Getting turned down......unexperienced RN....

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Hi all...I graduated Dec 2005....passed NClex in 2007. Im having a tough time getting work now coz so much time has passed. I did not work right away after graduating from nursing school due to personal reasons.

Ive been trying since Oct 2007 to get a job as entry level nurse...but Im not having much luck. I went to a Job Fair recently and most of the recruiters there told me to come back after I had a year experience.

I even looked into a local hospital grad nurse internship program and the recruiter turned me down with reason that there were more qualified candidates than me. Im out of ideas of what to do other than going back to school......which I dont want to do.

Thanx if you can help....

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It might not be what you want but have you looked into LTC? Usually LTC is hiring and experience is not necessary. It would at least get your foot into the door and get some experience that everyone is looking for. Good luck!

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I would apply to every new grad program in the area. If there is a VAMC nearby I would shoot an application into their new grad program.

I would include a letter with your resume that explains the reason for the gap in entering the workforce following graduation from school. I would also emphasize that you passed the NCLEX recently. (It might be that the recruiters think your skills have eroded but you can use the recent NCLEX pass to overcome that objection.)

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I agree with the above posts. You should be explaining that gap in your nursing activities up front, before potential employers have had a chance to wonder about it. You should also be doing everything you can to show that your knowledge and skills are as up-to-date as they can be. Passing the NCLEX recently is a help, but are there other things that you can do? e.g. taking a CPR course, etc. Also, you may have to take a job for a while that is not one of your top choices in terms of patient populsation, schedule, or pay. As you have found, there is competition for the best jobs out there -- competition that has been in the clinical area more recently. It sounds like you need to make yourself competitive in order to be considered for the best jobs in your area.

Good luck!

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Specializes in critical care and LTC.

That is a real drag that they are telling you that. Where I live to be in an internship you have to be an RN less than a year, you may still fit that if that is how they do it where you live. I would have to agree with some of the others maybe take a job in a LTC facility or like a nursing home with a rehab unit on it would be good until you can get some experience and find what you are really wanting.

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Hi all...I graduated Dec 2005....passed NClex in 2007. Im having a tough time getting work now coz so much time has passed. I did not work right away after graduating from nursing school due to personal reasons.

Ive been trying since Oct 2007 to get a job as entry level nurse...but Im not having much luck. I went to a Job Fair recently and most of the recruiters there told me to come back after I had a year experience.

I even looked into a local hospital grad nurse internship program and the recruiter turned me down with reason that there were more qualified candidates than me. Im out of ideas of what to do other than going back to school......which I dont want to do.

Thanx if you can help....

I would check with the school you attended,if you are still in that area, or a local CC and see if they have "refresher" courses. A teaching hospital might have these as well. This will get you back in the flow of things, plus seeing this on your resume might reassure the human resources department that you have at least had a class to get you acclimated again.

GOOD LUCK

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can someone explain what internship program is? is it same as graduate nurse program, for those who graduated from nursing school and work under supervision of rn's? i have the same problem as op. i graduated in may and i've been trying to find a job in the hospital, but i've been turned down or hospitals never call me because i dont have any experience working as rn. i passed my board in september of 2007, do you think i can still apply for the grad program?

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Specializes in Emergency Room.

you are technically a new grad, so you have to market yourself that way. i think you should go back to the school you graduated from and seek support. maybe they can put you in a clinical class just for competency testing and also since they have constant contact with clinical sites they could put in a good word for you when a position becomes open. you may have to take a less desirable position but it will get your foot in the door. good luck.:specs:

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Hi all...I graduated Dec 2005....passed NClex in 2007. Im having a tough time getting work now coz so much time has passed. I did not work right away after graduating from nursing school due to personal reasons.

Ive been trying since Oct 2007 to get a job as entry level nurse...but Im not having much luck. I went to a Job Fair recently and most of the recruiters there told me to come back after I had a year experience.

I even looked into a local hospital grad nurse internship program and the recruiter turned me down with reason that there were more qualified candidates than me. Im out of ideas of what to do other than going back to school......which I dont want to do.

Thanx if you can help....

Cute_Cabbage, I have had a similar problem. I have gone to interviews and then gotten turned down for jobs either because I don't have enough experience OR there is someone with more experience than I have. My question, if no one is willing to give you a chance, how in the world are you supposed to get that experience?

I have looked at some ECF's but the pt/nurse ratio seems overwhelming to me, as a new grad.

:o

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I have looked at some ECF's but the pt/nurse ratio seems overwhelming to me, as a new grad.

:o

LTC can be overwhelming when you first start. If you have a good preceptor and adequate orientation you will be OK. Yes there are a lot of people for one nurse but what you have to remember is that not everyone has something wrong with them acutely everyday. You may have a few people that you have to watch closely for whatever reason but basically you are taking care of these people in their homes. You are passing meds, doing treatments (not everyone has them), and updating PCP on labs, new conditions, ect. It really is a rewarding job and a place to start getting experience that other facilities want.

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Contact local recruitment, don't look online.

Take a refresher course

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I want to thank you all for your suggestions. I was ready to give up. Just want to let you know that I interviewed for a nurse rotational internship at another hospital...a VERY respected teaching hospital and............I GOT THE JOB!!!!

A kind and sympathetic nurse recruiter decided to give me that chance. She set me up an interview with a nurse who's in charge of the internship program and hired me on the spot! It's been 2 years since Ive been out of school and I know my skills are a little rusty, but Im so motivated to learn and learn and learn and do the best I can! I took your advice and explained my 2 year absence and they were VERY understanding....even to the point of commending me for my actions. (I had put nursing on hold to care for a very ill family member.)

So you inexperienced grads who are having a hard time getting work...dont give up coz miracles DO HAPPEN! Dont let anyone tell you or make you feel you arent qualified or not good enough for the job. Keep "plugging" at it and you will get IN.

Im SOOO ecstactic...I start in 2 weeks!!!! :anpom:

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