Turned down from new grad position

Mergirlc, MSN, APRN, NP · Feb 22

There's an old quote attributed to hockey great, Wayne Gretzky: " You miss 100% of the shots you don't take."

You have nothing to lose (except a little time) by applying to the next residency and other jobs. One thing to consider is having a friend, former instructor, or paid professional look at your resume and cover letter to see if there is room for improvement.

New grad residencies are tough to get into. Way more applicants than spaces. To top it off, everybody is brand new so it's not like some people have tons of nursing experience and you don't. Everybody applying is almost equal, so to speak.

Don't feel bad - there will always be an opportunity somewhere for you. Keep taking your shot!

Career Columnist / Author · Feb 23

See if you can talk to one of the hiring managers for feedback on your application. It's worth a shot and may help you decide if you have a chance.

When I was involved with hiring for new grad residencies, there were often 2-3 hundred apps for each cohort of 30 spots. We used a point system. Among other things, points were given for a GPA over 3.7, for being local, for volunteer community work during school, and for an outstanding cover letter describing why they wanted a position at our hospital.

RN23C, ASN · Mar 13

I am in the same position! I was turned down by one of my dream hospitals, but I have been offered a new grad float pool position at another hospital. This position is not ideal for me, but at this point, I almost feel as though I should just take the position and gain some experience. I hoped to stay at my first position in the hospital for at least a year, but I can't see myself being a float pool nurse for long. I know more new grad positions will open April-June, but it will already have been a year (in June) since I graduated. I am worried I may be "too old" to join new grad programs?

Anyway, best of luck on your journey!