how do I gain experience if I have no experience?

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How do I gain experience at a job if no one will hire me because I have no experience?

I live in Bergen County, NJ, I'm a 37 y/o male, interested in being a nurse in several years. Right now I want to gain experience by being an Assistant at a Rehab Facility. I have been applying but have not heard a response from any facility. What do I do?

Thank you for your replies. What area in New Jersey isn't saturated with employees versus jobs???

How common is it for there to be a 37 y/o in a nursing program??

I see what you are all saying about experience, I should have had it back in the past.

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Thank you for your replies. What area in New Jersey isn't saturated with employees versus jobs???

Can't answer that for you. Research it. And maybe accept that you won't find a job doing what you want if you aren't willing to relocate.

How common is it for there to be a 37 y/o in a nursing program??

Very.

You can't change what happened in the past, just how you approach your future. And has been very well said here already, you need to do whatever is necessary to EARN a job. Showing up with no skills, no certifications, means you can also expect no job. Get the training needed. Do whatever you need to do so an employer WANTS you. That has not yet happened, according to what you've said here.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

I graduated nursing school at 40. There were people in my program 10 years older than me.

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

I'm not in your area, but I've been employed at several places, from LTC to ICU, over my years in healthcare. (11 yrs as an Rn, 5 yrs as a CNA.) I've never come across an assistant position that didn't require some sort of certificate. For the most part that means a CNA...the others were certified PT and OT aides. But if you want to be an RN, I'd highly recommend the CNA route because the skills will be more applicable to nursing than PT/OT aide skills.

I've seen lots of student nurses in their 30s and 40s; they were either beginning a 2nd career or had been stay-at-home moms and preparing to enter the workforce.

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Specializes in Trauma, Orthopedics.
Thank you for your replies. What area in New Jersey isn't saturated with employees versus jobs???

NJ resident right here. And to answer your question.... nowhere. I'm down south and it's just as bad.

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Is a CNA more likely to get hired at a hospital or a Rehab place. Are CNA and a Rehab Assistant or PT Assistant or Occupational Assistant interchangeable???

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Are CNA and a Rehab Assistant or PT Assistant or Occupational Assistant interchangeable???
No. Physical therapy assistants and occupational therapy assistants are educated at the associate degree level and earn about as much as RNs in many locations. On the other hand, the CNA is a certificate that takes a few weeks to a couple of months to obtain.
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Specializes in ICU.

Something else to consider also is a unit secretary position. While it may not be the hands on experience you were looking for, you still learn a tremendous amount. I worked as a unit secretary on a large, extremely busy general medicine floor during the end of my pre-req's and through out nursing school. My last semester I moved into a nurse intern position. It helped more than you can imagine and there is no certifications required. You learn a lot of med term, are able to associate what tests go with what diagnosis, a very important skill of being able to read they physician's handwriting :), you also interact with all the various disciplines and get to know the various doc's. There is tons more that I gained that's not listed. Pay is almost equivalent to a CNA position also. Best of luck to you!

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