How can I get experience now?!?!...it's a question not rant...

Nurses New Nurse

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Ok my question is...how can I get experience now that I have graduated from nursing school. Most hospitals want 1 year experience as a nurse...or experience as an extern, aid, tech...whatever. I was a medical assistant at a doctors office for 6 months before I started nursing school but it was full time and didn't work with my school schedule so I worked part time as a waitress instead during school. During nursing school I tried to get a job as an extern but since I was admitted in the winter I was not eligible for an extern position until the fall...however most are available in the summer. During the winter one hospital did have externs. Out of almost 50 applicants they were only able to take 7. Unfortunately I wasn't one of them.

Now what I want to know is there anything I can do to get experience now that I graduated (2 and 1/2 months ago) and passed the NCLEX-RN (2 weeks ago) until someone hires me? I know that I will need to stay current on my CPR but I have until November for that. I really want a job. And want to find a way to get one. Besides calling and emailing people most days and applying every day I am not sure what else to do!

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Specializes in Flight RN, Trauma1 CVICU STICU MICU CCU.

Have you thought about taking a CPR instructor course? Have you thought about taking ACLS or PALS? Don't give up!

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Volunteer. See what local organizations in your area could use volunteer nurses and sign yourself up. Sure, its no pay, but it's at least primary care experience.

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Specializes in ASC, Infection Control.

See if you can get ACLS or PALS certification. And definitely volunteer - at hospitals, blood drives, immunization clinics, maybe a VA, etc. See about home health nursing too, until you get in somewhere else. Maybe even place an ad in the paper for a private nurse?

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Yes I should get ACLS. Yes I was looking at some places last night for volunteering. Like planned parenthood or something. (I want ob...even though I'm not quite all for what planned parenthood does but I think parts of it is very good) But they don't have any volunteer opportunities in my area. So I could look into the Red Cross or hospitals.

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