RN re-entry with no experience...help!

Nurses Job Hunt

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I graduated with my BSN in 2007. I did not work at all after graduating as my son was born my senior year of nursing school and he had special needs. Since then I have had two more children and have recently gone through a divorce. I need to find a job ASAP as I am now a single mom of three. I recently completed a state board approved re-entry program with 120 hours of theory and 160 hours of clinicals, but I still can't find a job. The area I live in has a very high saturation of new grads as there are 7 nursing schools in the area. I really don't even know where to start. I have been looking at SNFs and long term facilities, but am only finding positions listed for CNAs or for RNs with experience. Relocating is not an option. There are a lot of jobs open for nurses with experience, but I need a job to get experience in the first place. Does anybody have any suggestions on where I could look, how to better market myself, resume help?TIA

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN

1 Article; 5,114 Posts

Volunteer to get your foot in the door and start networking. Try the minute clinics, volunteer to do BP checks in the stores for the VNA, heart association, etc. Ask a facility nurse manager or two or six if you can shadow a staff nurse to see how things are now-- the more people see you, the more you're at the top of their attention list when openings come up. Sure, it's all unpaid. You're unpaid now, though, so what do you have to lose?

GeneralJinjur

376 Posts

Specializes in Psych.

I got lucky with an acute care psych hospital. Also, I would contact your alma mater and see if they have any placement help. I would also get in touch with as many of your graduating class as possible to see if they have any networking possibilities. After 5 years, some of them may be in a position to interview you.

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tnbutterfly - Mary, BSN

83 Articles; 5,923 Posts

Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.

Moved to Nursing First Job Hunt Assistance for more response.

Good luck!

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