I would like to know if hospitals would employ someone who just completed an RN program, or if additional certification is needed (CPR, ACLS)?
When I was looking at RN job listings, most hospitals and other companies want someone with at least 1-2 years of experience. Where would recently-graduated RNs find employment?
I am starting my RN program in the fall, so I would like to know. Thank you!!
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Whatever you do, get a job as a Student Nurse Extern (or whatever your local hospitals or the facility in which you want to work as an RN calls them) after completing a semester or two of clinicals. You will then be able to matriculate into a new grad/new RN position. This is for any nursing student, whether earning an ASN or a BSN. Don’t wait until you’ve graduated or passed the NCLEX before you start looking for a position in nursing. Student Nurse Externs usually have all but a few duties of an RN- ours cannot take verbal/phone orders from the OB or Nurse-Midwife, they cannot push IV meds, hang blood products, or be the 1st Assistant in a C-section, or perform a primary assessment, but they can do just about anything else, including scrub a C-section, take postpartum patients after the 1st 8 hours post-delivery, and pass meds. That’s considered experience and you’ll find that most job listings will want experience. When you are a paid extern, you are hired from within and don’t need to worry about what the “outside the network” jobs request.
The poor economic situation is causing difficulties for health care organizations including hospitals. Most hospitals have had to reduce their work force, including registered nurses because their are fewer people seeking health care. Sad, but true. Unfortunately this does affect employment opportunities for new nurses because hospitals are able to hire experienced nurses who have been displaced. Experienced nurses cost the hospitals less to hire because they do not require as much training and they are able to work a full patient assignment more quickly.
If you want to work as a RN in the hospital soon after graduation, find ways to increase your work experience. Summer internships or working as a nursing assistant are ways to increase your experience. Form good working relationships with nurses with whom you work and ask these nurses to write a letter of recommendation for you.
And, as a last piece of advice, consider other working in a facility other than a hospital for a period of time after graduation. Gaining experience working in a nursing home or clinic will eventually help you get the hospital employment you want.
you can work in hospitals, dr. offices, just about anywhere. good luck!
If you want to work in a hospital setting be sure you have those trainings certification and a licensed to practice nursing. If you don’t have those try a smaller setting work that ables you to practice your profession. For sure your experience will be credited when you apply for a nurse in a Hospital.