How to get first RN job as a career changer?

[angelofmusicRN]

Hi All,

I'm wondering if anyone has any wisdom to share for us career changer folks. I'm 37 years old, and recently completed a second degree BSN (my first degree is in Education and I have 5 years of teaching experience). For the last 9 years, I have been working in the legal field as a paralegal, and now that I'm a licensed RN, a nurse paralegal. I'm grateful to have that job, but I really feel like I didn't spend all that time (and money) to stay in my current company. I want to work as a nurse in a hospital.

I did well in school, graduated in January with a 3.88 GPA, while maintaining my full time job. Since graduation, I picked up an EKG course, ACLS, IV certification and I'm still hearing nothing but crickets when I apply to hospital positions. I know new grads are being picked up in my area, as I know classmates of mine have successfully landed jobs. What gives?

Anyway, what's keeping me up at night now is the question of my employment background. I spent 5 years teaching in long-term substitute positions, but never found a job that was mine to keep (so much for the teacher shortage, right?). I needed steady, stable employment as I just got married, so I started working for a law firm and I stayed on because I needed the paycheck. I've been employed by the same company now for over 9 years, so I think that should prove that I'm not a serial "job hopper," but does the fact that I'm changing careers hurt my chances at landing a nursing job? I thought hospitals would be interested in someone with a varied background?

I know some of my classmates were already employed in hospitals where they landed their first jobs, or had relatives that worked there, knew a manager, etc. But what's a new grad who's not super well-connected in the hospital world to do? Moving out of state and quitting my job to do volunteer work are not realistic options for me. Mortgage payments and grown-up financial responsibilities preclude that at this point in my life.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

IMO, volunteer 'work' wouldn't add any value to your job search because it would be limited to 'civilian' tasks rather than clinical ones. It's possible that potential employers may be put off by the fact that you are already employed in a (seemingly) long term career so they may feel that your transition to nursing may not be a permanent one. Hiring managers who have had to cope with disillusioned new grads - unhappy with work hours, working on weekends & holidays, etc. may be leery about why anyone would leave a normal job with decent pay to move into 'our world'. On your resume, is there a way to down-play your experience & current job .. so that this impression can be changed?

Unlike many career fields - like IT - Nursing is much more welcoming to 'late starters'. We appreciate the fact that mature graduates bring the benefit of their previous experience & knowledge into the workplace with them. If you can get your foot in the door to a face-to-face interview, I'm sure you will be able to overturn any false impressions and convince them of your sincerity - it's very evident in your post.

Wishing you the absolute best of luck on your career change.

[Everline]

I am a "career changer" who is older than you and I was able to get interviews and a nursing job fairly quickly. I had a resume that played up my clinical experiences and certifications and grades and downplayed my past work experience. I did not have any hospital connections nor did I work in healthcare previously. I didn't work (or network) at all while going to school. On top of that, I was a stay at home mom for several years, leaving an employment gap. I say all of this to let you know that it is possible to get a job in your situation. Perhaps you can tweak your resume to focus on your clinical rotations and skills and your certifications. In addition, if you haven't already, write a very good cover letter which, among other things, briefly highlights how your skills in your current job will transfer to nursing. Then when you get an interview prepare heavily and knock it out of the park. These are the things that I did. Also, look into new grad residencies if there are any in your area. Good luck and and hang in there!

[turtlesRcool]

I don't think changing careers hurts your job prospects. I also left education for nursing. I used my cover letter to discuss the crossover skills from one position to the other. When the question came up in my interview, I was pretty clear as to why I was changing jobs (too much paperwork coming home and contaminating family life), and I went on to describe my discernment process in choosing a career that plays to my strengths without replicating the problems that prompted me to leave teaching. Interestingly, the nursing director has a grown son who is a teacher, so she understood exactly what I was talking about.

I, too, have a mortgage and a family (and, even more limiting, a pregnancy) to consider, so I found my options were rather limited in what I could realistically apply for. Many of the classmates I saw getting jobs first were able to apply for anything and everything. As much as I was envious of them landing jobs before me, if I'm honest, many of those jobs were ones I didn't want or wouldn't work with my family life. If I hadn't gotten the offer I did, I was going to expand my search to drive an hour (or more) each way, just so I'd be able to apply to some of the bigger hospitals that seem more new grad friendly.

The classmates who have jobs - can you reach out to them and find out what they did in their job search? Is there anyone who might be able to put in a good word with his/her nurse manager for you? I had a classmate who got a job right away, and kept encouraging me to apply to her department. I did actually put in an application there early in the process, but I'm not sure it ever got past HR to the NM. My next step would have been to apply again after she was a bit more established, and her recommendation would have a bit more pull.

Have you looked into new grad residencies in your area? Those can sometimes be less about the networking aspect of getting a job, and more about being a solid student nurse with good demonstrated work ethic. They usually only open up once or twice a year, so keep your eyes open as hospitals may have openings now for the May grads that were not available back in January.

Also, are there any faculty members who might have connections you could use? My program director offered to write me a letter of rec, and when I expressed interest in a particular facility, she said she knew the DON, and could get my resume on her desk when I resumed job hunting after the baby was born. Are there any clinical instructors who might put in a good word for you?

[CARMENVS08]

Any luck on finding a position? If so, how are you liking or not liking it? I am also a career changer going from being a paralegal for the past 12 years to RN. Well I haven't even started school yet, lol. But am excited and nervous about going into the medical field after being in the legal field for so long.