Will a new grad be considered.. if experience is required?

livtek · Sep 10, 2005

One more thing. Send an actual hard copy letter to the nurse manager of your floor. Go the traditional route, ie. fill out the in-person or on-line application, send in a resume, etc., but go that extra mile and introduce yourself, give a brief description of your background and tell why you are interested in this particular unit. Most important, list anything that sets you apart and distinguishes you from all of the other candidates. THIS is what might get your foot in the door.
I got my current job (postpartum) without any OB experience (and after taking a five-year break from nursing) because I wrote and told the manager that I had 16 year's experience as an EMT (I know how to think on my feet and have good assessment skills) and many years of foster parenting unwed teen mothers, including helping them with prenatal care, coaching them through the births, and doing lots and lots of teaching with a not-always-receptive audience. None of this fit on a typical application, but they made an impression on my manager and after she got my letter, SHE contacted HR and pulled my app out of the pipeline. (At a recent unit meeting, she told us that out of every 100 applications, she might see one or two by the time HR is through screening them.)
This is your chance to make a stand-out impression. Show some enthusiasm. List unconventional skills and experiences (and tell how they might apply in your prospective job). Confidently (but without sounding smug) put down challenges you have overcome and goals you have achieved. And, whatever else you do, take the time to find out the manager's name and correct spelling.
If you are given an interview, write a timely thank you note afterward. I'm surprised at how many people don't know they should do this.
I hope you meet with success.

You are so right, I did the same thing no experience in hospital setting for 8 years only disaster triage nurse in Africa and they hired me to PP and L&D just like that they love it the resume, and the most what they like it is th COVER LETTER, where you introduce yourself more.

I wrote professional resume and cover letter from the book RESUMES FOR HEALTH CARE JOBS(got from library)

I wrote based on the example in the book.

Good resume can open you door. I know some of my friends they can't get RN positions in PP even they apply in the same hospital like me, I think it is the resume and your persistence.

Be professional, persistent and polite and you get anything.

Miranda nice input, so truth.

Aneroo, LPN · Sep 10, 2005

I agree. Give it a shot. You do have nursing experience (you went thru nursing school, right?)!

During school, the local hospital had open interviews for RN's for most departments. I went in dressed nice, wearing my school name tag (which no one else did-they had the sticker kind), and had several copies of my resume. I interviewed for several positions, got offers on most.

I made sure to follow up with the units I did not accept positions in with a thank you letter (thanks for the chance and offer, but I've decided to go here type of thing). Because, I DO want to work in that unit later, but my "dream" job came up also. So, to help hopefully keep doors open, I made sure to do that. -Andrea

newnurse.rs · Sep 17, 2005

Thank you all for your encouraging replies! I have an interview this tuesday :) I hope everything goes well.

I have read all the interview pointers and questions that have been posted in this site and they are very helpful. Other than the standard questions, what kind of questions did you guys get to test your critical thinking skills? For example, did you get a scenerio to see how you would react to that specific situation?

epiphany · Sep 17, 2005

Thank you all for your encouraging replies! I have an interview this tuesday :) I hope everything goes well.
I have read all the interview pointers and questions that have been posted in this site and they are very helpful. Other than the standard questions, what kind of questions did you guys get to test your critical thinking skills? For example, did you get a scenerio to see how you would react to that specific situation?

They might ask you why you want L&D, and what has been your clinical/internship experience - ie, the kind nursing care you gave. I got that a lot.