Time to give up?

Nurses Career Support

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Hello, I am in a quandary and I need some help.

I graduated in 2009 with a BSN. I have been looking for my first RN position for almost 6 years. I have applied for over 257 positions and have been granted 5 interviews. These interviews have resulted in responses that run for not enough experience to the position and/or interview were held to meet hiring requirements.

I have worked several weeks in a nursing home (not a good experience- too many residents) and in a summer camp. I cannot move far away from where I live and working nights are hard (family situation). I am over 50 years old.

Here is my question- is it time to quit looking for an RN position? Would getting more education (MSN or DNP) help? Should I re-train in a another medical related field (surgical technician or medical lab) or will that make me overqualified?

I need to get my life moving forward rather than stuck in neutral or going backward. What do you think?

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Have you joined any professional organizations and attended meetings? These are great opportunities to network. Sometimes it isn't what you know but who you know that helps you get that first job. You may also want to have someone look over your resume and provide feedback. You may also want to work on interview skills. There are several topics written by some of the experienced nurses here who have provided both interview tips and examples of interview questions. This is the first in a 3 part series: https://allnurses.com/nursing-interview-help/how-to-answer-748905.html and there are several other articles out there- you may want to check out the career forums for more tips.

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I would not recommend going into debt to pay for more education when you are over 50.

Is nursing something you really want to do?

How have you been paying the bills for the last several years?

Your restrictions have probably been a factor. A lot of us do take less desirable jobs with too many patients, night shifts, weekends and holidays. Would nights be possible for you even for a year? A lot of us have family issues, and nights can get your foot in the door.

A refresher course might be a good investment too, if one is available.

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No it is not possible at this time to work nights. Nursing homes are requiring at least one year of acute care experience. No experience not job, no job no experience. I am great in an acute care setting. Nursing homes - too many residents, too easy to make a mistake - I tried.

Currently working for myself - not making ends meet. I take care of my Dad (he's 85) and he is helping with my expenses (food, taxes, clothes, etc.)

I have tried to take a refresher course - I can get theory only, hands on skills are not available within 150 miles of where I live.

It is very frustrating - I can't get a nursing job, can't get any job because I have not worked in many years (Job Search and nursing school) I am trying to find "happy" in my life. I thought nursing would be my path to "happy". I guess I was wrong.

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Specializes in Public Health.

Firstly, happiness is not a destination but a way of life. Second, you can't have your cake and eat it too. You need to be more flexible obviously if you want your situation to change. What you have been doing isn't working.

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The question is - I am going to be able to find a nursing job after 6 years of being out of school or should I move on?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
The question is - I am going to be able to find a nursing job after 6 years of being out of school or should I move on?

And as was said by a previous poster: are you being as flexible as you can be?

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I don't see anything wrong with "wanting my cake and eating it too". Is it not the American dream - work hard, go to school, study hard. I have put in my years of doing for other, putting aside what I want for the wants and needs of others. Settling for what comes my way. Is it so wrong to want something for myself - to have something go my way instead of having to fight for everything and rarely getting what I want - just geeting what is left over. Before you give me the speech - have already heard it.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
I don't see anything wrong with "wanting my cake and eating it too". Is it not the American dream - work hard, go to school, study hard. I have put in my years of doing for other, putting aside what I want for the wants and needs of others. Settling for what comes my way. Is it so wrong to want something for myself - to have something go my way instead of having to fight for everything and rarely getting what I want - just geeting what is left over. Before you give me the speech - have already heard it.

No, it's not wrong. Just unrealistic in this employment environment. If you want it to work out, you've got to make it work out.

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I can't work nights, I can not move (five major hospitals in 35 mile radius - I will travel), and nursing homes have too many residents on floor ( I had 42 residents on my wing and I was only RN in building) I don't think that is being that inflexible. It is not like I will only work day shifts, Monday through Friday in the ICU unit - that is inflexible.

I will work days, Pm's, 7 am to 7 pm, any unit, weekends and holidays are not a problem. Oh wait, I guess wanting to work in acute care is being inflexible.

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I asked for advice on what to do - didn't need to be told repeated that I am "wrong". I have been told that I am "wrong" for my entire life. I guess I should not have expected anything more.

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Specializes in LTC, med/surg, hospice.

You will need to find a way to network and will need to update your skills somehow. How are making yourself still relevant in the field?

Nobody can answer if you will find a job or not. Of course, the odds are against you due to having large gaps in employment.

I would have personally moved on before now.

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