Where to work as a new grad...

Where do you live? LPN or RN? Do you have a BSN (some hospitals are "BSN preferred" in my area)? Are you willing to commute depending on your location? Where I live, new grads usually have to apply for GN positions. Most of the hospitals have specific orientation programs designed for new grads, and positions are only open around graduation time. A few larger hospitals offer programs either monthly or year-round, but slots may be limited. Have you talked to HR in all your local hospitals? One good idea is to print out several copies of your resume, dress professionally, and walk into HR/nurse recruiting at each hospital in your area. You can talk to someone in person who should be able to walk you through the steps you would need to take to work at that particular place, whether it's waiting for another class, earning your license, getting additional certifications, or not applying until you have experience - he or she should be honest with you regardless, and then you can either pursue that hospital or not. You may have to resign yourself to working in an area that isn't your first choice, or commuting farther than you would like to get the requisite experience, but there should be something available if you're persistent.

I live in Texas and graduated from an ADN program in May of this year. I just got my RN license in the mail today. I found a few internships, but they are over an hour and a 1/2 (one way) from me. I would like to find something closer to home since the gas prices are so high these days. I'm thinking about applying anyway. There are hospitals closer to me, but they seem to require at least 1 year experience. I'm considering applying at a skilled nursing home that is close to home. Any thoughts about starting out in a nursing home/skilled nursing unit?

Thanks for the advice!

Jogi

I live in Texas and graduated from an ADN program in May of this year. I just got my RN license in the mail today. I found a few internships, but they are over an hour and a 1/2 (one way) from me. I would like to find something closer to home since the gas prices are so high these days. I'm thinking about applying anyway. There are hospitals closer to me, but they seem to require at least 1 year experience. I'm considering applying at a skilled nursing home that is close to home. Any thoughts about starting out in a nursing home/skilled nursing unit?

Thanks for the advice!

Jogi

My guess would be that the hospitals near you already hired their new grads for this cycle. Keep your eyes peeled for another batch of openings in the future, and it wouldn't be a bad idea to get in touch with their recruiters and inquire as to when they will have new grad openings available. In the mean time, look at other types of facilities and agencies. Definitely be wary of the nursing home and make sure they will not set you up for failure (e.g. ensure they will give you a reasonable orientation and a realistic patient load).

I am also a new grad and was very lucky that I got hired on the floor that I did my clinicals on med/surg. This is not where I want to be but it is a great start and I will learn alot. Like someone previously said it is a bad time because of the May Grads getting in. Just keep trying and trying you have to time it right so the Dec grads do not get ahead of you as well.

Good luck