How can I get a job already in NYC?

[cracksbacks]

I passed my NCLEX-RN in september. I have an AS from Excelsior and I am a Chiropractor with 10 years of clinical experience, with some OR experience thrown in there.

I was under the assumption that as a male nurse with patient care experience, I should have no problems finding work. That has not been the case. I have gone through hospital web pages, gone into hospitals to meet the recruiters face to face, faxed and mailed every recruiter in hospitals I could get contact info for, I have milked every contact I have in health care that I have cultivated over the past decade. I have pestered and I have been persistent. All while continuing my full time job as a chiropractor which will be scaled back once I can do three shifts a week as an RN in any hospital that would give me the chance.

The problem is no one seems to be giving me a chance. I am running into issues with experience, or lack thereof, as well as the fact that I do not have a BSN. With 4 years of chiropractic education under my belt (which, believe me, is VERY difficult and I would compare it to any other health care provider's doctoral program), as well as a BA in biology, I would have thought that would counteract the fact that my degree is an ASN. Coupled with my experience in spinal care (which is extensive) as well as my experience in ambulatory surgical situations (I am a certified practitioner of manipulation under anesthesia), I think I come off as an excellent addition to a hospital staff, potentially in orthopedics or in the OR. At this point, however, I am willing to take anything. I am the proverbial uncarved stone awaiting training.

Does anyone have advice? This situation is only becoming more stressful and demoralizing by the day. I am fortunate to be working full time and my practice is relatively busy for now. But after all the hard work I have put in, it is time I began to continue my career path in a hospital. Ultimately i envision ways to intertwine my two professions and help people in pain. In order to get my vision realized, I need to get into a hospital, get trained and begin my RN career now.

I feel that every day post licensure that I do not work as a nurse makes it more difficult to get hired.

I will work in any borough at this point, as well as in Nassau and Suffolk counties. I have no problem with commuting. I just want a chance.

If anyone out there can help me with contact information in hospitals so I can continue to get my name and CV out there, I would appreciate it. I recently found the NYCHHC web site and got my info mailed to all the recruiters listed there. of course I did an electronic application, but I do that every few weeks and I doubt it does much good. If there is a database i could use to set up a mailing campaign to ass many hospitals as possible, it would be very helpful.

Thank you all in advance. This board has been a wonderful resource for me so far.