Can NG Nurses take other hospital jobs (Hosp Assit, Unit Secretary)?

[5ftRN]

Just curious if anyone else has run into this information? I graduated in May 2010 and have been applying for job after job, but I really will do anything at this point just to get my foot in the door. I've been applying for unit secretary and hospital assistant jobs. I've also applied to volunteer programs at the various hospitals in the area. I'm just wondering if it is pointless, if they would hire a nurse to do a UAP job?? Thanks for your input!

[dannibee]

It couldn't hurt to try. A couple of my classmates have tried to find jobs as non-licensed personnel to get their foot in the door at a hospital but have been turned down because they have an RN license. Good luck with your Job Search. :)

[goodstudentnowRN]

It is very hard to get a job as a non-licensed personal when you have a RN license. I tried but was brutally turned down. You have to be honest and tell them the truth although you are applying for a non licensed position.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

You could try, but many hospitals won't hire RNs in non-RN roles because they know once a nursing job opens up you will run for it. Hospitals don't want to waste time and money training you for a position when they know you have no intention of staying long enough to make their investment worthwhile.

Best of luck in your Job Search.

[elle_RN]

In my experience no one will want to hire you because like another poster said, they know you'll leave as soon as you find an RN position. I graduate this month and was unable to find another position all summer. Not all hiring personnel are familiar with the overflow of new grads and assumed I would find a nursing position right after graduation.

I'm not licensed yet but for now I'm lining up volunteer experience and looking for a job in an unrelated area. I don't want to do anything that would risk my license or give me experience as an RN because that disqualifies me from many new grad programs. On those applications I don't mention that I graduate this month because again, I won't get hired. And in all fairness I would leave a retail job in a heartbeat, but I need something until I can find a nursing job. And in this job market who knows when that will be.