What do I do??

U.S.A. New Jersey

Published

I have been looking for a RN position since January 2009. I have been applying on hospital websites, nursing homes, on various career websites- careerbuilder.com and monster.com are just a few and craigslist.com. I hold both a NY and NJ state license and was hoping to find something by now. Is there anything else that I should be trying? I go on interviews and send thank you letters. I try to follow up with a phone call and most of time people are in and out of the office so I have to leave a message. I never hear back. I would appreciate some advice. Thanks!

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You should try PA. Have you taken a refresher course yet? After one year of not working you are considered "out of practice" and need to take the refresher for places to even look at you. I feel for you!! This is such a horrible time to be a new grad in NJ. I was about one week away from my one year mark when I got a job. I am now working in a jail. Have you considered corrections nursing? The pay is excellent and contrary to popular belief you get a wide variety of experience. Good luck and keep you r head up!!!

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How do you go about applying for corrections nursing? I would be interested.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Sadieanne7, I am in the same boat as you. I moved to NJ from VA due to my husband's job. It took 6 weeks for the state to process my license but I have been applying for jobs since June. I was told that hospitals are only hiring new grads. I'm looking into agency nursing right now because I've been filling out each hospital's online applications and not getting any call backs. Have you tried Indeed.com? I set up a job search and get daily emails and spend a few hours a day applying. I worked med/surg in DC and VA and there was never a shortage of med/surg jobs there. I'm finding that there are many openings for Tele and Peds but I am not ACLS certified or have any peds experience. I'm hoping the market will turn around but it is very discouraging. All the best.

"Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you."

-Mother Teresa

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I found the add on the sherriff's department website and sent in a resume. Go to all the county jails websites in your area and check for job openings, same for any state or federal prisons in your area. The interview process is intense. My interview was with the head nurse and a cop, while there they ran a quick background check to see if I was eligible to go further in the process. I was given a 25 page application wanting to know everything about me, from every traffic ticket to any money I owed on credit cards ect. After handing that in a detective called me telling me to bring him every document under the sun. When I brought him the documents he questioned me on each of them. Over the course of a month I was bringing him this and that. It was very intense but beyond worth it, I love my job and the starting rate is amazing. Good luck!! If I find any corrections openings I will post them.

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Thanks for the info and advice. Ill be sure to check it out.

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