Discouraged new RN

live4today, RN · Jan 23, 2005

:balloons: hello lesi! welcome aboard here! :)

don't give up applying for nursing jobs. the right employer will give you a chance, and precept you more kindly than the one you worked for in the past. believe in yourself and what you as a person can bring to healthcare. stay plugged in here at allnurses....read the "general nursing discussion" forum regularly and you'll learn a lot from the nurses who post there about nursing in general, and how to conquer your fears as a fairly new nurse. i wish you all the best! :)

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Jan 23, 2005

Hi Lesi,

I feel for you and understand how it can be so hard to need to work, want to work, and know there are jobs out there but no one wants to give you a chance. First you need to determine what type of nursing you are really interested in, I know in my soul I am a honest to goodness med surg nurse with really good assessment skills, time management skills, and just plain nursing skills but I hate OB, and I hate home health. Next you need to keep on putting in applications, widen your search area if possible, and be honest with the possible employer, take a class or seminar if possible to keep yourself abreast of what is going on. I was told once on the BB that I would lose my skills if I did not keep up with them, while that is true in some ways, it is also true that a good nurse needs time to learn and once she/he learns it does not disappear. I wish you luck and know the job you need is there and yours if you really hunt for it. Good luck and keep us posted on what is happening.

teemarie · Jan 23, 2005

Hello all, I am new to this mesage board so I want to give you all a quick shout out ::Hello:: before I start my whine!! :chuckle I have been an RN for about a year and a half & I am really miserable. I have had three positions in this time period:the first one was in a Birthing Center and the other nurses were not having a new grad so this along with other things (very insecure & not greatly skilled)= failed probationary period. Job 2 Oncology, I gave this position up ( preceptor worked 6 twelve hr shifts in a row) I just couldn't do it. Position 3 Charge Nurse PRN in a skilled wing in long term care & rehab. center this position was not great for me either as I did not have the skills that I needed, I worked when asked but after they hired someone full time (no insurance provided so I was not interested) no more calls for me. I have now been looking for a position for the last 3 months with no luck, I will get interviews then when they check my references someone must be lowering the boom on me. I only quit one position and the other was pretty much temporary (long term care)so I dont understand what is the problem. I really need to get to the bottom of this bad work reference thing & try to fix it. I have went to school for four years to get this degree & ran it in the ground in less than 2 years. Oh yeah, I have been a housewife & Mom for most of my life so I have very little work experience. Thank ya'll for listening & if you can help, please do.....
Lesi RN

If u figure someone is giving u a bad reference, then u cant use them. sorry to say u r going to have to change ur game plan-- if u know what i mean-- start fresh -- the jobs u r applying for do not know your hx-- so present yourself differently--clean slate--u have to do what u have to do--dont list those jobs -- try a different approach--u r the new girl on the block-- act like it -- remeber as a nurse u have to be a detective and a good actress--it is sad to say, but it is true--learn from ur mistakes and move on-- today there is such a shortage that they will hire u into any position do u think they care that u cant handle it and if something goes wrong its ur head-- u have to be smart--dont take on a manager position if u know u r not qualified-- one of the biggest factors in a nursing is the nurse to patient ratio-- ask---look into school nursing-- with an agency -- they give u a short orientation and it is easy work--pay is not great --but it will lift ur spirits--some agencies even train u to work in facilities--be smart -- think-- u cant let what happened to u be the end all---u didnt go to school for nothing---fight girl dont give up

lindymarie · Jan 23, 2005

:balloons: hello lesi! welcome aboard here! :)
don't give up applying for nursing jobs. the right employer will give you a chance, and precept you more kindly than the one you worked for in the past. believe in yourself and what you as a person can bring to healthcare. stay plugged in here at allnurses....read the "general nursing discussion" forum regularly and you'll learn a lot from the nurses who post there about nursing in general, and how to conquer your fears as a fairly new nurse. i wish you all the best! :)

i love the scripture you added at the end of your post. some how when all of our earthly words fail, his can lift us up. thank you i needed to read that today. :balloons:

TennNurse · Jan 23, 2005

Where in Tennessee are you? Depending on your location and/or your willingness to drive a little ways, you can find a ton of options. I just started a new job in Memphis, which is about an hour away from me, because the town I'm in only has a couple of hospitals, and they both stink to work at. The drive is so worth it, and I am MUCH happier.

I really like the tip about taking classes or workshops; I wish I'd thought of that when I was out of work for a while.

RNPATL, DNP, RN · Jan 23, 2005

Lesi - first, you need to stop and take inventory of what it is that you want to do in nursing. Nursing presents a lot of choices for new graduates as well as experienced nurses. As a new graduate, you need to determine why you got into nursing and where your passions are. I think once you can discover this, perhaps you will be able to settle yourself in a position.

