'm not too picky about where I want to work, but I would like to find some place with loan forgiveness or something like that. Any suggestions about good places to work in the Atlanta area or any other suggestions about the process of applying would be much appreciated. Thanks!