inchRistIcaN

you guys are stupid. this is not venting but being bullies. reminds me of the movie mean girls. adios allnurses.com

I am a new grad in the same position, but I have gotten personal call backs and emails, and had my resume looked over by hiring managers (in other careers) and by two dons, so it's a little strong ... I guess it's just my over the phone and online interviews skills that suck. lol But cutting right to the chase. I was bored to tears by the time I read the objective. I automatically skipped down to work experience to see something else, but that bored me too. Im sorry this sounds so harsh, but if I am reading it this way, chances are HR is too, w/o the skipping down part, because they go straight to tossing it since they have over 1000 new grads applying for just one job. I really regret skimming down because I missed your strong education part. I really agree with almost every thing the 1st poster said. IE bring you skills up (right under your education), work experience to me is fluff, plus its not like you were there long enough anyways, so it tells HR you like to move around. Plus they really dont care you worked at frys and dentist on call, when the next applicant worked as a tech or lvn previously. Instead add a specific clinical experience that relates to the job. I would move your ED experience there and elaborate more. Umm how long is this? It seems longer than one page so I would def. make it one page, not an inch longer. Also it's really nice of you to volunteer and give water to runners, but HR could care less. So take all of what you specifically did volunteering out. COVER LETTER Believe me I understand to whom it may concerns, it is extremely hard trying to get the name of a NR, you have better luck swimming through the bermuda triangle and coming out alive. But if you do know the name put that instead. Don't sell yourself short, because thats what you are doing here. Ok honestly the only thing I would keep is the next to last paragraph and delete everything else. In your next cover letter include the mission of the hospital and how you embody that and make yourself seem like they would regret not hiring you. And if you are going to be applying multiple place, which you might, look at lots of missions and you'll see they are pretty much the same, so find something that's popular and put that in your cover letter. It requires a lot of research and time but you got this!!!! Good luck

Sorry that happened to you and made you feel all bad! I definately think questions are good, but just remember there is a time and place for asking questions. We were told we would automaticall fail clinicals if we asked a question in front of a patient along the lines of I don't know how to do this. Basically asking anything in front of a patient that would freak them out. We could ask the questions just not in front of a crowd, but in a more intimate space. Keep your head up. Not that its justifiable, but maybe that meanie was just having a bad day and took it out on you. Hope this helps!

My mom always told me, when asking for something you need, the worst response you can get is no, or a laugh with a no. So shoot for it, if the worse you will get is a no. I live in Dallas and I have been doing it. I was told by HR here and in El Paso, why would I apply for anything other than a GN position, even though I have a RN license, it does not mean I am eligible to apply for any of those positions. I just politely thanked them for their advice. So I'm guessing here in Texas there's not as much luck doing that, but I still try. Its hard to get a GN position that "in just one day, 1200 people applied" A job will come!!!

Sad to hear about your accident, but thankfully, nursing has different careers inside of nursing. I always thought forensic nursing sounded cool! What about a nursing instructor or camp nurse over the summers. I hope it all works out for you!!!! :)

AND THIS TO SHALL PASS!!!!!!!!! You will do fine next time. I must say that exactly the content you described is right. IDK if you did a lot of book studying, but I have noticed that people who do book studying as much as questions don't always do the best. All I did was all of Kaplan. I didn't pick up one book at all, and I answered 30 questions every two hours. My classmates that also did just questions passed. So I hope this helps! And remember AND THIS TOO SHALL PASS!

Congrats!!!! What I big relief! I personally thought NCLEX was the worst test ever, but I was only overreacting because I got more than 3 SATA when I expected less! haha! Those alternative item questions can make you loose confidence fast! NCLEX is totally passable if you just study right!

I am so sorry this happened to you! I am a new grad too applying for jobs, and I was told I would have one before I graduated because I was a patient at the hospital for 18 years and I volunteered there faithfully and that when they posted the app for the jan. intern to apply and call in to let them know. Well I got called and was told sorry, because of the budget cuts we won't be offering the internships anymore, and you have to have at least a year of experience to be hired in here. lol. Story of my life. Im okay. It never phased me, because I know that my future job is out the somewhere. Finding a job is kind of like finding a husband or wife. hahaha! Hope that made you laugh! Don't give up hope! :)

I don't have a good poop one, but I got a good bloody one! When I was in nursing school I was in the pre-op for surgery helping all the patients get ready, and this one nurse couldn't stick a patient, so they called me in to see if I could get it to get experience on a hard stick. Well, I got it!!!!! But being inexperienced I didn't check to see if all the equipment was there, and so I ended up not having anything to start the iv but the needle that was already threaded. While I was trying to get the stuff, the patient was bleeding ALL OVER THE PLACE! And guess who had their ungloved hands cupped catching all the blood...the NURSE!!!!!!! They told me, "I can do that baby, I'm old school". I was totally grossed out!!!!! They were holding two hands full of blood, it was all down our scrub pants, on our shoes, on the floor, on the sheets, bed rails, top cover, call bell, I mean everywhere; even though I was pressing on the vein. The blood was okay, but the ungloved hands full of blood freaked me out for life. I left there totally baffled that day!

