It is 2012, I graduated 2008 with my BSN, and have yet to land a coveted RN job. First one did not work out....they expected me to function as an experienced nurse with zero ezperience! Hello, evidence based practice states it takes upwards of a year to become proficient and not task orientated.
I then interviewed for Versant new grad position. Got to 2nd interview and then disqualified because they said I was no longer a new grad due to my few months of "experience". So I could not get a staff nurse position or a new grad position! And I had moved my tweens over 300 miles twice in one year for those two jobs, right after their Dad died unexpectedly.
*So here I am. I tried LTC and loved the patients but could not tolerate the illegal things that were going on. Then I took lower job at rural federally funded medical clinic and stayed for a year, and totally loved it, and learned a ton, until I could not stand being utilized as an RN Floor Nurse and their Triage Nurse, for such low pay.
Now that I am back to applying for RN jobs I am fighting with this previous employer as to why they will not state they utilized me as a registered and triage nurse! Because, now jobs still think I have zero experience, even though I have a year of clinic experience!!!
Get this, recently, I was tentatively offered a Clinic Nurse job with Veterans Administration, but at the very end of their long hiring process, they withdrew their offer because my former employer refused to state that I worked as RN and Triage Nurse (which only an RN can legally perform but they have LVN's doing it now). Oh and because my reference letters were not from Nurse Managers or Supervisors. Well, when I worked there, there was no Nurse Manager and No Medical Director..which I stated my concerns about. *I did have a supervisor for the first 3 months of my employment, and she did write me an amazing reference, but VA would not accept it because she was an LVN and legally should not have been my supervisor. Now you know some of the other reasons I quit working there after my year was up. Now, no VA job for me. And yes, I told them all this at my interview!
I am soo frustrated with nursing and doing everything right (professional resume, getting my BSN, PHN, BLS, ACLS, Suit, thank you notes, personalized cover letter, *volunteering, classes, applying everywhere, researching the job and company, blah blah blah...) Seven other jobs I applied for told me I was their second choice because of my lack of acute care experience. I understand the economic situation and have been really thinking out if the box, but I am so frustrated!
*Now looking into a refresher course, even though I read and review nursing info almost every day. Not sure it will even help me at this point. I never thought getting an RN position would be easy in California, but jesus, it is wicked hard if not impossible. And now that I am a very "old, stale Grad with no acute care experience", I do not know if it is even doable. *I was not a CNA or LVN before I went back to school for second career.
*I am really really really frustrated. I could go back to volunteering, back to school, or just plain retire. I knew this would be difficult, and I am trying to be positive, but come on. I cannot move my teenagers again, they are finally settled and accomplishing their goals. *If I have to move for part of the week I will. But nobody will give me the time of day. They all give me that look, like, well if you have not found a job yet, we do not want you either.
Any ideas.....shoot them my way. *I need some
.*PS my apple computer seems to have a mind of it's own, rearranging my spelling???? And the custard doughnut I just ate did not help me feel better. :)
