Graduated 1 year ago, still no job

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Hello. I graduated in May 2012 and still no job. Technically I didn't start looking until after I passed NCLEX in August. I have only had 2 interviews but they went with someone with experience :(. I applied in all the healthcare networks online in Illinois (Presence, Cadence, Advocate , etc. ). No luck. I even applied at a few nursing homes. I notice that a lot of jobs require or prefer ACLS certification.

1 Can a new grad not working yet (except some volunteering at a free clinic) take the ACLS course and exam to get certified so I can put it on my résumé ( I do want to get into critical care )? I don't want to pay the $250 plus fee if I can't .

2. Where can I go to in Chicago area to volunteer to get practical experience ? The clinic I do volunteer at doesn't give me experience in medication admin or treatments. I do get a lot of experience taking vitals, charting and patient education.

Thankfully I am employed in my current career in accounting where I have worked for over 20 years but I desperately want to get into my new field before I get too old. I am 45

Thanks for any advice you can give :)

Fgreen

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Specializes in Clinic NP.

Though i'm not in Illinois yet, there is always a little negative recruiting stance when you're straight out. It happens in almost every field. Again I don't know your area, but having anything on a resume is better than nothing. I'd be calling every HR dept (its painful, and they don't care, but you have to) to see if any openings, try to get peoples actual numbers, not just mailing location for resumes, and be willing to drive, often unless you know someone, starting out is the worst. I find connections are everything in Nursing, and in the FNP field.

Getting interest is a lot of simply casting a wider net, idk how many you have applied for, but you do what you have to!

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Specializes in Urgent Care NP, Emergency Nursing, Camp Nursing.

I took ACLS while I only had my pass letter. It wasn't that hard, but my program's last Med-Surg course was really a Critical Care course, the first week of which was ACLS material, so YMMV. Really, though, you should be doing one thing a month to improve your resume while you're waiting, and if you want ICU or ED then taking ACLS is a no-brainer.

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Im assuming that you are a RN? Did you try looking for jobs in Nursing Homes?

Usually they have openings. Even if you can't work full time, you might want to start part time?

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Hello. I graduated in May 2012 and still no job. Technically I didn't start looking until after I passed NCLEX in August. I have only had 2 interviews but they went with someone with experience :(. I applied in all the healthcare networks online in Illinois (Presence, Cadence, Advocate , etc. ). No luck. I even applied at a few nursing homes. I notice that a lot of jobs require or prefer ACLS certification.

1 Can a new grad not working yet (except some volunteering at a free clinic) take the ACLS course and exam to get certified so I can put it on my résumé ( I do want to get into critical care )? I don't want to pay the $250 plus fee if I can't .

2. Where can I go to in Chicago area to volunteer to get practical experience ? The clinic I do volunteer at doesn't give me experience in medication admin or treatments. I do get a lot of experience taking vitals, charting and patient education.

Thankfully I am employed in my current career in accounting where I have worked for over 20 years but I desperately want to get into my new field before I get too old. I am 45

Thanks for any advice you can give :)

Fgreen

To me, paying $250 to take the course would be a drop in the bucket if that is what is barring you from getting a job.

Finding a job is a numbers game..the more applications you fill out, the more you are likely to find.

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Do you have a BSN or a ASN?

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Specializes in Public Health.

You can take ACLS & PALS with Chicago CPR Training | Chicago ACLS It's discounted if you buy both classes at the same time. Separately, they cost $150 each.

Give Northshore a shot. They do hire nurses without a BSN.

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