RN Versant Program-Austin

txenfermera · Aug 30, 2010

Hi, I have an Associate's and I don't have any working experience in health care. However I have always had a job and I speak Spanish. During my interviews I got the impression that one of the most important things for them is to find people that they would like to work with and that is one of the reasons why most nurses are happy at Seton.

RN4LOVE · Sep 1, 2010

Hi, I have an Associate's and I don't have any working experience in health care. However I have always had a job and I speak Spanish. During my interviews I got the impression that one of the most important things for them is to find people that they would like to work with and that is one of the reasons why most nurses are happy at Seton.

I completely agree. I'm sure one of the most important things is to find someone awesome to work with. I know that the people I work with are awesome, and it's definitely one of the reasons why I like going to work. :)

Rn norcal · Sep 21, 2010

"I went to the open house last month and I think that it really help me to get the interviews.."

I am in the process on applying for their Residency program. Does anyone know when their next open house is happening. I could not find anything in their web page and the HR dept seems like is not answering any call from new grads. Thank you so much. I really would love to make into their program.

Rn norcal · Sep 21, 2010

Congrats on being in the program.:) I am applying for the February one. Do you know when they are having their next open house? I am sorry to bother you but I could not find any info in their web page.

txenfermera · Sep 21, 2010

Hi, don't try contacting HR they don't have anything to do with the first part of the process. You should try with the Versant office. you can find their number in the hospital web page. Also just to let you know you always get an answering machine. Leave a message, a number and be persistent!

That is my best advice :) good luck! :nurse:

BRP RN · Sep 24, 2010

:confused:

Thanks! Good luck with your interviews!
I applied last week and even sent a followup e-mail to the human resources personnel who sent me the application code to apply. I have not heard anything back yet. When I go to the careers section of the Seton web site, it still just says "applied", so it looks like my application has not been routed out yet. Is this a bad sign?

Hi,

ijuanabhappy,

I have applied in seton hospital for rn residency for oct, 2010. My application status is " routed " . I got more choices, too. I am waiting for interview call. I don't know that which hospital is good to work in seton. tell me if you know anything about them. 1. seton northwest hospital 2. clinical education center at brackenridge.3. seton medical center hays. please be kind to help with this problem.

ijuanabhappy, ASN, RN · Sep 24, 2010

Hello BRP RN,

Mine say routed now also but I have not received any calls. I think I will go to the open house which is supposed to be in November I believe. This would be for the January residency. I doubt I will get any calls for the October one at this late date.

As far as the Seton hospitals, I believe they all have a good reputation. It all depends on what location is closest and best for you. I used to work at Seton Main and it was a nice hospital. I do not have much knowledge about the other locations you mentioned but I am sure they are all good since Seton in general has a good reputation. Brackenridge I believe is the county hospital and has a large trauma center. Seton Hays is south of Austin and Seton Northwest is northwest Austin area. Seton Northwest is a smaller hospital than Seton main or Brackenridge I believe.

txenfermera · Sep 25, 2010

Hello BRP RN,
Mine say routed now also but I have not received any calls. I think I will go to the open house which is supposed to be in November I believe. This would be for the January residency. I doubt I will get any calls for the October one at this late date.
As far as the Seton hospitals, I believe they all have a good reputation. It all depends on what location is closest and best for you. I used to work at Seton Main and it was a nice hospital. I do not have much knowledge about the other locations you mentioned but I am sure they are all good since Seton in general has a good reputation. Brackenridge I believe is the county hospital and has a large trauma center. Seton Hays is south of Austin and Seton Northwest is northwest Austin area. Seton Northwest is a smaller hospital than Seton main or Brackenridge I believe.

Hi, good luck at the next open house :) and here is a good piece of advice...bring 15-20 copies of your resume! Thanks to my husband I did that and I was surprised to see that most people were running out of resumes (some people just had one).

About the Oct cohort, I believe that everybody has been hired for it.

I wish you good luck and I really hope that you can get into the program for Feb! I know that it is a great program and I am very excited to be starting soon. Just go to the open house and let them see how much you want to be part of it!

BRP RN · Sep 30, 2010

Hi, good luck at the next open house :) and here is a good piece of advice...bring 15-20 copies of your resume! Thanks to my husband I did that and I was surprised to see that most people were running out of resumes (some people just had one).
About the Oct cohort, I believe that everybody has been hired for it.
I wish you good luck and I really hope that you can get into the program for Feb! I know that it is a great program and I am very excited to be starting soon. Just go to the open house and let them see how much you want to be part of it!

Hi, txenfermera,

I have some questions about seton residency program for oct cohort. I called to nurse recruiter for residency. She said that we are still interviewing for residency program. however, you said that they are done with that. How did you know about this? I am waiting for a interview call from seton. I haven't heard anything from them. Should I give up this time? :crying2: please, help me. I have also applied in scott and white, but I didn't hear anything from them. Are you selected for seton residency? I live in illinois, so I wouldn't be able to come at open house. Good Luck to you.

cbacheld · Oct 1, 2010

Hi BRP RN,

I recently moved from Chicago to Austin, so before moving I looked into the Versant program. I've been selected for the October cohort (and got the offer about a month ago - so I bet if their open spots aren't filled yet, they will be soon). The number one thing I can tell you is to go to the open house (to really have a good chance you have have have to go). This is where most connections are made. You meet nurse managers on the floors and get their contact information at that time and can set up shadowing on the unit you're interested in. I will say that you have to be a bit aggresive (I'm not sure if this is the right word, but sometimes the managers have 5 prospective employees talking to them at once). Most of all, make the managers remember you, find out what sets you apart from everyone else there. You also have to be persistent. If you can, make contact with a specific person in HR. Follow up with them frequently and find out what you can do to make yourself most desirable for Seton (I made a trip to Austin and set up an appointment to talk about the program with someone in HR about the program, and I had them go through my resume with me).

Not to discourage you, but I think in June they had 1200 applicants and took 120. So you have to make yourself memorable, valuable, and different from everyone else. Especially for out of town applicants. Volunteer experience, experience in any health care setting, or if you're a recent grad (like I was) talk about your clinical experience. A lot of the hospitals in Chicago have great reputations, let them know if you spent time in them. These are the things you should focus on telling the managers in the open house.

I made contact with my hiring manager at the open house, and emailed her shortly after to say "nice meeting you" kind of thing. We set up a time for me to come shadow, I met other nurses on the unit, and had an opportunity to speak with them privately about what the job entails. After that, I continued to remain in contact with the hiring manager (we talked at length a few times), and eventually got the offer (in the beginning of Sept).

Also, if there's a specific unit you want to be on, don't give up - I wanted ICU and even though I was told it would be almost impossible as a new nurse applying to the Versant program to get ICU - but I did.

I know how discouraging the application process can be, but it's possible. Be confident and persistent...it'll be worth it.

:)

BRP RN · Oct 1, 2010

hi,

cbacheld,

Thank you so much for your reply. I am thinking to forward my application for next cohort and attend an open house in seton. I hope next time it helps me. I have also applied in scott and white. I didn't hear anything from them. Now I am thinking to be volunteer in any hospital in urbana-champaign. I am so desperated now.

BRP RN · Oct 4, 2010

Hi, RN 4 LOVE,

I reapplied for February RN residency program. I have faxed my license and uploaded my resume,career statement, and college transcript. I have sent reference forms to my instructors. I hope they will review it fast and reply as soon as possible because this time I don't want to be late.Any suggestions for me. feel free give me advice. ok. good day.