yikib38

I now have 1+ years experience as a NEW GRAD RN.. sad, isn't it?! We all know that the job market for New Grad RNs just plain old SUCKS.. and when I FINALLY got and interview I bombed it! I recently went on an interview for the State Prison systems.. when I arrived 'prepared', the inteview began and I soon realized that I was very far from being so. As the interview was tape recorded, I was asked 6 clinical nursing q's related to the field..being a New Grad (now out of school 1+ years) my answers were very 'fundamental'. Within 15 mins, the interview started and ended and I made the long walk passed the Prison yard to the parking lot, got in my car and started to panic!! So this brings me to my question to all other 'old' New Grads... What are you doing to keep up on your nursing knowledge?? Do you break out your text books in your free time and start reading-AGAIN? At this point I feel like that is what I should do.. never again do I want to be unprepared when asked clinical q's in an interview. Let the thread begin..

I'd give anything for 1 yr of experience. I got my license in April and started my job search that day. I have gotten to the point to where I am willing to take a position and work as an RN without pay in exchange for experience, fortunately I can still rely on the financial support from my parents (I have a non-nursing job but, I still live at home). I ran across a program or two that offered such positions like this while I was still in school, has anyone heard of any programs like this recently??

Congrats on the job! I needed to read a post like this to know that there is a glimmer of hope.

Sorry but, as a RN in California slaving day-to-day filing out apps it angers me to hear that anybody is declining anything. There are so many eager New Grads as myself who have been job searching for over a year now and would give up everything for that position. It baffles me that you would even apply to a position that was not geographically favorable. Please leave the Cali jobs to Cali RNs ready and willing to jump at the opportunity.

I found Lippincott tests to be more content based rather then NCLEX style test questions..I would suggest supplementing your studying with a Kaplan review book you can find at Borders or Barnes and Noble bookstores. Study hard. Good Luck!!

Here's the breakdown.. BCLS= basic cardiac life support (this is the old abbreviation for what is now called BLS).. BLS= basic life support, it includes basic CPR- BLS for the Healthcare Provider includes basic CPR and AED training.. Now after you get BLS for HCP certified you want to get.. ACLS= advanced cardiac life support, this provides advanced training to the HCP (how to read cardiac monitor, cardiac drugs to administer during a code, etc..) the training you receive in ACLS is to be used in a facility where BLS can be used in a public setting or anywhere there is an AED. Hope this helps! I will be taking these courses in a few weeks..so excited!

I am applying to a NICU training program and they are asking for a 1 page essay listing my professional goals emphasizing on working in the NICU. I just found out about this program today and applications are due Friday. I have googled samples but, have had no great results. It seems as it should be straight forward but, I have no idea how it's even supposed to look as far as formatting. I have to make my essay stand out as I'm sure there is a bazillion other applicants. If anyone has any tips, samples, or links to share they would be much appreciated.

Congrats on graduating, but unfortunately you've joined the rest of us =\. The hospitals don't have the funds to pay for New Grad training and the few positions that do become available to us 'unexperienced' RNs get flooded with applicants. At this point it's really about getting lucky.

I am exploring all my options in the Nursing field and have considered applying to a State Psychiatric Hospital. I am seeking feedback as to wether or not this is 'the place' for a New Grad RN . I have an interest in Mental Health so I wouldn't be taking this position just because it is a job. I spoke with the Nurse Recruiter today whom is actually a RN herself and she was excited to set up an interview once I sent in my app..then, today at work I had a customer who is a Hospice RN and actually graduated from the same program years before me..when I told her about my interest in working at the particular hospital her exact words were "oh you don't want to work there, don't be desperate". I think her response was resonable and somewhat maternal (meaning that it is not the most safe of environments). I have always been the type of person to do what I want, but if ay seasoned nurses have any feedback I would really appreciate it.

Your name should pop up on the BRN website within a few days if you passed. Go to 'license verification' and put you name in, it updates once a day, everyday for the business day before..since you took it today I would check starting Wednesday.. Good Luck! :)

Wow! For a minute I thought this was my post.. I completely understand your situation and if I told you my story I would quote you verbatim. Don't give up, Kaplan worked for me..I did everything they told me to do and then some. I took the NCLEX for the second time almost a year out of school and passed!! I still ended up doing sommething like 229 q's (I stopped watching the counter after 220). Take some time to re-focus on your goal and then start studying again. Good luck :)

I agree. I ran into a problem like this and ended up having to delay taking the NCLEX to take a California Government course (mind you this was a pre-req specific to this cc district only, I had previously completed my pre-req's at 2 other community colleges and was unaware of this until the LAST semeter of Nursing school when the dept was filing for graduation).. over the summer to fufill the community college's AS requirement.

I wouldn't suggest wearing Crocs, in face most schools/ hospitals ban them. There are not very practical (your might spill urine and then..its now soaking through your sock..eww) and they look scrubs look even more sloppy. I would suggest investing in a pair of Dansko clogs or finding a comfortable running shoe since you will be "running" around all day. I would not suggest and of those "toning" type shoes..trust me!! I ended up coming home from 8 hour clinicals feeling like i had a DVT (my calves were super sore). Good Luck!

It would have been nice to have a preceptorship..I am just going to stay motivated and be persistant. :bowingpur

What year did you graduate? Did your school have a preceptorship? I also came from a school/program that is highly spoken of and 30-40 ppl from my class don't have jobs..of course that could be due to their own lack of motivation. All points aside, it is a fact that the job market for New Grad RNs sucks and the positions that are available are receiving an overwhelming number of applicants.

That would have been ideal, but not practical here in Ca. New Grad jobs are so far and few that only those who already have an RN license will be considered and even that sometimes is not 'good enough'.

Does that mean you got an interview?

I just got my license and I have only been job searching for 3 weeks, but I'm already burn- out . I know most of you 'New Grads' have probably been job searching for almost a year or at least longer than me and I am just curious about how you stay motivated to continue searching...or maybe you gave up?

Try figuring out the source to what is causing you to fail. Is it content or is it the test style. State tests across the board can be 'tricky'. I didn't pass the 1st time, but I didn't put much effort into studying either. I wouldn't suggest Lipincott bc I have found that the questions are more content oriented (similar to test q's we had in Nursing School) and less NCLEX style. The 2nd time I took Kaplan and passed. I followed Kaplan 'by the book' and made sure I did everything they told me to do and then some. I wouldn't get caught up in ALL the different NCLEX prep options, focus on one method. Best of luck!

I just realized that I sent out a bunch of cover letters dated '2010'. Should I re-send corrected copies to all of the potential employers??

Hi, I am looking for a recruiter(s) who would review/critique my resume. I am a New Grad RN with nothing but my clinical experience to sell me so I want to make sure that what I am sending out to potential employers is catching their interest. Thanks!