Published Mar 20, 2014
ecf1972
68 Posts
I did a short stint in the ED shortly after graduation (ADN), but quickly discovered it wasn't for me. As getting a position right out of school is extremely difficult (first job obtained through advisor at school). Shortly after that, I took a non clinical job doing vaccinations. I've done that for over a year. It was per diem. At the same time I started working for a staffing agency doing home visits and now have been helping out filling in for a case manager that is out on disability. However, that is per diem as well. I need a full time job!!! I live in the suburbs of Philly. I will travel up to an hour. So my questions are:
Have you done agency work and been able to get a FT position elsewhere?
Does it make sense to stay in the suburbs where I am or would I have better luck like in the Lehigh Valley area or somewhere else? What areas have the higher level of demand for RNs currently?
Would home care experience count as "credit" if applying for a hospice position? And would there be a higher demand for hospice over home care?
Does anyone have any suggestions on what my best route is for getting a job? I am so frustrated. I can't tell you how many jobs I have applied for and can't even get a call.
HELLLLP!!!!
visionary123
39 Posts
I have no advice for you, but am writing to say thank you for posting this. I graduated with my ADN last year and passed my NCLEX last July. Although I applied for a hospital job in the fall (and got a rejection letter), I have only recently really begun to look for an RN job. I was still taking care of my home care patient until last November so I wasn't in a hurry. Now that I am not even getting phone calls back - nothing but form-letter rejection emails - I am starting to feel like I will not be a good nurse because I am not starting to work soon enough after school. I hope that you find a job soon, but honestly, I am so relieved to know that other people regularly apply for jobs and don't hear anything back too.
missymis86
25 Posts
I also have no advice but would love to hear any that anyone has!! I'm also in the Philly area with an ADN. ECf1972 have you applied for just hospital jobs? I hope someone can respond to your questions, cause I'm interested in responds to these as well! :)
giannag
17 Posts
I would and did call recruiters and email them after applying. I know in philly itself it's a lot harder for ADNs but I think if you email the recruiter as well as the nurse manager for that position and show your passion for wanting that hospital/unit it def will get you noticed. That's what I did and I have my dream job now.
Thanks!! This is great advice. This may be a dumb question but how do you find the names of the nurse recruiters and the particular manager for the floor? Did you go to the hospitals? Everything is so generic now being computerized I can see how this would make you stand out.
LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN
8,429 Posts
There are a ton of recruiters on LinkedIn; managers may be on there as well. Try there first.
Best Wishes.
Yea just try google and linked in. Kind of like stalking them out haha. Once you find their name you can sometimes guess their email address if you know what the typical email addresses for the hospital are like. Also- for one hospital I couldn't find the nurse managers name at all so I called the hospital and acted like I was a previous patient and wanted to send the nurse manager a thank you card but forgot her name, the unit secretary told me it and I was good to go. Lol kind of ridiculous but got her name and then googled her and found more info. If you can contact them before it's already a step ahead of other applicants. I did this and had 3 interviews setup within a week, and this was after 5 months of hearing nothing.
Hahaha. Thats great. Has anyone gone to the hospital and asked to speak to the nurse recruiter or manager? I cannot find anyones email! Not sure if going to the hospital would be to forward...
Being new to the area (outer Philly suburbs) many people people who work with my husband have told me to try and get on at Doylestown or Abington Hospitals. Doylestown has lots of openings and it is pretty close to my house. Does anyone know anyone or work at doylestown and could PM me any info? I'd really appreciate any help! Thanks for all the help so far you all are awesome!