Graduated May 2013, Passed NCLEX December 2014, What does this make me?

[EarthhAngel2013]

Am I a new graduate? Can I apply for residency positions and internships? Should I apply for anything and everything even if the money isn't good, our state hospital 5 mins from my house offers 17.50 for a new grad RN. I really want to do pediatrics which mostly means Dallas area. Do I need to specif on my resume that I didn't pass NCLEX for a year and a half after I graduated, therefore I didn't work, I just took care of my mom at home.

Should I put the date of graduation then the date I actually passed NCLEX RN? During the year and a half of trying to pass NCLEX, I didn't work my moms health has seriously deteriorated and I couldn't work, because we wouldn't have had the money to get any one to help her out.

Another concern on my resume, I have had in the past sporadic jobs. I worked PRN for a HH agency as a CNA, for about four months. I also did part time taking care of a little boy with CP for about 6 months. I did a full year of volunteer work at a therapeutic riding center for disabled children. I did about four or five months in a hospital as a labor and delivery tech. on a volunteer basis (until the unit was shut down.). Should I include any of these positions on my resume or applications? Could they be why I'm not being hired?

Any help solving this would be greatly appreciated.

[Lev, MSN, RN, NP]

You should apply for any and all Nursing Jobs that do not require RN experience. Apply to the nurse residency programs too. You are still considered new grad because you don't have any RN experience.

I would just write "Current Registered Nurse licensure in Your State, License #xxxxxxxx"

If the job application asks for all jobs, I would include them. You can always explain why you spent so little time at those jobs at the interview if it comes up.

Start with applying to the hospital that you worked in as an L&D tech.

I would try to minimize your experiences spent taking care of your mom. You don't want to make yourself seem unavailable.