Getting hired with little work experience??

[Mom23kiddos]

Hi Everyone,

I am a nursing student set to graduate in December. I am so excited for that light at the end of the tunnel except for one little thing...job hunting. I am definately ready to work as a nurse and have all my hard work pay off, but I am terrified of finding a job. I have very little work experience due to being a stay at home mother to my young children. It seems that the vast majority of my class either already works at a hospital or has been recently employed in some kind of healthcare field. My question is this; am I at a disadvantage to my potential employers because I decided to stay home and raise my children? I don't have a lengthy resume, and my last job was almost seven years ago (before my first child was born). What can I do to beef up my resume so I look competative to the other applicants?

[LaurenNicoleRN]

no, you're not at a disadvantage! I was a SAHM to my 2 kids before nursing school too, I found a job about a month after passing my NCLEX. I feel like I would have found an RN position sooner, however, if I was already working as a student nurse at a hospital. Most of the student nurses that I know had an RN position waiting on them after they passed NCLEX while the rest of us were furiously putting in apps and being turned away at the same hospitals. With the economy the way it is, fewer nurses are retiring which means fewer RN positions available to grads. If there is any way possible, I would try to find a student position. At least you could have your foot in the door while increasing your work exp for your resume

[Mommycakers]

I was a stay at home mom for 10 yrs. before I started nursing school. I was worried about the same thing you are now. I decided to get a job part-time every other weekend at a hospital as a nursing assistant. I did it for about 14 months. It could be a good way to get your foot in the door so they can hire you as an RN when you graduate. Unfortunately where I worked they hardly hired any of their nursing assistants. I think just due to the economy they did not have as many new grad jobs to offer. It just depends where you live I guess.

I did just land an RN position but not at the hospital I worked at while I was in nursing school. Who knows if it helped me or not on my resume but I figured it can't hurt. One thing employers tend to ask for is two employee references. Before I left my old job I asked my boss for a professional reference. I was glad to have one that was recent since the other place I worked at is no longer standing. They demolished the building to the ground but I am sure corporate headquarters somewhere would have old employee records for verification.

Also, remember to start applying for new grad internship programs before you graduate. I never did that because I was too busy trying to keep up with the husband, kids, school, work and the house that I may have been able to find something sooner if I did.