advice much needed. PLEASE READ

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · May 18, 2006

anyway please give me any adivce about the situation im in regarding the hosp. jobs

This probably isn't going to be a favored reply, but i'd focus on the job i just got, and gain experience from it, instead of concentrating on getting hospital positions at the same time (especially since some have given feeback on why i wasn't hired). I could learn a lot in home health if i gave it a real chance.

anxiety722 · May 18, 2006

the reason i want the hospital job is for benefits. i need health coverage

jenrninmi, MSN, RN · May 19, 2006

the reason i want the hospital job is for benefits. i need health coverage

I'm surprised you were hired home health when most home health agencies would not hire you without any experience since you would be working independently. I work home health now and I have the same benefits I had when I worked at the hospital (owned by the same company). Maybe look around for a different company that has benefits.

Trauma Columnist · May 19, 2006

I know from previous posts that you recently passed the NCLEX (btw congrats). Would working for a smaller hospital work for you? That would allow you to get the experience you need and then in a year or so, go back and reapply as a seasoned nurse and I bet they grab you then.

anxiety722 · May 19, 2006

i feel like im toooo young to be working as a home health nurse? im 23-turning 24 in agusut. what do u guys think??

how much less does a smaller hosp pay compared to a bigger hosp?

im here in NJ

jenrninmi, MSN, RN · May 19, 2006

i feel like im toooo young to be working as a home health nurse? im 23-turning 24 in agusut. what do u guys think??
how much less does a smaller hosp pay compared to a bigger hosp?
im here in NJ

I'm one of the younger nurses in my agency (believe it or not) but I feel very lucky to be there. I feel the position I'm in is a career some nurses wait 20 + years to get into. Good luck!

twinmommy+2, ADN, BSN, MSN · May 19, 2006

i feel like im toooo young to be working as a home health nurse? im 23-turning 24 in agusut. what do u guys think??
how much less does a smaller hosp pay compared to a bigger hosp?
im here in NJ

I don't think that age has anything to do with what position you want, and wages definatly don't make a great job all in itself. I work at a small hospital now, their wages are competitive, the staff has been great, and I've learned alot there.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · May 23, 2006

Let me see if I understand this. You have been offered and have accepted a part time home health job. At the moment that is the only nursing job you have. You are still looking for a full time hospital job, is that right?

I would concentrate on the job you have and thank your lucky stars that you got that.

You are not being told this, but it must have crossed your mind that these hospitals are also looking at the length of time it has taken you since school to pass the NCLEX. Taking a year doesn't look good for you. If I were the hospital the big burning question in my mind is why it took you a year to pass the NCLEX. That is something that I am sure is working against you. Hospitals are always looking to hire the best nurses they can. They know from experience whether it is worth their time to invest in hiring and training someone in your position. I believe their concern would be whether or not you can be trained up in a reasonable time based on your past history. They are going to think long and hard about expending time, money and resources on you.

Have you thought about nursing homes? A good nursing home is a place where you can get some very good experience in managing patient care. You can also get your much needed health care benefit as well. You are more likely to get more sympathetic understanding of any personal medical problems at a smaller operation like a nursing home than an acute hospital.

anxiety722 · May 23, 2006

how depressing! taking the exam a few time to pass doesnt make u a bad/ stupid nurse..i thought there is a nursing shortage?? wouldnt hospitals still want to hire regardless of how mjany time u took the exam? thats pretty sad..

would i want to work in a hospital like that anyway?

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · May 23, 2006

how depressing! taking the exam a few time to pass doesnt make u a bad/ stupid nurse..i thought there is a nursing shortage?? wouldnt hospitals still want to hire regardless of how mjany time u took the exam? thats pretty sad..
would i want to work in a hospital like that anyway?

No one said taking the NCLEX more than once makes anyone a bad or stupid nurse (where did THAT come from anyway???).

Hospitals aren't going to just hire anyone, they ARE going to check backgrounds, experience, etc. And they WILL wonder about the span of time between graduation and NCLEX passing.

Sorry that the answers wanted was not the ones that got received :uhoh3: :trout:

Daytonite, BSN, RN · May 23, 2006

I am sorry if this came as such a shock to you. You have to realize that in the working world which has become more and more corporate, bottom lines and liability risks are everything. People can moan about this, but it is a reality. All they have to evaluate you as a nurse is your performance in nursing school which is based on what your former instructors have to say about you and whether or not you are licensed. Unfortunately, the date of your licensing is available to prospective employers if they enquire about it. They have to rely on the limited nursing information that they can get access to about you. It might have been different for you if you had taken a position as a nursing tech in a hospital during the year that you were struggling with passing the NCLEX. It might have gotten you an RN job in that hospital since they would have had a year to get to know you and how you work.