I'm a new grad, passed my RN licensure last month. Now what?

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I was a licensed RN in Philippines. I came here 17 yrs ago but never worked or even got exposed to medical/nursing environment. I just got my RN license last month and I cannot get an entry level RN job. All employers are looking for a candidate with at least 1 yr critical care nurse experience.

Where can I get my experience if no one will hire me?

I have inquired about volunteer jobs. 2 hospitals told me that volunteers work at the info desk and/or gift shop, among other hospitatility roles. So cancel that.

For other new grads who did not study in USA, what avenues did you take in order to get an RN job?

Thank you all for your input.

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I graduated in Philippines 17 yrs ago. I didn't have any work experience in medical/nursing environment for 17 yrs of my stay here in USA. I got my RN license last month. I have been looking for an entry level RN job but everyone's looking for a candidate with at least 1 yr experience in critical care nursing.

Where and how can I get an experience if no one will hire me?

2 hospitals (Valley Med & Kaiser) already told me that volunteers are assigned at the info desk and/or gift shop. So cancel I decided not to pursue hospital volunteer works.

What can you advise me? Where do I go? What shall I do?

I live in Fremont CA.

Thank you all.

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Find a refresher course.

Honestly, in my country, if you graduated and had never worked, chances are you would have had to do the degree over.

Why not pursue volunteer work? It still looks good on a resume.

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Sorry, but if you live in Fremont you are going to have a difficult time finding a job. There is not a lot of job opportunities in that area, hasn't been, and won't be. Suggest you go to all of the LTC facilities in the area as well as any other prospective employer and be persistent. Network with your friends who are working in nursing. Look around at church, at stores, everywhere. I would see nurses with special needs kids at the mall and we would have a conversation and find out who our respective employers were. Good luck.

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Thank you both!

To Fiona59, what's your country? boy, sure am glad i live here in USA. :)

I was told by 2 hospitals that volunteer wrkrs are assigned at info desks and gift shop, to name a few places in the hospital where critical care nursing or even bare nursing assistant roles don't exist.

to Caliotter3, how about in San Jose CA? Union City CA? Milpitas CA? I'm also considering working in SNF, LTF.

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hi wrst! i'm not yet licensed here in ca but most filipino RNs here that i talked to said that when i got the chance to pass the nclex, i should start at convalescent homes or even as a visitin nurse. then from there, you can start to apply to hospitals. they always say to me that patience is the key :)

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Specializes in Medical-surgical nursing.

hi wrst-

I am not an RN yet (in school) but our hospital rotations are done at valley and kaiser, with a few others. Several instructors/past students who I have talked to, and who now work at these hospitals, say starting out in volunteer positions or gift shop/info desk positions are one of the best ways to get an RN job. All new positions are released internally, to employees, before they are open to the public. Also since you would be likely to see HR/higher-ups every day being at these jobs, they are more likely to think of you first. It may not be ideal, but I heard it's one of the best ways to land a job right now. It's not what you know, it's who you know.:)

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There are Flu Clinic positions available to LVN's with one year of experience in California (San Fran, San Diego or Los Angeles areas).

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Thank you all for your helpful and positive input. :up: : )

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