apRN

I actually think I am ok, but I am always open to words of wisdom! :)

JettRNurse: I graduated a year ago and have been working at a psychiatric facility for the past 9 months. I also want to work my way to ER nursing. I have been trying to get a job on a telemetry or cardiac unit for a couple months now. I was wondering if you have any advice for me? I think you should apply for the ER nurse position. I think you have the foundation you need! Good luck!

Thank yous for the feedback! It really helped!

Hi all, I am working on updatig my resume! i have been at my first RN job for almost a year and want to make the description pop, but i am struggling! I work on an eating disorder unit in a psych hospital. I have come up with: develop and improve coping strategies, assess and attend to psychological and emotional needs and integrate patient and families goals into treatment plan to provide patient and family centered care. I dont really like any of the ones i have come up with. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks!

Hi, I am a recent graduate working as nurse on an eating disoder unit. I have been trying to get a job in cardiology for awhile now but no one will even consider me for an interview. I was wondering if anyone had advice on things I could do to build my resume. Should I get ACLS certified? I am willing to do anything, I LOVE cardiac nursing and would be so happy if I had a chance at getting a job in that field!

I am starting my first job as a new grad on monday! im excited/nervous about it. I am trying to prep myself for things i should be asking while orienting and notes i should be taken because my orientation is only 2 weeks long. One week of shadowing and one week of hospital training. I want to make sure I start my new job off right and get the most out of my orientation. So far i have come up with: -asking about common medications given so that i can look them up on my own time -what is included in an assessment -asking about time managment and prioritization ( i have been told new nurses need to work on these two areas) any other ideas i would really appreciate it! thanks!

I totally understand your frustrations. I am not nearly as experienced as you, but i just got my frist job as an RN. Getting there was not easy. I had a couple interviews where i felt they were a waste of time and could tell the employer did not want to know who i was and if i would do well with the staff. Rather they wanted me to be on my toes. How long have you been looking? Keep your head up. I looked for a really long time and finally i found a place where i felt was a good fit for me and them. It took time but it was worth it! good luck!

IknowIcanRN, Congrats on the interviews!! Many of my friends who are now employed said it took them up to 5 weeks to get back to them and they were offered a job, so keep you head up! Also, asking to shadow is a great idea!! I just recieved and email today asking for an interview for thursday! im excited/nervous! its my first interview and im trying to prepare as much as possible! I started tonight and will contiune tomorrow! Its at a long term care facility, so i wonder if asking to shadow would be a good idea? what do you think? As for the calls from HR, they gave me a name and a number to contact. Im super frustrated because the first lady called when i was in the shower and i missed it and called back 2 times and she didnt call me today. The other one, i missed a call and called back after 20 min, and she called me back saying the position was filled a couple days later. I also have called another facility to follow up on my application, but she was out of town for a week so hopefully ill hear back from her by the end of the week. I hope you will get a call within the next week or two with a job offer!! good luck!! MattiesMama, I have already filled out a volutneer application, and my friends are doing the reference letters. Im also looking into volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House. I looked into clerk positions, but do you think they will see i have a BSN and think im not in it for the long hall? iwas thinking if i got an interview for that i would tell them I think this is a great opportunity for me to get to know the unit and learn the ways of the unit and if there is an opening for RN i will apply for this unit? Thanks for all the great ideas! i really appreciate your ideas! they are so helpful!!

I graduated from nursing school in may. I started my job search at the beginning of sept, right after i passed my boards. I thought having a license would help my job search, i was wrong. I am in the same boat as you. I have been applying and go the "generic email" which is irritating. I have also gotten phone calls interested in hiring me but then they heard im a new grad and say "oh well we are looking for an experienced nurse." I get super frustrated then, HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO GET THE EXPERIENCE YOU WANT IF NO ONE WILL HIRE ME!Its so irritating. Just keep applying. I might have to take up a job at a mall or something just so i have some sort of income. I dont really have advice, besides dont give up! something will come up. ANd dont forget all the hardwork you put into this! I wish i had more advice, but just keep your head up, try to remember how much you love the profession. I just joined this blog and after seeing how much help everyones posts were i remembered how much i loved being able to help people.

Thursday I have my first interview. I am currently preparing for the interview questions and am trying to think of a weakness. I keep going back and fourth about this. I dont want to give a bad answer. My honest answer would be: I graduated in May and my skills are not as fresh as they were then. I would think this is a good honest answer and since you can teach skills i feel like it is a good answer, but i dont know if the manager will look down upon me for not finding a job since i graduated. Is this a good response to this question? I also wanted to have a remedy for my weakness, but the only remedy i can think of is having a place to practice them! I need help. I really want to get this job, it has been super hard to get this interview and i want to make sure i make a my best impression.

Its amazing how fast things can turn around, just earlier today i posted about not having a job, but today i was offered an interview! I am so excited/nervous. My past experiences with interviews have been laid back and not taken very professionally. For example, for my SNA job the Nurse manager was listening to the radio and said i looked like a good fit. I want to do my best in this interview. I am not sure what questions they will ask, but i want to be prepared. My interview is Thursday afternoon.The interview is at a retirement home. I dont have any experience working at one, so I am guessing they will aske me why I want to work at a nursing home, and since it is not my first choice i am not sure how i will answer. I like working with the elderly, I have patience and respect for them, but besides that i dont know how to respond! I would really appreciate help with this! thanks!

I am willing to relocate. I will start doing job searches in Texas! Thanks for the help. I love love love this website! I just discovered it and everyone on here is willing to help! So, Thanks! IknowIcanRN: I know exactly what you mean about forgetting skills. I worked this summer educating high school students about what nurses do and we did a mini lab where i was able to refresh my skills, but they were basic skills. I also started applying before i got my license and had no luck so I waited unitl i got my license and applied to like 70 jobs! I got immediately rejected from ICU/ER which is where i wanted to be. I then went to looking for jobs on med/surg, telemetry, ect. Now im looking in long term facilities. Its not exactly where i want to be but i have to start somewhere, right? Have you had any luck with interviews? i have not gotten one. I got a phone call from HR and i called them back the next day, and they have not called me back, so i called again to show im interested and still nothing. Its super frustrating because i stay by my phone all day and then i step away to shower and thats when i get my first call and now they wont call me back . I hope we both find a job soon. Its not fair that we worked so hard to get into nursing school, work hard to do well in nursing school then take NCLEX and pass and still no jobs come!

Hello, I am a new graduate, I graduated in May, and passed NCLEX in september. Over the past two months i have been applying to jobs like crazy. I have applied to over 100 jobs. I recieved 2 phone calls but one the position got filled before the called me back and the other one im waiting for them to call back. I have applied to all different types of jobs and am having no luck. Does anyone have advice for me? I am starting to get concerned because december graduates are looking for jobs now. I would really appreciate help! I am willing to take a job anywere in the U.S. Thanks