Help with job options, shot self in foot

[Imeanreally]

I could really use a little help and direction as I'm quite upset with myself right now. I graduated from nursing school in NJ about 3.5 years ago and passed my Nclex in 75 questions. My current full time job made a very competitive offer for me to stay on. I've regretted it ever since. I thought "I can always fall back on nursing and take a refresher course". What I'm finding is most refresher courses want you to have experience. And I just really cant imagine anywhere considering me.

I'm very willing to start from the ground up in any capacity. Long term care, corrections, rehab, flu shots. You name it I'd do what it takes as I'm so mad I didn't follow my correct path.

I'm looking for any advice, help, insight, direction, or words of reassurance. Is there a way to side step my way into nursing? Like healtcare administration, or some type of medical desk job.

Any help would be very greatly appreciated

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

Is your license current? If so just hit the pavement and hand out resume's anywhere and everywhere and network your hiney off and you will eventually find someone to give you a chance.

[Imeanreally]

I put my license in "inactive" status last year. I called the NJ nursing board and they said getting it back to "active" wouldn't be very hard. I guess I really just need to find someone willing to see that I'm worth the investment. Being 100% honest, I didn't think my nursing school made me all the prepared for real world nursing. I think I would have required the same exact amount of training then as I'd need today.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

It never does. Working as a nurse does the actual preparing part. Without an active license you will not get a job so make it active and then get your tusch out there. You can find a job as a nurse.

[Imeanreally]

I'm going to call first thing Tuesday (already too late today and I imagine everywhere is closed Monday). And I'm going to start the process of getting my license reactivated. Then I'm going to send my resume to every LTC, Rehab and Dr office in a 50 mile radius with a cover letter explaining how all my non-nursing work experience as an operations manager has actually helped prepare me for nursing. Time management, organization, multi-tasking, delegation. These are skills no new grad would have, I just need the actual nursing skills that they teach in orientation anyway. If I can just get an interview I'm sure I can convince them I'm well worth the investment. Its just scary to think I might end up nowhere.

[elkpark]

I just need the actual nursing skills that they teach in orientation anyway.

Just a caution, LTCs and physician offices are notorious for providing v. little in the way of orientation (I don't know if rehabs are as bad as LTCs). I would not count on them teaching you any "actual nursing skills."

Best wishes!

[Imeanreally]

Thanks for the tip. Even if that is just my foot in the door and I can move on to another setting later on and request additional orientation or something.. I just gotta get in there.