Am I Barking Up the Wrong Tree?

[2BRNagain]

I'm looking for some honest feedback here - actually, I'm pretty much ready to throw in the towel. I'm an RN (AD) whose been out of the field for about 15 yrs. (raising kids, caring for my invalid father-in-law, assisting my husband in ministry). I never let my license lapse, so it's still valid, and I had about 8 yrs experience before I left nursing. With the hard times and a serious personal financial setback, I very much need to go back to work. I'm not naive - I know the field has changed dramatically in 15 yrs. (COWS used to be those large, 4-footed creatures that graze, chew the cud & give milk, right?) When I started looking for work, putting in my apps, I didn't even apply for nursing positions - just mostly allied health, phlebotomy, and the like. I asked a lot of questions, and the advice I got was to get into a reentry program. So I shopped out reentry programs, and found that most hospitals that have them are cutting back on those programs, re-evaluating the feasibility, and so on. I found a couple that you have to pay to get into - just like a college program - but had exorbitant fees (I'm unemployed, remember). I finally found one that I could somewhat afford, 85 miles from home, so I bit the bullet and enrolled. I was thinking, this will really give me a boost up and make me hireable. Wrong.

I'm now nearly a year into my job search, finished with the reentry program, and still no prospects. Of the hundreds of applications I have made to hospitals all over the northern half of my state, I have had 4 interviews. And no viable results. Some of my apps get a polite, auto-generated email stating that the facility to which I have applied intends to keep looking for a more qualified applicant. Most of my apps get nothing. I've called and talked to a number of nurse recruiters, who all give me basically the same answer - keep applying, but we can't promise anything. I've done everything I know to do to make myself more hireable, and in fact, I am now enrolled in an RN-to-BSN program, since it appears that many facilities are looking for more alphabet soup behind your name. I've also reverted back to applying for non-nursing positions such as Tech, Nurse Aide, and even internships offered to new grads, since the main complaint I'm getting is that I don't have enough recent experience. But I'm still getting the reply "will continue to look for more qualified applicant."

I feel like the person who wants to get credit but can't because she doesn't have any credit. And, I'm beginning to think this is a monumental waste of time. If I can't get hired because I don't have recent experience, and I can't get experience because I can't get hired, what's the point? Is this an exercise in futility? I recently had a discussion with a nurse recruiter who was almost willing to interview me until she discovered I lived about 2 hrs. away. I told her I was willing to relocate. Her advice to me was to go to HR at the nearest hospital and tell them I will volunteer until they can hire me. Huh? I have no problem with volunteerism at all - but I need a PAYING job. I understand about networking, and about making contacts. However, all I could think about was the liability issues, and who would I be making contact with while volunteering to push discharged patients out the door, or working in the gift shop? Is this even plausible? One recruiter I asked about this said that I was welcome to sign up to volunteer, but as far as getting hired, that wasn't something that happened often, and certainly couldn't be promised. I'm not looking for promises, just to be given a chance to prove myself. I don't know how else to get the needed experience.

I just need some input - am I wasting my time? Recruiters are telling me that when the managers look at applications, they are going to hire the most experience. That pretty much leaves me out in the cold. And I don't believe for a second that there is a nurse shortage! I just don't want to spend the next 2 years getting a degree that is, for me, already worthless.

[Mulan]

Have you tried non-hospital, like nursing homes?

[mesa1979, BSN, RN]

Sorry you've been going thru so much...:redbeathe......Try nursing homes like stated above, and LTAC's, home health, clinics, VA, school nurse.....there are so many things you can do, I'm pretty sure they will put you thru orientation again...I wish you all the best!

[jessiern, BSN, RN]

I don't really have any advice to offer, but I did just want to say goodluck, and not to give up hope.

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

I agree that you should probably invest your time into a paying job rather that volunteering - but i can also see where they are coming from. If it were me, i'd probably hold off on plunging a ton of money into a bsn program - though i may start taking classes one at a time - that way you can say thay you are working towards your own alphabet soup and you will be more desireable

[deleern]

have some one Objective look at your resume.

[Andrew, RN]

Lots of people are in your shoes. You are not alone.

You may have to relocate to find a job. Try the help of some staffing agencies that will give you permanent placement. I know TX and NM are hurting for RNs right now. They will take anyone.

Good luck.

[BluegrassRN]

Look elsewhere besides hospitals.

Volunteer as a NURSE.