RNRNRN1234

I forgot to include on here that working in the hospital in any capacity was near impossible (tech, CNA, etc.) I worked in a restaurant to pay the bills. If you're not working in a patient care setting during school, be sure to draw important similarities between your job and the nursing field. i.e.: customer service, fast paced environment, and leadership positions, similar working hours, working as a team, etc.!

I'm cruisin' in your boat.... ugh. We didn't get into this career for the money... but it certainly cost alot to get there!

Hello friends! I just graduated with my BSN in May 2011. I know the job climate is arduous, if not impossible in so many parts of the country, including mine, and wanted to share what I think helped me land a great position before I graduated, without having any real "connections" in local hospitals. 1. Be an exceptional student. Develop positive, professional relationships with your instructors. Take time to show them your interest. Your instructors, whether you enjoy them or not, are your number one link to advocate for you in the classroom and clinical setting. Participate in classroom activities and discussion, put extra effort into clinical paperwork (no matter how arduous and pointless it seems). If they have the opportunity to respect you as an individual and a student nurse, you may find yourself learning skills and information that will help you stand out during your clinicals. Not to mention, many of your instructors have long lasting relationships in acute care setting, and they will be more willing to pull strings and make some calls to their friends if they are rooting for you! 2. Treat EVERY clinical experience as a job interview. Not only are you making a lasting impression of yourself, but for your whole school. One person acting poorly sends a negative message about your whole university, which could make getting hired difficult for everyone you go to school with. Also, especially in your senior year, floor managers know you will be looking for a job, and if they see excellent skills and behavior, they will want you on their floor. 3. Put yourself out there. Especially in your last clinical semester, introduce yourself to your floor manager and express interest in working there. Establish relationships with as many people as possible. Remember people's names: RNs, doctors, NP's, techs, janitorial services, etc. All of these things get back to managers ! Make yourself apart of the family. Show that you want to learn more, take every opportunity that you can. 4. Be appreciative. Write thank you cards to ANYONE who helps you along the way, makes an impression, or makes a difference. 6. If possible, try to schedule your clinicals at one hospital from the beginning. To a manager, they see 4 years of orientation to a "culture" and a "community", also extra time you've spent learning charting systems, and other unique facets to an acute care setting. If you know what hospital you want to work for, try not to skip around... you'll show commitment from the get-go. It may be beneficial to be able to compare, but in this climate "shopping around" isn't realistic, and many new grads are lucky to get an offer from anywhere. You might as well get a head start. 7. Be a community leader. Participate in some organization, or lead an initiative that takes your nursing skills outside of the hospital. This gives great material for interviews. 8. Use key words: EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE, PATIENT ADVOCACY, COMMITTEES, TEAM-WORK, LEADERSHIP, DILIGENCE, PATIENT SATISFACTION. Managers' lives are run by some of these key topics, know them, use them, and show that you can act them out! 5. When you apply, don't just fill out the electronic application. Bring a professional folder with your cover letter, resume, letters of recommendation, and copies of certification/ accolades directly to the interviewing manager. 6. Be genuine in your interview. Talk about REAL experiences and technical procedures unique to the unit (i.e. working with Arctic Sun or RotaProne machinery, manipulating IV drips, etc.). Show that you've practiced the real workings of a nurse (communicating with physicians, assisting in codes, entering orders, completing discharge procedures). Some of these things aren't the most exciting, but to a manager, they are very important, and add a new facet to nursing that many grads don't realize are an integral part of the day. Good luck! And happy and fulfilling jobs to everyone! :)

Graduated in May 2011, passed boards in July, start work TOMORROW!!!

Brown Mackie is not nationally accredited, which means if you should choose to continue your education, your courses you spent your time and money taking would not count. Also, that facility has a horrible reputation (for good reason) and I know the hospitals in my area will not only not hire their graduates, but will not allow their students in for clinicals in their acute care facilities.

She will want to go to a facility with a cath lab in the event of an emergency. Lutheran hospitals are FOR PROFIT facilities and Parkview is NOT FOR PROFIT. I recommend Parkview, because, since they are not for profit, they have better financial services. Lutheran billing is a nightmare and they will go to no limits to destroy your credit score in the event of inability to pay.

anybody heard any news yet?

Thanks for the response! Yes I completed the nursing battery as well, just wondering how long it will take to hear something after that. I hate that it said "if you don't hear from us we are not interested", I wish they could tell us yes or no! At this point, I am interested in whatever are I can be hired. Med-Surg is not at the top of my list, but at the same rate I know I will be grateful for the skills and learning opportunities that will be presented there. Let me know if you hear anything else from them. Good luck!

Just wondering if anyone has heard back from their GUH new grad application for summer 2011. Are there any other area hospitals with new grad programs opening up for this summer?

Thanks so much! Do you mind telling me what worked for you getting a job in the area? What hospital do you work at, and do you like it?

I currently live in Indiana, and we hate it. I grew up in San Diego, and want to move back to a big city. We enjoy DC, and my father in law lives in Northern VA. We refuse to live in northern VA, though. It's not our style, and there's no way I'm sitting through that traffic. Pretty much all of Fort Wayne is in a hiring freeze, so we are going wherever I get a job. Our starting preference is DC, and it seems like it is one of the few cities still hiring new grads. Although living in Indiana is VERY inepxpensive, new grad jobs are close to impossible, and are starting out at about 14.00 with horrible benefits. From what I've heard though, living directly in the city is less expensive than many places in northern VA.

Hello all, this is my first post on all nurses woohoo! My family and I are moving to DC when I graduate this coming May with my BSN. I want to work in the DC area, and I need all the advice I can get for getting a job right away! Step 1: Get an interview! I have already emailed all of the HR departments for DC area hospitals. Am I starting too soon? Most of the responses I have recieved have said "check our job postings" but obviously, I can't apply for a specific job on the online application system, since I have not yet graduated. Any nursing recruiters out there? Also, how reasonable is it to survive in DC with a family of 3 on a nurses salary? We would like for my husband to be able to stay home, since our son is 18 months old, and we don't want to have to put him in day care if its not absolutely necessary. Ok, so anyone and everyone give me the lowdown and how to, because I am READY to be "one of those" in my graduating class that says "I already have a job" :) Peace and blessings to all :)