Tampa ARNP-one yr post grad still no job!

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I am so stressed out and regretting my ARNP degree. It's been one year since I graduated and passed the board, national certification. And I still can't get a job anywhere!! It's maddening. Everyone wants experience but I can't get it without a job. I have been doing HRA assessments but those are drying up and I'm not getting any work from them either. I don't know what to do! I even tried to volunteer at a free clinic just to get experience and they actually turned me down too. Because they said I don't have enough experience. IT'S MADDENING! Does anyone know of part time work? Or any other HRA companies hiring? Anything? I can't leave this area to relocate (custody divorce agreement) so relocation is not an option.

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
From soem friends that have worked there, it's a pretty easy job with good pay, minimal responsibility, and a 32 hour week.

The pay would have to be amazing to get me to do my own secretary duties. It sounds like one of the "mommy friendly" gigs which I know are popular among nurses but that I personally feel marginalize us as compared to the physicians' work ethic. Although I must admit the older I get the more attractive less work and minimal responsibility sound, lol.

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And it's really easy to get your foot in the door with Baycare via the mobile pool. Work a 3 month contract at $50/hr to get in the system.

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Specializes in Cardiology nurse practitioner.
And it's really easy to get your foot in the door with Baycare via the mobile pool. Work a 3 month contract at $50/hr to get in the system.

Are you suggesting a new NP, with zero experience who hasn't worked as a nurse for 6 years is hireable as mobile pool? Are you nuts? Are you talking about mobile pool as NP or RN?

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Are you suggesting a new NP, with zero experience who hasn't worked as a nurse for 6 years is hireable as mobile pool? Are you nuts? Are you talking about mobile pool as NP or RN?

Wow. You are rude. I'm saying she can get a job as a nurse to get in the system.

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Specializes in Cardiology nurse practitioner.
Wow. You are rude. I'm saying she can get a job as a nurse to get in the system.

Not trying to be rude. But mobile pool nurse need to be the top of their game, since they can be sent from Med/surg to cardiac step-down in the same shift. It really isn't a place for a nurse re-entering the work force.

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Contact your alumni and preceptors to help out. Do volunteer work. If you can't find that look to social services in area. Contact professors and counselors at school. If you are limited to your area.... you need to work what you have to work.

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Not trying to be rude. But mobile pool nurse need to be the top of their game, since they can be sent from Med/surg to cardiac step-down in the same shift. It really isn't a place for a nurse re-entering the work force.

Per the OP, she us been working in home health. Guess what? Baycare mobile pool staffs their home health division as well.

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work as an RN...plant the seed.. and feed your family..

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If you worked rural home health, you would have an opportunity to build relationships and confidence with the providers in the clinics.

Personally, being a career home health nurse and back to admin, I'd pursue a mgmt position with a reputable agency. My salary would come very close to rival that of a local NP and I don't have the productivity expectations. Nor do I have to deal with the very challenging patient population. M-F days, no holidays..

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I'm sorry this process is taking so long! I am in a somewhat similar situation. I graduated nearly 6 months ago and am still without a job, however my situation is a bit different because I was not job-searching for the first 3 months after graduation (took some much needed time off and volunteered/travelled).

I am also from an area where the NP job market is very saturated. However, I have found a wealth of opportunities in more rural areas and at federally qualified health centers (I have no problem moving as I am single and a bit of a loner :sarcastic:). There are also a lot of psych, pain, and addiction medicine positions in my area - not sure if this is the case in Florida or if that even interests you. All this to say, I think flexibility with regards to location may be your biggest barrier, especially since it sounds like you're doing pretty much everything else right. Is there some sort of form/agreement you can file with the court to allow you to move for work?

Best of luck and keep us posted!:)

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Specializes in Cardiology nurse practitioner.

Looks like OP has not been back in about a month. I tried to contact her because I have a job that would be perfect and pays decent, but she has not responded. Oh, well. Like most people who come on here, I think she just wanted to gripe that building a new career isn't easy with so many personal barriers.

I hope people who read this thread understand that you don't just sit in your jammies for a couple of years taking online courses and fall into a career as a nurse practitioner. If you don't have connections before you start, you will fail. And it doesn't necessarily get easier once you get your first position.

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The tampa Market is tuff due to the amount of schools and people obtaining Arnp license. It took 6-7 months for my first position and it happened by accident as a friend provided my name to the clinic. I was planning on moving and that is my advice to you.

The rules that govern practice are backwards anyway. I have a collab. Agreement with someone I exchange one sentence with every 3 months. Start looking out of state or rural areas. If something to my current situation I will leave florida myself if practice req. don't change

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