Do you want to be jobless after nursing school? I didn't think so...

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We all hear the horror stories of fresh nursing grads who can't find jobs after school. Well, I don't want to be one of those people and I thought I'd share the steps I have taken as of now and for the future to hopefully prevent that from occuring:

I got my CNA license last October but haven't found a job because I wanted to focus more on acing my prerequisites. After having finished all my classes this past Fall 2013 semester, I got a job at my local community college as a student assistant, at the very school I applied for nursing school.

After my first semester of nursing school, I plan on applying to a hospital as a Patient Care Technician (I am qualified for this because I previously got my CNA license), and I will be even MORE qualified because I will have completed the "Nursing Fundamentals" course. The experience from this class combined with the clinicals will be very good.

While at the hospital, I will network with the nurses and staff (hopefully unit managers, too), and let them know how serious I am about my motivation, career goals, and ambition.

After getting my RN license, I will immediately apply to my local university's RN-BSN bridge program....... The catch is that I will still do PCT work undercover (to make sure I get some money).

Once I get my BSN, I should have absolutely no problem finding a nursing job, right?

Specializes in Current: ER Past: Cardiac Tele.

I worked as a tech during nursing school and when I graduated my manager transitioned me to RN on the floor. I was lucky.

I will say that being a tech and having that experience has helped me in my nursing career. Especially doing what others deem "tech work."

Yes, nurses have to juggle a lot and use critical thinking. But I have seen some really great nurses who get de-railed by a few bed baths that needed linen changes. I think having tech experience does great things for a nurse.

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To the OP. You seem to have a great forward thinking attitude and that'll always work in your favor. You seem to be proactively thinking how you're going to tackle this saturated field that nursing has turned into.

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Manny92 I PMd you with some useful info.

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Manny92 I PMd you with some useful info.

Thank you! I'm replying to it right now!

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Working as a pct helps A LOT. I've been a cna/pct for two years and in that time, on my unit alone, I have seen four people graduate and get "gn" jobs (graduate nurse.. you start orientation but can't be on your own until you pass the nclex) then move into an rn position after passing. That may not be the case everywhere, but don't get discouraged. Having any healthcare experience can never be a bad thing. :)

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I am set to graduate in May with only my ADN. I do not have a cna/uap license, nor any experience outside of clinical or the assigned practicum settings. I started applying for jobs early (January) and have accepted a pre-offer of employment in an ICU unit at a teaching hospital. I would recommend starting the application process well before graduation, even applying for externships if they are available. Be willing to be flexible, as I will have to drive about an hour each way for that position. It also depends on the area you live in as well. I live in a tri-state area and I am competing against 5 to 6 nursing programs in the local job market. I knew come May, the race would be on so I thought the "early bird gets the worm".

Your experience will be wonderful on resume, but don't wait until post-graduation to get it out in circulation. Start now. I truly believe showing initiative is what helped me.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
Yes I have a bachelors degree in another field. And I do have a job now, but the market is saturated. It took me 5 months and hundreds of applications.

Often you'll see a job posted that doesn't even truly exist. HR is required to post the job but in posting it, they already knew who they were going to hire. So you waste time applying to jobs that aren't even truly available.

This is a great point and worth mentioning because often you'll find people who have a vested interest in keeping the nursing shortage myth alive get their statistics and make projections from a company that uses published open positions as their raw data.

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Specializes in ER/Critical Care.

Interesting thread. I just got hired as an ED Tech while doing nursing school and the nurse manager and director of the ED both expressed interest in my career goals (become a RN CEN and get my BSN) and showed a ton of support. HR even said they would try to get me in on a externship in the future. They explained that 2 of the other techs on my shift are in nursing school and help each other frequently along with the RNs being great about helping them.

Even if this is false promise, I believe tech jobs are so worth it. How else, on a very realistic level, can you know that the nursing profession is for you if you don't interact, learn from, and experience nurses day to day practices? I've gained a ton of experience doing skills in urgent care and being an EMT. No, it's not nursing, I realize that.

I have done phlebotomy, IM injections, made critical transport and triage decisions, have exposure to equipment used and understand vitals for pts of all ages. I've seen families, coworkers, and nurses break down and have been able to call nurses, techs, physicians, allied health, EMS, etc my coworkers. I Have witnessed apathy and burn out, and people go above and beyond the call of duty. I've been bullied and hazed and I'm still here.

I would never ever say that any of that was a waste of time, good and bad. I love being a tech and I have a solid reason to believe I will love being an RN.

You and I may not be employed as RNs when we grad any faster, but don't let anyone discourage you from being a tech and say it's a waste of time. If it's what you want to do while in school... DO IT.

I don't expect anything handed to me when I grad, but the experience I have gained is a gift in itself and I feel very proud to carry these memories and skills with me. I truly believe it will come in service. Next time I have the pt with a GCS of 3, the psych pt that tried to hit me in the head with a bronze bookend, the concerned mother of a baby involved in a car accident... I will remember what helped, what didn't, and how to handle it on a deeply personal level.

Hope this helps

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Ambz13, that is the most thoughtful and encouraging post that I have ever read on All Nurses. Thank you, and I wish us both success on our journey to become great nurses!!!!

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Specializes in ER/Critical Care.

I'm really glad I can encourage you. Any post under "Student Nurse" shouldn't be anything but encouraging IMO. Best of luck and remember HAVE FUN :)

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Specializes in Med Surg, PCU, Travel.
ICU man, that's nice. :) Yes, I am a licensed CNA, but I currently do not have a CNA job. The reason is that, since I will be starting nursing school at FSCJ this summer, i could find PCT work at the hospital where clinicals will take place. And also, I don't have any medical experience and all the CNA jobs around here seem to require experience. To compensate for that lack of experience, I want to get my first semester of nursing school out of the way, in addition to volunteer work. Yes, I am a Jacksonville resident :)

To get work in North Florida if you did not take the PCT course, they also ask for EKG and phlebotomy for you to get hired. I just have my CNA. I've been trying hospitals with no luck, even had a friend in the hospital in who saw my resume on the desk. My issue is I graduate in 4 months and they dont want to hire me...so I guess I started too late. I just going to try nursing homes because I need money. It's good that you are planning ahead and keeping a positive outlook. I graduated with my AA and did all my pre-reqs at FSCJ - they denied my application to nursing school probably because I moved from Jacksonville, but I got into a BSN program anyways so it was for the best...lol

Have you tried Shands? I'm curious what their hiring rate is, or if they even take CNA's.

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To get work in North Florida if you did not take the PCT course, they also ask for EKG and phlebotomy for you to get hired. I just have my CNA. I've been trying hospitals with no luck, even had a friend in the hospital in who saw my resume on the desk. My issue is I graduate in 4 months and they dont want to hire me...so I guess I started too late. I just going to try nursing homes because I need money. It's good that you are planning ahead and keeping a positive outlook. I graduated with my AA and did all my pre-reqs at FSCJ - they denied my application to nursing school probably because I moved from Jacksonville, but I got into a BSN program anyways so it was for the best...lol

I've never heard of phlebotomy certification as a requirement for PCT...

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