Getting a job as an RN; Advice Need it..

[MexicanDr]

Hello guys; hope you guys are having a good day.

The main reason for this post is because I am seeking advice on how to increase my chance at getting hired as an RN once I am done with my program.

I will be done with my program this coming December [ASN/ADN] and will be only 2 classes away in December from completing my double major B.S. in Public Health and Physiological Sciences. I didn't have nursing as a plan when I started undergrad; it just happened and since I was already pretty ahead in my B.S. I decided to do the 2 year RN degree. I ll be done this December with my RN and planning to finish my B.S. double major by the next semester [Be done in May 2013]. Currently I work doing quality assurance simply because it pays better and need it to pay bills; but I am planning to start applying for a job in a hospital in June.

Before working in Quality Assurance/Microbiology I worked as an EMT-1 and did close to 2000 hrs in an ALS rig; and also have volunteered in a free clinic off/on for the past 6 months. I am also planning to take ACLS cert before I am done with the program.

As some of you know, the nursing job market is incredibly hard, especially for new graduates, so even though I am done in December, I am feeling somewhat desperate already. My plans after working 2 years as an RN is to start either PA or NP school. I live in Central California and in a ~55 miles radius there is 15-16 hospitals, including a Trauma I, a Trauma II and a Trauma III center. I am trilingual: Spanish, Portuguese and English; I am a male; if that makes a difference nowadays.

What do you think would be the best route to take in terms for getting a job by when I am done with my RN program; hopefully before I am done with it and use my Temp-License for the 90 day frame while completing NCLEX and waiting for all the license.

Thanks in advance and as I said; I am open to any advice..

Eddie

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[ChillyRN]

I don't really know what you mean by best route. I do think, depending upon your community, that your language skills could be a huge asset to you so I'd be sure that is on your resume. that is going to be far more valuable and uncommon a skill set than having been an EMT-I in my opinion.

I had to hire a nurse (LPN) when I started my new job and I was desperate to find someone that spoke Spanish fluently, because mine is rudimentary at best. S/he never materialized, unfortunately. If I had found a Spanish speaker I'd have paid twice as much and wouldn't have cared if they believed in aliens, had two heads and a serious meth problem, lol (and I've only had one non English speaking patient -and he spoke Thai!). j/k about the meth, but yeah, I'd have been totally flexible on an alien conspiracy to take over the world.

good luck!

 

[PrinceVersed]

With that many hospitals, just apply broadly and be flexible. You might not get into an ICU or CVICU right off the bat as a new grad. Although, if you plan on doing NP I would suggest you get to one of those places sooner rather than later.

Be nice, smile, dress well. You should land on your feet.