I’m a new grad wanting to go into orthopedics in Houston, TX. I am having a hard time finding jobs due to no experience. Any suggestions?
Be flexible. When I was a new grad wanting to get into the ICU, not many were hiring new grads, so I extended my job search to anything available to get experience. Fortunately, I was able to get a job in the ICU, and you may be able to do the same. God has led my career, as I’ve let go of needing to have absolute control over where I go. It’s always worked out! Don’t give up hope, and keep pursuing your goal, while remaining flexible.
I was floated to an orthopedic floor, and my experience there was that you ensure pain is controlled, have ice packs available, follow strict activity orders, and have the patients ready for physical therapy early in the morning. Of course, many patients come with comorbidities, so you’ll have to manage those, as well, but they’re not the focus. You can always speak to having some knowledge of what it means to be an orthopedic nurse.
Look at new grad nurse residency programs. Teaching hospitals often have them
As you are a new grad, the first order of business is to obtain employment on a general med surg floor. Having been a RN and NP for nearly 5 decades, I still believe that one needs a general med surg background prior to entering a specialized field. I lost count of the times I saw patients in the orthopedic clinic for a "leg injury" that turned out to be thrombophlebitis, or early onset shingles, or cancer, etc., or a severe neurological condition, or acute onset lupus or gout. The importance of having a general medical background cannot be over stated.
I was actually. the first orthopedic nurse practitioner ever hired by a certain orthopedic practice in a major HMO. It was generally understood, decades ago, that nurse practitioners are not often hired onto surgical services. I was just very assertive and persistent about having my learning needs met and my willingness to learn how to do anything and everything to unburden the orthopedic surgeons of routine office orthopedic visits and procedures, so that they could go to the operating room which is their "happy place". At the same time, I had to reassure the surgeons that I was not a orthopedic surgeon wannabe who was limited by my NP and RN credentials. I presented every patient I saw to them, reviewed my findings and treatment plan, until both the surgeons and I felt comfortable.
It is important that you land an interview with the nurse manager or chief of orthopedics and communicate your enthusiasm for orthopedics. It would be a good idea to point out that, because you are a new grad with a focussed interest, you have not developed any pre-conceived notions about how things should be done, giving your new mentors the opportunity to "mold" you into their own image.
Request permission to follow around an experienced ortho nurse for a few hours a week. Make it a point to assist the RN who takes you on, by acting as her assistant for the day when appropriate. Enthusiasm, dedication to learning and hard work always went a long way in my book when mentoring new NPs and student during my decades long career in orthopedics. It is the best field ever
This is the sad part about new grad that hospital don’t want to spend any money to orient new nurses for their own investment , but in the other hand , once they accept and spend a lot of time and effort to orient a new nurse , after they have one year experience they leave the place and goes somewhere .so that’s the disadvantage that hospital is avoiding .. now a days , not very many young nurses likes continuity of work like old times .. what I can suggest that many people do if you cannot get in any position even not as in orthopedics is they start working in nursing Home just to get experience .. there’s a lot of nursing technique you will learn in good nursing home place. at least you are not waisting any time and at the same time your getting experience to use in applying to acute hospital .. moving to another city without experience is not the best idea I think not unless they are accepting a new graduate …
good luck to you. Hope this helps you .
I was an aid on the ortho floor while in school, so I was able to slip into a job once I got my RN. I am surprised that no one wants to hire a new grad with an interest in ortho. With the shortage of nurses it seems they would want to train someone up. Have you thought of getting your credentials in ortho? Or like me, I am certified in Med-Surg which was pretty much a review of nursing school. It would look good on your resume. Good luck.
Are there any new grad positions in a hospital? Most of them plan for new grads (give then a course on real life nursing and give them a mentor). See if any of them have an opening on an ortho floor. Get a year or a few months under your belt and you can go anywhere.
Try UTHealth or Texas Orthopedic Hospital.
Some Hospital have training programs for new grads to train in specialty areas. If you do decide go to med/surg do not stay for long. Specialty floors like new and fresh nurses to train. I was told it’s easier to train a new grad vs training some that set in their train of thought in nursing.
It's easier to get a "New Grad Med/Surg" training program first then after 9-12 months leverage that into an "Orthopedic Position"!!!
Texas Orthopedic Hospital. They most likely have a residency program for new grads.
Experience is what is needed, sorry to say. Try working on an orthopedic med- surg floor for a year. You will acquire a lot of experience in treating orthopedic patients and using the equipment for that specialty. A year goes fast and the experience you will obtain will get you a job in the field you want.
