new grad, moved, then illness

Nurses New Nurse

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatrics, Wound Care.

I graduated Sept 2010. I promptly passed the NCLEX and received my RN. I was about to start applying for jobs, when my husband started getting interviews in another area. I didn't look for jobs because I didn't know where we'd end up. Jan 2011, we moved. Literally the day after we moved, I ended up critically ill in the hospital. After a 10 day hospital stay, many months of 'recovery', surgery then infection and corrective surgery, I was finally well by about August 2010.

So, now it has been 15 or so months since graduation. I don't really know if I'm considered a "new grad" for positions/fellowships.

I also don't know if it would be appropriate to "explain" my time off since graduation. I don't know if it would help (empathy) or hinder (sicky!) my application process. Since I don't have any nursing/hospital experience on my resume, I figure a cover letter would be important to "sell" myself.

So

1) do I still qualify as a graduate/new-nurse?

2) Should I mention the medical stuff in a cover letter? (I would try to explain what I 'learned' from the patient perspective).

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

you're still a new graduate in that you've never worked as a nurse. if you choose to share the details of your illness, be prepared to explain how much better you are now, or how you plan to work around your illness. it's been long enough since you graduated that a refresher course might be helpful in two ways -- as a refresher and as a way of making new contacts in your current area. good luck.

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I would think you are still considered a new grad. I would not put any information about your experience as a patient in your cover letter, I would think that most of us have been a patient at one time or another and that doesn't make an employer want to hire you any more than the next applicant.

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Specializes in Critical care, trauma, cardiac, neuro.

You moved and got your family settled in the new area. Now you are ready to start your career. That is it. Do not disclose any more. The hospitals know they will spend a lot of money orienting new grads. It is an investment for them. They do not need to spend this resource on someone who may be too sick to give them the return on the investment.

Good luck and I am glad you are better.

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