How will I ever get the experience if you won't hire me?

[loving2]

Ok, let me first say that I *do* have a job, but I'm looking for a new job. My husband was laid off last year and our finances are getting extremely tight. I'm a school nurse and make very little money. We have exhausted all of our savings, and we are barely making it. My husband has been applying for jobs for over a year and hasn't had one interview.

Soooo....I'm trying to find a job in one of our local hospitals (there are 3 hospitals within 30-45 min. of my house). I don't have any "floor" experience bc I went straight to school nursing when I graduated five years ago. I was on a work-study program and had to work for my employer for 6 months after graduating. I got pregnant during my nursing finals and by the time my 6 months was paid, I didn't want to work in hospital. Then I had baby #2, and continued to work as a school nurse since it is very family-friendly, and my husband was making good money during this time. Things have changed now, and I NEED to make more money. Nobody will hire me since I don't have hospital experience. How can I get the experience if they won't hire me? Why will they hire new grads and not me? I also have a bachelor's in health education and an extensive background in teaching.

[AF-RN]

I know how you feel. I went right into school nursing after graduating four years ago, and my only other job was working in an urgent care for 6 months. I want to try hospital nursing also, but I don't feel totally confident going in without a refresher or having a good preceptor program. I just found a nurse refresher course through a community college in AZ that I can take to get that experience. There is a four month online class and then I have to work with a preceptor in a local hospital for 180 hours when the online class is completed. This whole program takes approximately 6 months to complete. I don't know if this would help you but it is worth looking into in your State. Call your State Board to see what schools offer that kind of program for people just looking to refresh skills. This would show the hospital that you are willing to help get the training that you will need and possibly they will be more apt to hire you. I am going to take this class while working as a school nurse this next school year and see where it leads me.