What should I do now?

[RNhere]

I have yet to land my first job in nursing after graduating 2 years ago with a BSN. It was only last year that I passed the NCLEX. I gave up on hospitals because it looks like they are interested in fresh out of school new grads.

I have now been applying to rehabilitation centers with no luck so far.

Just yesterday I recieved a mail from a long term care asking me to come for a job fair with my resume. They announced three job fairs one of which says interviewing experienced RNs only NO LPNs please. The other two did not mention experience but because at the very bottom of the three listings they said minimum Of 2 years experience required, I am feeling very discouraged but something tells me to go and try.

Should I attend the job fair anyway? I have patience during this long road because I love nursing. However many people are telling me to give up and try something else. But nursing is all that I know. What should I do now?

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

I would go anyways. It couldn't hurt, would get your name out there. Why not?

You may have better luck at a hospital that is smaller, a community hospital, that type of thing. You could also try home health.

Best wishes!

[RNhere]

thank you for the suggestion.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

Go. Network. Apply and go to anything and everything. You never know when something will cope up later because you met someone previously. You need to be aggressive about your search at this point and leave no stone unturned.

[smiley28]

I agree with the above. Your best bet would be networking, maybe try volunteering at local hospitals, clinics, etc to meet nursing staff and that way you can proof yourself to them, if they like the way you work you might have a chance of them referring you. Just make sure you work hard as a volunteer, show them your willingness to help and learn, take the initiative to ask if they need help rather than wait for them to ask you for help. Or even tell everybody that you are a nurse, who knows maybe someone you work with might know someone else that could help you. In my experience, i used to work in an office/non healthcare related, in which my manager's husband is a nurse manager, my office manager really liked me so she referred me to her husband who was able to offer me a job, however I rejected it since it was home health job and I got a job offer at a hospital too. I also believe that my volunteering experience has played a vital role in me getting an offer at the hospital, it reflects my motivation and passion for this field and helping others, or at least that's how I emphasize it to sell myself in interviews. Also maybe consider applying to places in rural areas that are not as competitive but driving distance or consider relocating if that is possible for you, if so you can always apply to other states ( I've read in here that North Dakota has a lot of positions available) and if you do get an offer then relocate.

[iluvivt, BSN, RN]

Any luck yet?