Best non-hospital job to work at in order to gain nursing experience after graduating?

[RCK1756, BSN, RN]

I recently graduated and haven't been doing so well with nurse residency applications. I was able to get an interview with one hospital, but since that was my first interview, ever, I completely bombed it and got my rejection email soon after. 

I'm still waiting to hear back from another hospital, but I'm not so certain that I want to work for them (2 year contract involved) because I feel like it would put my license on the line. And I know beggars can't be choosers, especially during Covid, but I'd rather search for a job that I know will benefit me than be desperate enough to go for the first person to hire me.

My goal is to work in hospital, but I'm not sure how possible that would be as a new graduate nurse with no experience. 

So, as the title says, what is another area of healthcare that I could consider that isn't a hospital environment? I live near a huge city so there a hospitals/clinics everywhere. I'm just not sure what I can do that isn't hospital work that will let me gain nursing experience. 

I just want to add, one suggestion I've seen people give is to move to a job. That's not an option for me, since I've never had a job before, which means no saved up income, and I don't want my parents spending more money on me when they don't need to.

Any advice/recommendations, especially from people who didn't start off in the hospital setting? 

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

Check dialysis clinics and acute dialysis. Acute gets you working in the hospital, but for another company, you can network. Clinic gets you same experience, build your assessment skills. LTACH can help build needed skills and time management. LTC and rehab centers can be a good start, with the right facility. Do NOT go to a home health agency. They will promise good orientation, etc. Realistically, you'd be working alone very soon after hire, and without the right building blocks, your license and patient safety are on the line. Good luck with your job search! Keep your chin up. It's hard for anyone looking for a job right now, even with experience

[RCK1756, BSN, RN]

9 hours ago, Hoosier_RN said:

Check dialysis clinics and acute dialysis. Acute gets you working in the hospital, but for another company, you can network. Clinic gets you same experience, build your assessment skills. LTACH can help build needed skills and time management. LTC and rehab centers can be a good start, with the right facility. Do NOT go to a home health agency. They will promise good orientation, etc. Realistically, you'd be working alone very soon after hire, and without the right building blocks, your license and patient safety are on the line. Good luck with your Job Search! Keep your chin up. It's hard for anyone looking for a job right now, even with experience

Thank you so much for the suggestions! I'll definitely avoid home health, because you're not the first person I've heard that from ^^'

I'm going to keep a positive mind about all this, I just need to be realistic on where my first job will be since I know everything can't go the way I, ideally, want it to go.

Once again, thank you! I'll look in these places and see what I can do.