Question:
Dear Donna,
How can a new graduate RN, without experience, find a position as a med/surg nurse?
New Graduate
Dear Donna,
How can a new graduate RN, without experience, find a position as a med/surg nurse?
New Graduate
Dear Donna replies:
Dear New Graduate,
Just for the record, no new graduate has RN experience. I know some employers are telling you that you have to have experience, but this is just their way of saying they don’t hire new nurses. Don’t take it personally.
That being said, the hospital job market for all nurses is very tight right now. Read “New nurse, new job strategies” (www.Nurse.com/Cardillo/Strategies). Utilize the strategies outlined there, including networking.
If you are still unsuccessful landing a med/surg position (if that is really what you want to do), the reality is you might have to move, enroll in an RN internship program or, if you have a BSN, consider joining the armed services.
Keep in mind that working in med/surg in a hospital was the traditional place for most nurses to start their careers — this is no longer the case. Care is shifting out of the hospital into alternative settings, the home and the community. So you'll be ahead of the curve by moving in that direction now. Staying unemployed for any length of time will erode your self-esteem, your confidence and your future marketability. So be flexible and open-minded about your options.
Until you do find paid employment, do healthcare volunteer work, work on furthering your education and pursue certifications such as IV, etc. This is something recruiters look for in any setting: what you are doing while job hunting.
You may need to look in new directions for nursing employment and use new methods to find those jobs. Persistence and determination will always win out.
Best wishes,
Donna
Dear New Graduate,
Just for the record, no new graduate has RN experience. I know some employers are telling you that you have to have experience, but this is just their way of saying they don’t hire new nurses. Don’t take it personally.
That being said, the hospital job market for all nurses is very tight right now. Read “New nurse, new job strategies” (www.Nurse.com/Cardillo/Strategies). Utilize the strategies outlined there, including networking.
If you are still unsuccessful landing a med/surg position (if that is really what you want to do), the reality is you might have to move, enroll in an RN internship program or, if you have a BSN, consider joining the armed services.
Keep in mind that working in med/surg in a hospital was the traditional place for most nurses to start their careers — this is no longer the case. Care is shifting out of the hospital into alternative settings, the home and the community. So you'll be ahead of the curve by moving in that direction now. Staying unemployed for any length of time will erode your self-esteem, your confidence and your future marketability. So be flexible and open-minded about your options.
Until you do find paid employment, do healthcare volunteer work, work on furthering your education and pursue certifications such as IV, etc. This is something recruiters look for in any setting: what you are doing while job hunting.
You may need to look in new directions for nursing employment and use new methods to find those jobs. Persistence and determination will always win out.
Best wishes,
Donna
Donna Cardillo, RN, MA, well-known career guru, is Nursing Spectrum/NurseWeek’s “Dear Donna” and author of “Your First Year as a Nurse: Making the Transition from Total Novice to Successful Professional” and “The ULTIMATE Career Guide for Nurses: Practical Advice for Thriving at Every Stage of Your Career.” Information about the books is available at www.Nurse.com/CE/7010 and www.Nurse.com/CE/7250, respectively. To ask Donna your question, go to www.Nurse.com/Asktheexperts/Deardonna. Find a “Dear Donna” seminar near you: Call 800-866-0919 or visit http://Events.nursingspectrum.com/Seminar.
