'New' Grad, no job, nursing refresher to stay 'employable'?

U.S.A. Illinois

Published

I received my IL RN license in Aug 2012 and I still have not been able to get a job as an RN. My biggest fear is that soon I will become 'unemployable' because I am too far away from graduation and the clinical skills I had acquired. (May 2012)

I am doing some volunteer RN work, but it doesn't involve hands on technical skill. Just taking vitals, documentation, and patient education. I'm afraid I'll forget how to give an injection, do med calculations, forget basic medications and operate an 5 or 12 lead EKG machine.

I am looking into taking a nursing refresher course to keep my skills current. Has anyone had to do this until they got employment?

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im scared its been 1 year and still no job !!! have you tried even applying for cna or medical assistant jobs ?? do you have bsn?

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I have my BSN. Most places won't hire you as a CNA if you have an RN license. I make twice as much money keeping my current career job as an accountant than I would as a CNA. But I would do it on the weekends for experience and a foot in the door if I could. Starting pay for most RN jobs in my area would meet or exceed what I make now so I need to look for RN jobs that have medical / dental and full time. Being 46 and having a mortgage and student loan debt, I can't work for less than what I make now. Unless my working hours equal what I make in my 40 hr work week

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