Can't find a job Cincinnati

Nurses General Nursing

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So I graduated in December 2013 with my entry-level MSN degree. I passed boards in February. I had one interview shortly after I passed boards, and I know I messed up on that one. First of all, I was 8 months pregnant and probably shouldn't have gone. Also, it was a group interview and I completely felt frozen. I was nervous and to have 6 people shooting questions at you was too much. I later asked the manager and she said I didn't even seem interested in the position, which is definitely not the case but since I was so nervous I suppose I came off that way. So I had my baby at the end of March and since then I have been applying to every hospital and every position I can. I practiced and practiced my interviewing skills. I had one interview 2 weeks ago and I know I only got it because the director at my work contacted the head of HR. Just found out today I didn't get the job. I had an interview a few days ago and the manger said there are so many people interviewing she doesn't know what she is going to do but if I don't get the job to keep in contact with her for when she has openings.

I feel really defeated right now. It's hard to keep up hope when it's near impossible to get an interview, and even when I do get an interview I don't get the job. Now I'm competing with all the people who graduated in May as well. Does anyone have any advice?

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

All you can do is keep trying. If you are getting interviews, you are getting chances. Brush up your interview skills.

I am curious why you would go for an MSN without even having worked as an RN? I suspect this may hold you back some.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

When My daughter was applying to nursing school the schools that had direct entry masters were really pushing them...big time money investment. They actually used the push...it is easier to get into a masters entry than the BSN and the classes were more...personal with individual attention.

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There were accelerated BSN programs as well....but my thought was if I'm going back to school might as well go for the MSN that could help me get a management position down the road.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
So I graduated in December 2013 with my entry-level MSN degree.
Welcome to Allnurses.com!

Okay, here's a unspoken reality. In several hospital systems across the country, nurses who are DEMSN (direct entry master of science in nursing) degree holders have a unique kind of reputation, and unfortunately it isn't totally positive.

I've casually observed as some unit educators, recruiters, hiring managers, preceptors and others complain that DEMSNs have trouble comprehending the concept of the 'worker bee.' Some instructors and nursing professors have negatively stereotyped DEMSN students as people whose first careers failed to launch. Therefore, a few hospital systems across the country have a hushed, unspoken practice of no longer hiring DEMSNs.

I will stress that a multitude of truly stellar nurses are DEMSN degree holders. Regrettably, some hospital systems give hiring preference to traditional BSN degree holders as a result of bias conflated with prior experiences that have may been negative.

Good luck to you. I will keep my fingers crossed and hope you secure employment soon!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Does anyone have any advice?
If you have not done so already, look into non-hospital employment in LTC/SNF/nursing homes, hospice, home health, private duty, clinics, jails, prisons, group homes, developmental disabilities, adult day care, assisted living, blood banks, physical rehabilitation, and so forth.

Especially look into public health and/or occupational health because these areas traditionally favor nurses with nursing education at the graduate degree level. Again, good luck to you!

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Wow, I was not aware of that stereotype. I don't understand why someone with an MSN would think they didn't have to work as much as any other RN. I've been a worker bee at every job I've had. I am going to have to start looking at other types of RN jobs as you mentioned. Relocating isn't an option for me right now, my mom has cancer so I want to stay around here. I actually had a nurse recruiter call me last night for a job I had applied to for psych, but she quickly talked me out of it. She said if you are using this job as a way to get experience, don't because once you get into psych it's hard to get out.

Thank you for your advice! It's hard to keep up the hope, but there really is no choice besides keep pushing forward.

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