Bells23

Also, try to put your resume in PDF format. A lot of times formatting gets distorted when you upload a word doc.

50K is pretty spot on for the new grad jobs city wide.

NMH is hiring new graduates, but BSN only.

NMH is always hiring, but they won't consider your application if you don't have your licensure already.

You might want to look at tech positions at NMH. I know it's below your licensure, but I have heard a rumor that the union techs at NMH make as much if not more than some LPNs. Just something to consider.

It's definitely desirable, because it shows you are doing something during your time of unemployment. Also consider volunteering.

Make sure you have your license already. NMH won't consider any applicants without it. If you applied without it, create a new account and reapply when your an RN.

I was hired without any connections. It was difficult, but not impossible. I made sure my resume and cover letter was as impressive as possible. Try to get some volunteer nursing experience, or a vaccine job. Also try to get as many certifications as possible. Also, walk onto a floor and deliver your resume to a manager or cc if you can. I have heard of some getting an interview on the spot with this technique. Congrats on the interview. Don't forget to write a thank you note. If you don't get the job, call the manager and ask why. She/he might be able to give you some ideas for improvement.

I like the fit and feel of Urbayne and Grey's Anatomy scrubs. Each store carries different brands, but they are often more expensive than the online prices. To find a scrub store near you, it's probably best to just do a google search. Side note: Make sure your white scrubs are thick enough that your panties don't show through; it can be a real problem.

Some of the major magnet hospitals in Chicago are Rush, NMH, University of Chicago, Children's Memorial, RIC, and Advocate Illinois Masonic. There are a few more though. The hospitals in Chicago are looking for experience, certifications, BSN, leadership, and community service. Make sure to highlight these areas in your resume. Transferring your license is a pain, but easy enough. You will need to go to this website: http://www.idfpr.com/dpr/who/nurs.asp Click on the appropriate "written application" link for your licensure. Then, choose the "endorsement" application. Print and follow the steps for the endorsement requirements. Make sure to send everything in a neat package, otherwise receiving your license may be delayed. Hope that helps

NMH is definitely hiring. They have a lot of applicants though, so you need to make sure your resume and cover letter are the best they can be. HR has a lot of applications to look through, and I'm sure many get filtered out. The ICU's have hired quite a few new grads in the last few months, so you might even be able to land your first choice. Good luck!

Why not wait until an ICU position opens up at a better hospital? You definitely won't be making anything close to 100K, because most of the hospitals limit OT. Would you be OK with a big pay cut? The OR would be a great option if you want to be a Surgical First Assist, but it wouldn't give you valuable experience for many other advanced degree positions. If it were me, I would want to have the strongest resume possible, so I would wait for a position that meets both my area of interest and quality standards. Good luck, it's a tough decision to make.

NMH is hiring new grads. They get a lot of applications, so they are extremely selective. They hire BSN nurses only and prefer if you have some experience. Write a strong cover letter explaining what you have been doing after graduation. Find a position administering vaccines for an independent vaccine company. Flu season is over, but they still need nurses to give travel vaccines. You can search Craig's List for small odds and ends positions. Just be careful that the job is legit. Another option is volunteering for free clinics. All of these would give you at least some experience to put on your resume, and it shows that you are proactive.

Northwestern Memorial only hires BSN nurses. I think most of the magnet hospitals only hire BSN to keep their magnet status, but I could be wrong about that. Enrolling in a BSN program might be beneficial to build up your resume and allow you to compete with BSN new grads. Hope that helps and good luck with the job search!

I graduated in December of 09, and the changes they made to the program introduced more online learning. That seemed pretty pointless to me, because the majority of the program is already self taught. Get ready to teach yourself how to give injections haha! Maybe the changes they made will have been for the better, because the program really sucked when I graduated. None of my classmates were really impressed by the "self taught" education we received.