Who's Hiring New Grads?

dreamer81 · Dec 23, 2008

If you are willing to relocate, have you tried Yuma Regional Medical Center? Last I heard they had a major shortage. It's a small town and the hospital is very busy during the winter season. Some have their opinions on the town, but I grew up there. I'm trying to make my way back there as soon as I'm finished with my pre-reqs. One more semester left and then I will be applying to the nursing program at AWC. I can't wait!! :twocents:

Pkkostura · Dec 24, 2008

Maybe by relocating, but here in the phx area, good luck since I have been looking since aug when I finished and still no luck for me yet.

Calzonan RN · Dec 24, 2008

Really, you should've started looking in Aug/Sept if you were due to graduate in December. Most of the new grad (Dec) slots are filled up by the beginning of November at the latest. I graduated last December and some of my classmates chose to wait until they graduated to start looking, they were still looking for a job in April. One of the best kept secrets here in Phoenix is this...yes, there is a nursing shortage, but there is NOT a new grad shortage. It's tough competition out there and if you want a specialty field you have to be very aggressive and set yourself up for a job in that specialty by externing or doing your preceptorship in that area at the hospital you want to work at (except they may not have any openings or they may not hire new grads, but sometimes they do). Hospitals only allocate a very few amount of new grad slots, some of which are taken by their new grad employees or by the fellowship participants.

Just keep on applying, call the manager personally if you haven't received a response, a lot of times it seems like HR doesn't even forward applications. You may have to take a job in med-surg and then wait 6 months and try to internally transfer to another area. Try applying at the larger teaching hospitals, I know Good Sam and St. Joes hire a lot of new grads.

Good luck,

Joebrown · Dec 25, 2008

Well if you are interesting in working Home Care MGA home care will hire New Grads. Good lucky with you search for empolyment. Happy Holidays

sassiebaz · Dec 25, 2008

Don't LTC facilities hire new grads??? It's a start if they do!

chocolateskye · Dec 26, 2008

Maybe I should go to some of these places in person instead of attending job fairs and waiting for them to post to openings? I have walked in to a few places but most tell you to apply on line or give you the number to their job hot line anyway? I started looking in October? I have been contacted by other states mostly Virginia, I want to say it is the holidays? But I know it is the economy and budget cuts that is causing so many places to freeze hiring. Thanks for the tips you guys! I have been calling around to different nursing homes sending and faxing my resume but no response? All of the hospitals say that they have already hired the max amount of student graduates and I should try again come this May? As far as the home care is concerned how is the training? Is it safe to do home care straight out of school?

deftonez188 · Dec 27, 2008

I tend to go to individual floors and give the manager there my resume - it works and takes cojones!

chocolateskye · Dec 27, 2008

I tried that at County hospital but it didn't work? They have just implemented a new, New Grad program and the individual floors can not hire you anymore. I was told that many of the hospitals have done this as well? They say that new grads should have intensive training and cross training before being allowed to work on certain floors/units. :banghead:

AZMOMO2 · Dec 27, 2008

Chocolateskye... just wondering how you were contacted by other states? How do they get your contact info? Or did you post a resume on a job search thing? Just wondering because I may not stay in Arizona when I finally finish my RN.

chocolateskye · Dec 27, 2008

Yes I have posted my resume on monster,career builder, and jobing I also got hold to this website called after college and it had hospitals from everywhere advertising their new grad programs. Oh another one was medhunter.com good luck!

MsBruiser · Dec 29, 2008

Really, you should've started looking in Aug/Sept if you were due to graduate in December. Most of the new grad (Dec) slots are filled up by the beginning of November at the latest. I graduated last December and some of my classmates chose to wait until they graduated to start looking, they were still looking for a job in April. One of the best kept secrets here in Phoenix is this...yes, there is a nursing shortage, but there is NOT a new grad shortage. It's tough competition out there and if you want a specialty field you have to be very aggressive and set yourself up for a job in that specialty by externing or doing your preceptorship in that area at the hospital you want to work at (except they may not have any openings or they may not hire new grads, but sometimes they do). Hospitals only allocate a very few amount of new grad slots, some of which are taken by their new grad employees or by the fellowship participants.
Just keep on applying, call the manager personally if you haven't received a response, a lot of times it seems like HR doesn't even forward applications. You may have to take a job in med-surg and then wait 6 months and try to internally transfer to another area. Try applying at the larger teaching hospitals, I know Good Sam and St. Joes hire a lot of new grads.
Good luck,

Very, very well put. Nothing wrong with being aggressive in self-marketing. In my case, a department which never hired new grads (ever) made an exception for me and created a new "New Grad" position. But I went directly to the boss and asked. Had to swallow some pride...

Good Sam and St. Joe's are probably the best places to get in as a new grad - especially if you want Tele or ICU. Good Sam ICU units are big and have lots of turnover.