New Grad who wants to get a job at home in Western WA

U.S.A. Washington

Published

Hi all! I'll briefly sum up my story :) I'm a nursing student graduating in December who desperately wants to come home to my native Seattle/Bellevue area and work as an RN somewhere in Western WA (I say somewhere cause I'll pretty much drive anywhere to have a job at home haha). I am a student in an BSN nursing program at a small college in Michigan, where I have maintained a 4.0 GPA, work as an care aide on a general acute care Cardiac floor at the local hospital throughout nursing school, and had an externship this past summer at Mayo Clinic. I will be completing my senior preceptorship/Capstone clinical in an ICU at Swedish's First Hill campus. Please note, I'm not trying to go on about myself - just hoping to give you all an idea of my possible strong points for a job... I have the option of applying to Mayo Clinic for various jobs, starting in October, but while Mayo Clinic itself is an excellent hospital, Seattle/Bellevue is where my home/heart/family/ is. In short, I really, really want to come home. :heartbeat

As I begin to look into Seattle-area RN positions I've notice that they all expect a license. I would like to apply prior to graduation & taking the NCLEX (Mayo allows me to do this) but it seems like that is not possible in Washington hospitals. Furthermore, I have heard that it is extremely difficult to get an job in Western WA, especially as an new grad who hasn't worked as a care aide within the local hospitals. I do have an Bellevue, WA permanent address to apply with but am I worried that by waiting until I've taken my NCLEX (and passing up possible jobs at Mayo) I'm taking an gamble on a near-impossible Seattle-area job market for an new grad RN. Also, since I have student loans I know I need a job very soon after graduation. Does anyone have any advice, or insight as to my chances or ways of improving my chances? Thank you so very much for any advice!! :)

NurseDirtyBird

425 Posts

Apply for a sub-acute position in LTC facilities that are part of major health systems, i.e.: Providence, MultiCare, etc. You can then transfer from there into a hospital position in 6 months to a year. It's not immediate, but it's better than being unemployed. That's worked for several RNs I work with in a Western WA health system.

Your clinical experiences in school won't count for much outside of the facilities where you had them.

RubySlippers06

139 Posts

Honestly, I'd stick it out for another year to year and a half and work at Mayo. You should be able to get a pretty good job after that "back home."

CCL RN, RN

557 Posts

Specializes in Cath Lab/ ICU.

I understand your love for Seattle.

I agree with ruby slippers though. Get that first year in at mayo and then you'll be a shoe in for jobs later. All people care about is that precious one year of exp and then you're golden.

The market is hard for new grads anywhere right now...

Specializes in Critical Care.

Hmm you all have given me food for thought...I'm planning on calling Swedish sometime next week about an New Grad program they may have and I'm hopeful that my senior preceptorship at Swedish will help me. Still I can see that as I thought, WA is a hard place not only for nursing school entrance but also for jobs :(

Specializes in Critical Care.

Just wanted to update and say, I did get a Residency position at Swedish, provided - fingers crossed - that I pass the NCLEX on the 15th of Jan!

qxvu85

21 Posts

Hey Maria,

Assuming you passed your NCLEX, how do you like the Swedish new grad program?

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