Graduated a year ago, no job

[RNpandoraRN]

I am in desperate need for guidance.

I graduated summer 2015 and have yet to find a job in my field (women's health, ob/gyn). I have reached out to staffing agencies as well, and did have a well-known urban women's clinic interested, but they did not want to pay what the recruiter quoted them ($45/hr in a city of over 2 million, midwest region). The clinic would not state what they were willing to pay, so then I was rejected. I am not certain how accurate sites like salary.com are for giving an idea of what the starting pay should be for a new NP.

There are plenty of FNP positions advertised in my area, but I am a WHNP.

I have sent out a few resumes unsolicited, but mostly apply to those that are advertised. Then, I never hear anything from them and my calls to follow up are never returned. I've tapped out the few connections I have, with no success. I'm at a loss as to how to proceed. I had no idea that finding a job would take this long or be this difficult, and I'm at a point where my finances are in dire straits and wondering how much longer I can keep deferring student loans.

I do work full time as an RN - my family has to eat! - so time for "pounding the pavement" is a luxury. Any tips or advice would be very much appreciated!

THANK YOU!

[SnowShoeRN]

Are you a member of any professional organization? Would you consider relocation? Would you consider a pay cut? After looking for a long time for my first NP job, with no success, I finally accepted the fact that I was going to have to move and accept less than I would have liked just for the sake of getting some money in the bank and getting my feet wet.

I would also consider joining a professional organization and getting back in touch with other recruiters. Many professional organizations send out job openings through emails and If you're willing to relocate and get in touch with enough recruiters or online job sites you may find more opportunities coming your way. Best of luck.

[RNpandoraRN]

Yes, I'm a member of NPWH and Sigma Theta Tau (STTI). I have several staffing agencies with my information, as well as email/text alerts through Indeed, Glassdoor, LinkedIn, etc.

I'm not really in a position for relocation due to family and finances, though I'd love to!

[Goldenfox]

What is the Women's Health NP curriculum like? Do they teach everything and then have a couple extra semesters on women's health, or is it 100% women's health? What is your RN specialty? Your info says "medical/surgical". What kind of med/surg? If you have a decent amount of adult med/surg experience then maybe you can use that as an angle to get a position as an adult acute or adult outpatient NP---as long as your state permits it---and if the practice is willing to train you. Not every place that advertises for a FNP actually does any peds. Worth a shot IMO.

[lhflanurseNP, APRN]

Women's Health should provide you with a unique opportunity to work in a regular office seeing adult patients! Many of the females bounce between a primary care provider and a gynecologist and I have found they really enjoy being able to have just 1 practitioner who can do both. Any obstetrics goes to the OB/GYN, otherwise, women's health provides standards of care that are women driven. I would consider looking into the clinic setting bringing your expertise to the practice. Good luck!

[gelli.25]

Since relocating isn't an option, maybe post-master's FNP? Unfortunately, I don't believe being specialized in women's health would do you any good in family medicine especially with no peds/general adult exposure during clinical.

[Chris Caulfield RN NP-C]

Get a Linkedin account (buy the sales package) and start connecting with business owners/partners at Ob-Gyn practices in your area. The local OB-GYN where I did my clinic (who I met on Linkedin) had his NPs manage the lower risk clients, most who were not pregnant.

It's all about building your network. I have gotten several jobs offers in specialty fields by contracting MDs seeking information and showing my potential value to their practice. Applying through the job sites (indeed, monster) will just put you in the pile of applicants... I wouldn't recommend it.

One major consideration is that when searching for a job, you are on a "sales" call. Find out what they want to here, and make sure you are presenting yourself as an addition to their team that will Significantly help their cause (what ever this is).

[RNpandoraRN]

Thank you all for your responses thus far!

Yes, the WHNP curriculum was specifically women. No males and no pediatrics (other than newborn care for the first two weeks following birth). My Med/Surg background was hospital, right out of nursing school for a couple of years.

I am not at all interested in caring for males or pediatrics (or taking on more educational debt!), so a post-Master's FNP is not on the table. I realize an FNP is more marketable, but my passion lies in women's health.

Fulleffect1 - I do have an account on LinkedIn, but not Premium - had done so in the past and it was not worth the money. Do you suggest sending requests to local providers?

[Chris Caulfield RN NP-C]

Fulleffect1 - I do have an account on LinkedIn, but not Premium - had done so in the past and it was not worth the money. Do you suggest sending requests to local providers?

I've gotten several meeting with providers by asking non-threatening advice via Linkedin messaging (not requests- those are junk), which has turned into interviews /offers during our talks (even when I wasn't looking for a spot at their practice). I would try it out. Don't sound needy during your messages... offer some praise "I have heard through some colleague that you are well respected in the community of Ob-Gyn"..... etc. Ask if they would have a couple free minutes to talk in person. You would be surprised what this can lead to. FYI.. My response rate was probably 1 out of 10... it is better if you can mention someone they know, or something about them that you can relate to. (previous provider recommendation, publication, a client they may know).