Explaining extensive orientation, no experience

[Navigatingnursing]

Hello my fellow and sister travelers,

My question is about getting that first facility experience and if it is wise to mention orientations done, which is experience and work, but then you didn't get hired, and that looks bad.

I am an LPN of nearly three years and have yet to get bona fide facility experience. I worked in an adult day hab for 6 months, then homecare for two years, where my skill use is limited. I like homecare but want to leave it to get experience and build skills.

I have had two orientations and didn't get hired. One was 3-weeks for a hospice, but it was my fault I was 10-15 in. late twice (I couldn't help it, yes I could have left an hour earlier, 2 hours earlier?!) and they also said that I wasn't good with 2 out of 6 skills tested on. That was tough to get over, as I am a massage therapist with oncology experience. But with that orientation, I got some serious training that deepened my awareness of hospice, and am profoundly grateful.

Then recently an agency sent me out on a 3-day orientation where two of the days I did a med pass in an LTC, saying that I could then work as many shifts as I want.

I have a massage therapy practice and a couple of homecare nursing clients. I actually quit or rescheduled these to make room to work at the facility and get my much-needed experience. Except the facility has been calling me the same morning to come in. It was on days that I could not, as I have some private clients I see as a massage therapist. Upon their request, I even did an unpaid orientation for a day after a week of not working, to refresh my skills. I currently feel confident enough to do this, feeling a career breakthrough. And they just called at 7:45 to come in, when I can't juggle the 3 clients I have today, after holding them off for 4 days.

I can conclude that this agency may have misrepresented the facility and so it may not be a good match schedule-wise. Yet, I am not a new nurse with NO facility experience and I don't wish to hide it. But it sounds bad to say in an interview that I've had two orientations and no job. My idea is to say I had an orientation, but the scheduling was misunderstood and I was not able to be put on. After all, the facility accepts me, just pulls in new nurses last minute. Which is true.

As for the other orientation, I just say I took extra training in hospice. This last one though, do I really have to not mention it? I feel confident enough to to the job, its just getting a place to give me an exact shift. And actually, orientations should be longer than 3 days, but that seems to be the case. I'm in New York City, btw. A lot of competition, I'm older, but a lot of hospitals and facilities.

Thank you friends, for your advice!

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

To begin with, any jobs for which you received a paycheck with tax deductions (FICA) will show up on a background check because it includes a search of activity for your SSN. If you were paid through an agency rather than the healthcare provider, you were an employee of that agency and your resume should reflect that... "2010 - 2012: XYZ Agency, duties include temporary patient care assignments at client facilities" If this is what happened, you should not list the client facilities unless that agency has given you permission to do so.

You could re-frame your 'short' jobs by calling them a "temporary" job.... essentially, that is usually the case with most jobs because you don't really become a permanent employee until you complete an orientation or a probationary period.

Best of luck to you. With your background and skill-set, I am sure you will find a great job soon.

[Navigatingnursing]

I wanted to say thanks for your answer...better late than never!