YOU CAN DO IT! I had people with lots of kids, all kinds of kids, sick (lived in the hospital sick) kids, newborns, etc, in my class. Oddly those were the people with A's! It's not easy and can be really hard at times, but it's possible! You just have to get in the habit of studying, unless nursing come natural to you. lol. Which I don't believe it does for anybody. People with experience get through it really easy! Good luck!

I agree with the HR departments not being in the hospital. Like Parkland here in Dallas. I was just going to go to my top three hospitals to speak with NMs, with scrubs on, resume in hand as many of people on here have been advising people to do. I didn't know if it was a good idea, but they all claimed to have gotten jobs at their dream hospital by doing that. So I was willing to try so I could get the internship spot I applied for. I understand I that beggars can't be choosy. But I am not begging or desperate for a job. As I have thing already lined up to do before I go to work and I also am financially okay until I find a job. I know that some people have families and such they have to provide for so they have to go to work immediately, and that I am one of the lucky few that don't have to. I also live fully for Christ and know that He's my provider and will sustain me in whatever: "I can do all things through Christ who strenghtens me" or "the will of God will never carry me where the grace of God won't protect me" :) So when it happens, it happens. BUt I agree about the Walmart part and will apply for any position, even nursery, before I go to Walmart (if I had to). I also only tell about Sickle Cell Anemia if it's a ped Hemoc position because I have been told by a couple of HR departments, that that is what made me stand out, and that it looked good and was relevant. Eventhough, when they see me, they know I either have Hepititis or Sickle Cell Anemia, because I am so jaundiced. I am usually asked by nurses before I even have a chance to say something. Thanks for your advice, it helps a lot. Especially the don't be surprised if you get turned away! :)

Dishes, thanks for replying! and LOL!!!! OH NO!!!! I would never ever tell HR that I wanted to become a Nurse because of my many bad nurses who were really really bad at times! I would just think it. lol The only way I would say something along the line, is if I were asked what inspired me to be a nurse in a interview. I would definately tell the truth and say I had many many great nurses in my 18 years but I also had bad nurses who would curse at me, grab me roughly, would state that they hated nursing in my room, and even force pills down my throat. And I feel that no patient being as helpless and vulnerable as they are and might feel should be subject to treatment like that, regardless if they are in for something minor or major. I am going to call the hospitals and see what their policy is now too!! THANKS! :)

Thanks! I am going to wear business attire when I get an interview. I had just read on allnurses, that people who went to the actual hospital to talk to DONs and NMs wore scrubs, and a lot of them got jobs that way. I've never heard of doing that until I read it on here a lot. Im looking for a job. I am willing to do ER and Pediatric Hematology/Oncology so I have been applying at all the ERs and Childrens hospitals everywhere. I Know I will get a job where I want as long as I keep depending on God! Thanks a lot for commenting! :)

Hi guys! So I have been reading post on here unregistered for about a year, and I finally just decided to get registered to ask a question. Background: I went to college out of state, but came back home to Dallas to find a job. I have put in applications all over the USA and about 50 times, internships included, to each hospital in Dallas in hope of landing a job. I finished Nursing School in Dec 2011 and passed NCLEX on March 9th. I have been applying since last MAY! I had my dream job that was hopeful, but the budget got cut at the hospital and the position never got posted. I want to be a pediatric hematology/oncology nurse and I was a pediatric hematology/oncology patient for 18 yrs with a host of bad nurses that inspired me more than ever. I have an impressive resume and cover letter, in fact each time I get denied I get told my resume and cover letter are great but I am just not experienced. This week alone I got rejected for 21 positions in which I never got a call back/ interview/ or email from with the exception of one; which was in a area that has a shortage of nurses and was a entry level hematology/oncology/infusion job at a new hospital. I was interviewed (tele) there, and so called passed but had to go through one more person who said I needed 6 months of experience even for entry level positions. I have had it with this system and I've decided I want to be PROACTIVE and hit the pavement and go to these places and get me a job. I am way too passionate about nursing to not be working. With that said I have decided I only want to do pediatric hematology/oncology or pediatric ER. So that narrows my choices of where to go. My question is, when I do go, should I wear scrubs as I've read people doing? What should I say, because it's really wierd to walk into a busy ER and ask to speak to the nurse manager/DON with all this paperwork in hand (plus I look like I'm twelve and should be a patient). When is the best time to go to these floors and ERs? Do I tell them I already applied and got denied? I sometimes get word vomit when I try to tell the half truth and will probably tell that I have tried already and was denied every time and that I also have Sickle Cell Anemia, but that's what makes me so driven. Then I'll follow up with I know you'll be taking a risk on hiring me, but I will work every weekend, holiday, and when called in for 12 months straight. I plan on going to the hospital that I was a patient at for 18 years first! I know this is lengthy, but thanks in advance for reading, and any advice you guys/gals have. I really appreciate it!! I do, I do!