New BSN Grad- Help!

Nurses New Nurse

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Ok, I'm new to this forum, so... Hello everyone! :) I am experiencing somewhat of a dilemma. I guess one could call it that. I'm a recent (May 2012) BSN grad, so it's been four months since graduation. I obtained my nursing license in my home state in July and got an additional license for a neighboring state in August. Technically, I've only been applying for jobs for two months since I began my search in July. So far I've had two interviews and have not been chosen for either. I have no experience as an RN, and actually no job experience at all really (I'm 22 years old). I didn't work in high school nor college, so my resume is blank. My husband and I have been together for six years, married for one. I want a baby and so does he. We could support a child with just him working, but here's my question: would it be a bad idea for my career as a registered nurse to become pregnant before I find a job? Being a new grad, I'm finding that it is more difficult to find a job than they act like it is in nursing school. Would I decrease my chances even more so by being pregnant? The answer in my mind is "yes," but I would like some other people's point of view. Here's the other side to this dilemma.. No one is calling me wanting to interview me. If I keep applying for jobs and nine months pass and employers still aren't calling me to interview, then I could have already had a child by then and this wouldn't even be an issue... Obviously I can't know what will happen. I could get a job tomorrow, and then again, it could take many, many more months before someone finally gives me a chance. Any words of wisdom? Thanks so much! :)

Thanks! I have an immense amount of support. When I have a child, I will have no problem finding a sitter. My husband has a stable job with enough income to support us, a child, and get all of our bills paid. We already have a home, my car is paid for, money was not the issue of my question really. I guess what I was trying to ask was if being pregnant would make me less likely to be hired upon being interviewed. If I was to become pregnant, I would continue to apply for jobs and go to any interview that I was given the opportunity to have. I would work if I was hired. I think I've found my answer though, which is the one I thought was right all along. I need to find a job and then think about a baby... I guess the baby idea got pushed in front of the job idea because I'm feeling extremely discouraged. After every application gets turned down due to not having any nursing experience, I think I wasted four years of my life and A LOT of money on a degree that, as of right now, seems useless. Where I'm from this is the accepted plan: graduate high school (if even that), get married (if even that), have kids, the end. Seeing all the people I graduated high school with having their second, third, and some even fourth child and me having nothing; no child and no job, is depressing. Depressing is probably too strong of a word, but it's no fun lol

But thanks for everyone's advice! I really appreciate it.

This can vary depending on your location and how agressive you are being in your search.

If you want to start having a family now, go for it; but just know that everything gets a bit harder on that end before you are established somewhere. So it all depends. Of course this must be totally you and your spouse's decision. It can be done. I mean resident physicians get pregnant and make it work.

...

Around where I live, it can take new grads a good 60 to 100 applications/resumes before they find something. It may take you more or less, depending on the variables for where you live.

...

If you had to plan a surgery that could leave you recuperating for > 6 weeks, would you put it off?

Only you can make this determinations for your life.

Good luck.

All sound advice. I wish all it took was 60-100 applications here! I've easily done 150 and I just got my license on Friday! Though I have only received about 5 "No thank you" emails. It is just Wednesday and I"m waiting to receive more on Friday.

I had my daughter at 21, and my son at 23...and while it has been nice being a "younger" mom (another debate) I do sometimes wish I had waited, I would have been more patient, I would have known to enjoy it more...now I have the energy to coach their soccer teams, cart them and their friends all over town and make sure we are active constantly; I did not have the patience I should have had when they were toddlers. I didn't enjoy it the way I wish I could have. This isn't saying I DIDN"T enjoy it, because I did, but I dont know, we always think the grass is greener on the other side. If I hadn't had kids, who knows how many deployments I would have done, would I have made it back alive? In one piece? Would I have even met my husband? Probably not. Life has a way of telling you what you are going to do and when...so just think about all the pros and cons.

Thanks! I have an immense amount of support. When I have a child, I will have no problem finding a sitter. My husband has a stable job with enough income to support us, a child, and get all of our bills paid. We already have a home, my car is paid for, money was not the issue of my question really. I guess what I was trying to ask was if being pregnant would make me less likely to be hired upon being interviewed. If I was to become pregnant, I would continue to apply for jobs and go to any interview that I was given the opportunity to have. I would work if I was hired. I think I've found my answer though, which is the one I thought was right all along. I need to find a job and then think about a baby... I guess the baby idea got pushed in front of the job idea because I'm feeling extremely discouraged. After every application gets turned down due to not having any nursing experience, I think I wasted four years of my life and A LOT of money on a degree that, as of right now, seems useless. Where I'm from this is the accepted plan: graduate high school (if even that), get married (if even that), have kids, the end. Seeing all the people I graduated high school with having their second, third, and some even fourth child and me having nothing; no child and no job, is depressing. Depressing is probably too strong of a word, but it's no fun lol

But thanks for everyone's advice! I really appreciate it.

And lets be honest! Trying for a baby is a heck of a lot more fun than looking for a job----no rejection in that area! LOL! ;)

ACL2006,

Regardless of your BSN, you have no experience. Most hospitals say BSN preferred PLUS 2 years experience.

Look into LTC, with your BSN you can become a manager, ADON in no time. After atleast 6 months, start applying at hospitals.

Go to job fairs at hospitals/health systems (they advertise these in the Sunday paper, not on their website).

Good luck!

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