Ct22

Wow, I feel like I'm on the same boat as you!! I also got hired for a day shift position on med surg. I really have been wanting to work nights (slower pace, more time to absorb what you are doing, less staff and families and physicians..basically less chaotic). But when they told me only days was available I didn't want to say anything bad about it and didn't want to make it seem like I couldn't handle days (I'm not sure if I can handle it but I need any job badly and didn't want jeopardize chances of getting the only day position available). So I wasn't honest about my hesitation bout day shift. I had first day of orientation and I still can't see myself ever feelin entirely comfortable on days. Of course I'm new and if I give it a chance I'll eventually do okay hopefully. But I just know it's not for me and how I work. It's a totally different environment and culture on nights vs. days and I'd like to give days a try but I'm pretty sure nights is a better fit for me... I'm okay sticking with days for orientation but I'd love to switch to nights once I'm off!!! Unfortunately I know a few day nurses will be transferring to other units and they are in need of day nurses at this moment. I don't know when there will be night openings. Should I be honest in my reason for wanting nights? Or will they let me go during 90 day probation if theres no night openings and if I share that I don't think days is for me and I can't handle it? How should I bring this up?

Hi bobo, you certainly aren't alone as there are unfortunately hundred and hundreds of new grad RN's in your shoes right now, myself included. It's a tough market since there is an oversupply of new grads. Like the previous poster said, there are hundreds of hundreds of applicants per position and you must really really stand out or have connections to be considered for an interview.Make sure your resume and cover letter are excellent and capitalize very well on your strengths. Make sure there is absolutely no grammar or spelling errors. It helps to have a long list of certifications. Consider getting your ACLS, ECG, and IV certifications in addition to only BLS..or other certs if you are going to peds of maternal child. Consider joining 1-2 professional affiliations because it'll look good on your resume. And network like crazy! I've been job-hunting since February and only got 2 calls for interviews out of over 100 applications. I got the first interview only because my clinical instructor helped me get it. I didn't get the job. As for the second interview, I had emailed the nurse manager directly in addition to applying through HR. That interview is tomorrow! Hang in there and good luck with the job hunt. Keep applying and trying like crazy.. Know that it's the job market and that you aren't alone..

I'm job-hunting for my first nursing job and have my very first interview for a New Grad RN position this Friday. Letters of recommendation aren't required, but if I choose to hand some in to the nurse manager who is interviewing me, would 2 be incomplete? Would the nurse manager think that is insufficient? I have 1 letter from a former clinical instructor and 1 from a former supervisor (I did front office for 3 years in a doctor's office). If I decide to ask for a 3rd letter, would it be okay if I ask my old co-worker who I worked with in that doctor's office? She also did front office.. There's no other instructor or professor from nursing school who I can think of to ask.. I'm considering to hand in a portfolio that includes the letters of recommendation. If I decide not to hand in a portfolio, do I just hand in the letters of recommendation alone at the very end of the interview?

Congrats!! The pearson vue trick worked for me and many others so it should work for you.. but I know you can't feel totally secure and at ease until you get the official results huh? I only started celebrating when the official results confirmed my passing too.. it's looking good for you though!! :)

I'm a new grad RN with a BSN from So. Cali and have been applying to jobs in the hospital (mostly med/surg, oncology, and some telemetry) for the last 2 months and I've not had a single call for an interview. I know that hospitals are tight with their budgets and prefer experienced nurses, but what is astounding is that I have been disregarded for even the New Grad RN positions! I can't even get an interview! I'm not sure what's wrong. I know there's a lot of competition for New Grad RN positions in So. Cali.. I don't have any CNA/PCT experience and unfortunately don't have many connections. While I would love to get my nursing career started working in an acute care hospital, I realize how difficult it is to do so.. I'm now exploring 3 different alternatives and would appreciate some advice.. 1) Should I try to get a job as a PCT/CNA in a hospital so that I can get my foot in the door and eventually get hired as an RN on that floor (hopefully)? 2) Or should I try to apply for a position in the hospital on another floor that is easier to get into (like psych) and then eventually get transferred to my ideal floor (med/surg or oncology)? 3) Or should I just try to get a job in a nursing home for now so that I can practice my basic nursing skills and improve in time management, prioritizing, and organizational skills and eventually apply for a job in the hospital later? I'm tired of waiting around for a hospital job and I've got to start somewhere. I realize it's also not easy to get into a hospital with just nursing home experience on your resume.. Ultimately, my goal is to get a good 1-2 years experiences in an acute care setting like med/surg or oncology and then go into hospice nursing or public health nursing. I don't see myself in the hospital down the road at all but I want to build on my nursing skillls and apply everything I learned from nursing school and I am positive I want to work on a med/surg or oncology floor early in my career. Any input would be greatly appreciated..thank you!!

I was just wondering..for the hospitals that have new grad programs, would it be a waste of time for a new grad to apply for regular RN positions within that hospital that are independent of the new grad program? Is the only way for a new nurse without experience to get a job in that hospital through the new grad program? I'm steering away from new grad programs because of how competitive they are...

Congrats to everyone who got accepted!!!! I was put on the waitlist.. HHalim, do you know how many students are put on the waitlist and what the chances are of being taken off that list?

Supernova, I am somewhat in the same boat as you and also am confused which path I should take. I am planning to be an NP and I currently have a bachelor's in Social Work. I was also torn between whether I should enter an accelerated BSN program, work as an RN for a few years, and then enter an MSN program..or whether I should go straight into an accelerated MSN for non-nurses.. Out of the 2 options you mentioned, I believe #1 is a very reasonable path to your goal..That is a path I am also considering myself. #2 definitely takes quite long and I would not pursue that path myself, but it's up to you if you want to. Have you thought about going straight into an accelerated MSN for non-nurses and skipping getting your BSN??