ccalvinn

I don't know if I can call myself a 'new grad' anymore as I graduated back in December of 2011 and have had my license for nearly a year, but here are my answers: 1. How many places have you applied so far? I've applied to about a dozen different facilities and put in just over 200 specific applications. 2. How many new grad postings vs. regular postings? I'd guess that about 70 were new grad postings, the remainder were regular postings. 3. How many have you heard from one way or the other? I've had about 30 applications with no response whatsoever. The majority of the jobs aren't direct responses, but I can log back into their system and find the rejection there. I've received three interviews, but only one was for a job that I put an application in for! 4. Any job offers? No. I'm still plugging away at this and actually received a call for another interview. It's one of the facilities that I've interviewed with before, so hopefully I can make a better impression this time and get my first job offer!

Hello everybody! I have an upcoming interview at a state prison in Michigan and would like some help. Before I get to my questions, a little background. I graduated with my associate degree in nursing in December of 2011 and gained my RN license in June of 2012. I applied for a few jobs before getting my license but didn't really put my shoulder into it until afterwards. Since then I've put out many MANY applications and have only received two interviews. The first was over the phone and was for a position that I didn't apply directly for (it required two years experience which I obviously don't have), and the other was at a hospital. I obviously didn't get either job and want to make as good of an impression at this interview as possible. I imagine being out of school for so long doesn't look good I obviously didn't get either job. I know that being out of school for a year and having my license for almost 10 months can't look good. I've heard that being a correctional nurse can be a rewarding career and certainly has my interest, but at the same time I've heard that it isn't a good 'first' nursing job. While I would love to wait for the best possible job to present itself, I'm just not in a position to turn down an opportunity. So... what would be some good questions to ask at the interview? I believe I've mentally prepared myself to work in a hospital setting and all of my questions apply to that. I imagine that security will be discussed during the interview, but if not is that good thing to ask about? Or would asking about that make me look naive (or worse yet scared)? Should I ask about the type of patients I'd be giving care to? Should I ask about the nursing theory used? I don't want to ask questions that don't apply to a correctional setting, but I don't want to seem like I know nothing about it either. Also, what would be the best skills to present? It's my understanding that in a correctional setting a good assessment skills is most sought after as well as being able to work independently. Both of these are skills that I possess, but is there something else that I should emphasize? Any help you could provide would be most appreciated!

I have been visiting allnurses.com since I started my prerequisite classes in 2008. It helped tremendously throughout school although I always lurked and never set up an account. But now, once I saw this thread, I just had to set up an account and join in. I graduated in December of 2011 with my ADN. I took the NCLEX in March and got all possible questions.... and didn't pass. I studied and more importantly prepared myself better mentally and took the NCLEX again in June. When the text shut off after only 75 questions I was devastated. Just sure that I had failed. But I soon found out that I had passed and was now a full fledged licence holding Registered Nurse. That glow only lasted a few months. Backing up a bit... I put out several applications while still in school. I didn't expect much, and only applied to jobs in the hospital where I was taking my last clinical. Most of my classmates did the same, and several got hired before they even graduated. I put out a few more applications when I was close to my first NCLEX exam date, but when I failed I thanked my lucky stars that I hadn't gotten a job. I mean how horrible would it be to lose a job for not passing the NCLEX. Once I did get my license I let the flood gates open and applied to job after job after job after job after job. And then the next day rolled around and I started up again. The hospital that I took my clinicals at lists jobs specifically for "Registered Nurse / Graduate Nurse", and I make sure to apply to each and every one of those, figuring it would be the easiest job to get. But I don't limit myself there... I apply to most hospitals in a 100 mile radius. I apply to jobs that 'prefer' several years experience. I apply to jobs that 'request' several years of experience. The only jobs I don't apply to are ones that list a requirement for experience. And even with that restriction, I still am applying to dozens of jobs a week. I don't get a response to most applications. Some hospitals list that the job has selected someone else, or that they've closed the job opening (only to open it back up again that same week). One hospital will even send an email to let me know that they've selected someone else. But most don't list anything. Just that I've applied. In the four months that I've been applying like it's my job (and I'm getting good at applying!) I have received one phone interview (they must not have looked at my resume as the required 5 years experience. I hadn't even applied to the job!), and one face to face interview. While the interview was fast (done in 15 minutes) I thought that I did well. It was for a fairly undesirable job, and the only applicants were new grads. I walked out of that interview like I was walking on clouds. I was SURE that I nailed it, and that I would be hearing from them yesterday (they would only contact the person selected). Needless to say with me posting in this thread, I didn't get the job. But I guess what they say is true... misery loves company. I was incredibly disheartened when I didn't get that call. I'm still hurting about it, but after reading this thread and seeing that I'm not alone I feel.... better? For the most part, my classmates have moved on to find jobs. I seem to be one of the few (if not the only one) that hasn't began using my license yet. I thought that it must be me. But after reading so many of your stories and nodding along, I realize that I'm not alone. So I'll be rooting for all of you to get that job. It's out there. Just don't begrudge me if I try to snag it first!