jojo111

As a new grad nurse, after I passed the NCLEX, I did put my name and then RN, BSN after it right on the top of my resumé. With all the Magnet designation push for BSN degrees for hospital nurses, I felt like it could help me stand out a little bit. I do wonder if it helped, hurt or made no difference -- and I have since read that the correct order of listing your credentials is in the order you received them. That would mean I should be listing BSN, RN to be proper... Hopefully I do not have to worry about it for awhile now, since I start my new job this Monday, 9/23!

Hey BSNtraumaqueenRN, not sure whether you're talking to me, the OP, or both of us here -- but yes, CMC/CHS was my first choice and where I did all my clinicals. Several of my classmates were hired there, and I made it to final interview stage for one of the Advance programs but did not get selected. I also applied at Novant & Caromont. In my 2nd round of interviews, in which I got four job offers out of five interviews, Caromont/Gastonia was the only hospital that did NOT make me an offer, although I went on three separate interviews! Go figure.... Anyhow....Wake Forest Baptist has a higher ranking and stronger Magnet status than any of our local hospitals. At this point in time, I figure I am where I am meant to be and I am happy with my choice. If I love it, then I will move to W-S permanently. If not, I'll complete that magical first year and then re-explore all my options.

Just graduated May 2013. Went thru my notes & decided I didn't need them after I passed NCLEX; also sold back virtually all of my books for pennies on the dollar -- but hey, every penny counts, right? I feel pretty strongly that anything technical that we need to know will be available online, on the units we hire in on, or in more updated books. Hoping that is correct -- but I have limited space, and trying not to hang onto unnecessary stuff! If it's useful and/or I love it, then happy to keep it around. And although I absolutely LOVED nursing school (almost every minute of it!), I found I didn't love my books or my notes enough to let them gather dust...

I'm starting my new position on a Heme/Onc unit at a major teaching hospital in the SE this coming Monday 9/23. I'm a new grad & SO excited -- and SO scared. Of course, the first couple weeks will be orientation, & then a 10-12 wk. 'Journeys New Grad Residency'. I'm happy to share experiences / absorb shared wisdom / sympathize over newbie mistakes (hopefully none fatal!) / learn how to learn & stay positive in spite of the difficulty & challenges I will surely encounter.

HospitalPassion: I applied at CHS, Novant & Caromont -- interviewed at all three and none of them made me an offer. Therefore, I extended my search.....it was important to me to get a new grad residency at a major hospital for my first year of experience, so I chose not to try the LTC / clinic route to start. Does it make more sense now? I would so love to not be commuting ALLLLLLL the way to W-S, believe me!

So I was in the same position -- first five interviews right after graduation & no offers. I had applied for probably 35-40 jobs online (all new grad residencies @ hospitals) & many times got no response whatsoever. The good thing was that it was good practice! On my 2nd round of applications --> interviews --> final interviews I got 4 offers! My partner, who was an HR manager for many years, suggested that I stick to nursing/clinical/school experiences when I answer questions, especially the behavioral type. The advice was specifically to create 5-6 stories of my best & worst (& how I turned them around) examples, and then you can adapt those stories to fit almost any question. And practice! As a 37-year-veteran of corporate America before nursing, I didn't really feel the need to practice my stories -- and I think that showed initially. As I completed interview after interview, I found the answers flowing smoothly & it was easy to adapt and refine based on the feedback / reactions I was perceiving. Don't give up! There are opportunities out there -- and when you can network, that is SO key....in addition to your own qualifications. Good luck & keep us posted!

So....when I started nursing school, I thought I wanted to work in Oncology (ovarian cancer survivor myself), or in the Operating Room (where I could use my Healing Touch & Reiki skills during surgeries). After learning a little more about the specifics of these specialties, and doing clinicals in other areas, these two were the last places I wanted to be. Then reality comes along. I MUST get a job, and in my chosen areas of L&D or ICU -- no offers. I did get offers for Periop & Oncology (ironic, eh?)! It was a difficult choice, because both hospitals have excellent reputations and there were huge plusses and minuses either way -- but I ended up choosing Oncology, hopefully for all the right reasons. Reading the advice and wisdom posted on this website helped me immensely in the decision-making process, and I really appreciate everyone sharing.

Thank you, Esme12!!!

Hi! I'm also a new grad who lives in Charlotte & will be commuting back & forth to Winston-Salem -- I took a job @ Wake Forest Baptist. Where will you be working / have you already begun orientation / etc? I start on 9/23. I found a room in a woman's house with a private bath that she is willing to rent very reasonably, so when I work several 12's in a row or maybe if I only have one day off in between I can stay put...& when there is a bit more time, I can come home. Have you considered anything like that?

Hey y'all -- I am 61 years young & just got my BSN after 3 yrs. back in school, in the top 10% of my cohort (who were mostly traditional undergrads). I did NOT work, but many of my fellow students did and were successful. From what I could see, it just added LOTS of stress for them -- but we all do what we have to do, right? My biggest issue was age discrimination (I think) when trying to find a job, and I wished several times that I had worked as a CNA during school. It really makes a difference in who gets hired. However, I now have multiple job offers so all's well that ends well! I strongly encourage all of my fellow 'older & wiser' types to go for it!