Request advice from Nursing Managers

Well I'm not a nurse manager, but I am a new grad and have been in your position. The answer is "get it somewhere else." No one seems to want to give a new grad a chance unless you have a BSN, worked as an RN, and plenty of experience. There are plenty of experienced RNs in the market looking for jobs, employers don't need to take the risk and cost of new grads regardless of non RN experience.

As a fellow new grad I'd say apply EVERYWHERE. Put aside your preconceptions of where you'd be and what you'd be doing when you graduated. Some of the best advice I got was to walk into every nursing home within driving distance and ask if they were hiring. Every single one said yes, although they later called and said they weren't hiring at the time but are interested now. I did that in January and finally got calls in March and got a job. Search the forums there. You have to weed through lots of judgemental an unhelpful posts but I took a peice of paper and wrote down any advice that was something I hadn't tried and wasn't overly simplistic.

You mentioned you were applying for part-time work. From what I've heard, most hospitals will not take a brand-new grad nurse just part time. Most require that you be full-time at the beginning because of how different "real" nursing is from what they teach you in school.

Just something to consider. =)

My suggestion: cut back on your hours working as a paramedic (if this is possible). This will allow you to work full-time as an RN. As a previous post stated, you need to be available for FT work to gain experience. Perhaps you may be able to work 12 hour shifts (I'm too old for that now, but liked it when I was younger; gave me a lot of free time) if that is palatable for you. It really must be discouraging not being able to find a job after all the time and energy you devoted to obtaining RN status. I have been a nurse for 30 years; never had a problem getting a job, but that was in the late '70s when diploma grads would almost always be hired by the hospital that was their "home base." Hospital-based nursing schools had an allegiance, so to speak, with their students. This was another great reason I decided on a hospital-based diploma program; it's a shame diploma programs are basically non-existent.

I hope your job search will eventually be profitable. Get your foot in the door somewhere; if at all possible, get a med-surg position, as this will be a stepping stone for furthering your career should you decide you would like to specialize in ICU,PACU, ER, etc.

Streptococcus, Evidently, you have heard this one before but I just hired 4 Rn's all of them new grads. 3 LPN's, and 3 CNA's. However, here's a site that might be able to help you, it wouldn't hurt to check it out... http://www.advancejobfair.com http://www.advancenurse.com they have listings for all over the states, lastly,Congrats on passing the NCLEXRN :yeah:and I wish you the best in all of your future endeavors~

Thanks for all of your advice.

I'm here in Memphis as well. I currently work on a cardiac floor at St. Francis. What hospitals have you applied for, also what areas are you open to working in? I know my manager in looking for help like mad. I know most of the new grads to a Versant program here but I wonder with your experience as a paramedic if that could be bypassed. Let me know if you want me to contact her.

Good Luck,

Brian

Hello Brian,

I have applied for a few positions at St. Francis as well as Baptist and Methodist systems. I basically would take what ever position I could get, because my view is beggars cant be picky. I also realize that no matter what position I start in as an RN, I have a tremendous amount to learn.

I believe the Cardiac floor would be a great area to work in and would appreciate the assistance.

Thank You Sir!

I'll shoot her an email Monday and ask what exactly the policy is on new nurses. Feel free to email me at [email protected] with some more info about yourself and I will let you know what she says.

Brian