positive_nursing

I am a new grad nurse who just received my first job offer for a position with CLF Staffing (a hiring agency) for a position in the CVICU at a Magnet level Hospital. During my application process I spoke several times with the recruiter at CLF Staffing regarding my resume and qualification but I never spoke with anyone from the Hospital itself. Does anyone else have experience with working for this agency or getting contracted to a hospital through them?

No, I am not sure of that. Ever since I became interested in Nursing I wanted to become a flight nurse. I am not sure if that will be a realistic goal or something that I will continue to desire once I begin my practice. My thoughts with seeking out an ED job first is to increase my work speed and my exposure to a large amount of different disease and injury physiologies. Granted as an acute care practice nurse I am sure I would accomplish both of these goals as well so casting a wide net is well advised. Long term I absolutely see myself pursuing a doctorate degree to become a nurse practitioner in either critical or acute care.

THIS. thank you that is definitely what I have been looking for. I was beginning my search with Magnet and teaching hospitals for the sake of having a place to start and to focus my job search efforts. However I had awesome experiences at smaller hospitals, Enloe Hospital in Chico, CA being one of my favorites. Having lived in the northern California area for most of my life, my goal with the first job is to branch out to different cities and places in the world as well as get a good gig. I will check out these hospitals. THANK YOU LV3677.

Yes, I am absolutely interested in residency programs in those states! The types of residency programs/departments that most interest me are Emergency Department (both of my extra preceptorships were in ED), Cardiac ICU, medical ICU, telemetry, definitive care/step down unit... In terms of the unit I am really flexible about it if it will get my foot in the door at a great facility. I dont see myself making a career on a Med/Surg floor just because I thrive in the challenge of fixing the real broken patients and the higher patient load doesn't leave me with as much time at the bedside as I would like. I get my kicks from really delving in the pathophysiology of the patient and working with patient and family to find the lifestyle etiologies of their condition to make some lasting changes. I plan on throwing out my resume to a bunch of residencies but I am hoping for any way to help my application stick out from the masses...

Yes, I am aware that teaching hospitals refer to the education of physicians. I may be naive in my assumption, but I am drawn to teaching hospitals because I feel that as a generalization, these types of facilities are at the forefront of medical research and place a very high value on evidence based practice. This was my experience during a preceptorship I did in the ED of UC Davis medical center in Davis, California. This is not to say that other hospitals do not do the same, but in trying to shoot for the stars I wanted to start my search at teaching and Magnet level hospitals. I also hope to stay at the hospital where I get a job for 5+ years so in theory a Magnet level hospital should have a demonstrated history of positive work culture and a commitment to the nursing staff.

I graduated nursing school in May 2015 and got my BSN from Chico State University in California. I did not get approval to sit for the NCLEX until September. I had some personal issues which left me with uncertainty about where I would apply and as such am just getting into the job hunt now. I applied to around 15 positions during the last month of nursing school but received little to no response from most. I am really hoping to get a job at a teaching or a Magnet level hospital so I can learn the best practice possible and build awesome habits. During nursing school I participated in two extracurricular preceptorships, both in the ED, during a summer and a winter break. I went on a medical mission and fundraised for supplies to bring to West Bank, Palestine immediately after nursing school. I was the Vice President of my schools chapter of the California Student Nursing Association and held a job as a Developmentally Disabled Nurse Assistant at a care facility during school. I worked incredibly hard to make myself an awesome applicant and I do not want to settle for a job that I am not stoked on... at least quite yet. My question is does anyone have any pointers on how to get into a teaching or Magnet level hospital? I am hoping to get a job somewhere on the West coast, preferably Portland, Oregon area to stay near family, but I am open to the idea of moving anywhere. Any hospitals that have residency programs? Finally, does anyone have thoughts on the time frame when I need to just get into (any) job for the sake of "being out of nursing school too long"? I sincerely appreciate the input :-)