The first step in securing another position is to recognize that failures in the past are only building blocks to a better future. :yelclap: Once you have determined where in nursing you belong .... apply for those jobs that you think you can be successful with. :redpinkhe During the application process, it is important for you to be honest :saint: with the nurse manager that will be interviewing you. Let her/him know that you have struggled in the past with knowing exactly where you belong. Let them know that you have taken inventory of your abilities and your passion and that you now know where it is that you want to work and your plan to stay for at least a minimum period of time (at least one year). :yeah:

As a nurse manager myself, I would be more inclined to hire you than I would someone that was not truthful :saint: with me. Beginning a career in nursing can be tough :no: . There are many fears that we have and many things that we do not know. Please do not take this first year as a personal failure, rather, take it as a learning experience and learn from it. :1luvu:

Most of all, keep your head up and remember you have friends here :kiss . Come back and visit with us and let us know how you are doing. :thankya:

teemarie · Jan 24, 2005

Lesi - first, you need to stop and take inventory of what it is that you want to do in nursing. Nursing presents a lot of choices for new graduates as well as experienced nurses. As a new graduate, you need to determine why you got into nursing and where your passions are. I think once you can discover this, perhaps you will be able to settle yourself in a position.
The first step in securing another position is to recognize that failures in the past are only building blocks to a better future. :yelclap: Once you have determined where in nursing you belong .... apply for those jobs that you think you can be successful with. :redpinkhe During the application process, it is important for you to be honest with the nurse manager that will be interviewing you. Let her/him know that you have struggled in the past with knowing exactly where you belong. Let them know that you have taken inventory of your abilities and your passion and that you now know where it is that you want to work and your plan to stay for at least a minimum period of time (at least one year).
As a nurse manager myself, I would be more inclined to hire you than I would someone that was not truthful with me. Beginning a career in nursing can be tough . There are many fears that we have and many things that we do not know. Please do not take this first year as a personal failure, rather, take it as a learning experience and learn from it. :1luvu:
Most of all, keep your head up and remember you have friends here :kiss . Come back and visit with us and let us know how you are doing. :thankya:

Great Advice! where were u when i needed u? i've been thru similar experience and i guess i responded based on what i saw worked in the past. it is good to see things from a different perspective and im learning to trust God -- stumble now and again--i guess we think we can do things our own way and it would work out-- but im learning in the long run u will feel bad about yourself if u r not honest-- i guess its a choice we all have to make

Southern Belle RN · Jan 25, 2005

Hello again & thanks for all the answers to my post!! :) I really feel lucky to have found this board!! I have needed someone to talk this out with but my 3 best friends that I graduated with have been so successful that it is hard to talk to them about it. Ya know ya gotta have pride :rolleyes: I do not have time tonite to answer everyone so I hope I am doing this right so everyone can read it. I really am going to use some of the advice that I received. I have thought about leaving off my first position from my resume because I think that is who is giving me the bad reference, but it seems a little dishonest. But on the other hand I have been applying & interviewing for the last several months without much luck so..... I am not getting anywhere being honest & straight forward. :crying2: It was great to hear from Patrick with a managers point of view (great post, thanks a million)I wish you were a hiring manager that I had a chance to interview with, mine are not nearly so understanding. I am going to keep trying for a little more time, I hate to give up but it is just so darn disheartening: not getting online because a job may call, carrying the phone with me to the bath tub, potty,heck everywhere!! But no calls. :crying2: I look forward to hearing from you all again!! I will check back tomorrow & hope I have more posts!! Something to look forward to :uhoh21: Thanks again for every reply,I really appreciate them every single one!! :coollook:

Lesi RN:sofahider

Southern Belle RN · Jan 25, 2005

Hello again & thanks for all the answers to my post!! :) I really feel lucky to have found this board!! I have needed someone to talk this out with but my 3 best friends that I graduated with have been so successful that it is hard to talk to them about it. Ya know ya gotta have pride :rolleyes: I do not have time tonite to answer everyone so I hope I am doing this right so everyone can read it. I really am going to use some of the advice that I received. I have thought about leaving off my first position from my resume because I think that is who is giving me the bad reference, but it seems a little dishonest. But on the other hand I have been applying & interviewing for the last several months without much luck so..... I am not getting anywhere being honest & straight forward. :crying2: It was great to hear from Patrick with a managers point of view (great post, thanks a million)I wish you were a hiring manager that I had a chance to interview with, mine are not nearly so understanding. I am going to keep trying for a little more time, I hate to give up but it is just so darn disheartening: not getting online because a job may call, carrying the phone with me to the bath tub, potty,heck everywhere!! But no calls. :crying2: I look forward to hearing from you all again!! I will check back tomorrow & hope I have more posts!! Something to look forward to :uhoh21: Thanks again for every reply,I really appreciate them every single one!! :coollook:

Lesi RN:sofahider

Southern Belle RN · Jan 25, 2005

Where in Tennessee are you? Depending on your location and/or your willingness to drive a little ways, you can find a ton of options. I just started a new job in Memphis, which is about an hour away from me, because the town I'm in only has a couple of hospitals, and they both stink to work at. The drive is so worth it, and I am MUCH happier.
I really like the tip about taking classes or workshops; I wish I'd thought of that when I was out of work for a while.

I am about an hour from Knoxville, I live in a small town without very many places to choose from. We have a little medical center close but I want to work in one of the bigger facilities.The drive is not great but like you say it is probably worth it.

Southern Belle RN · Jan 25, 2005

Where in Tennessee are you? Depending on your location and/or your willingness to drive a little ways, you can find a ton of options. I just started a new job in Memphis, which is about an hour away from me, because the town I'm in only has a couple of hospitals, and they both stink to work at. The drive is so worth it, and I am MUCH happier.
I really like the tip about taking classes or workshops; I wish I'd thought of that when I was out of work for a while.

I am about an hour from Knoxville, I live in a small town without very many places to choose from. We have a little medical center close but I want to work in one of the bigger facilities.The drive is not great but like you say it is probably worth it.