I need a JOB

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I graduated from FNP school last august. So far it feels like I have submitted a million applications with no results. I have been a nurse for over 20 years and I just cant figure out what I am doing wrong in finding a NP job. Unfortunately i did have an incident as a nurse 5 years ago where I made an error and after an extended suspension I resigned, but they said I was fired. I never recieved any paper work or signed anything indicating a termination. I have checked with the parent company

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Specializes in Emergency Medicine.

It is dependent on what the error was- things can get reported to the BON which will follow you with licensure.

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It was reported and the BON dismissed it as an unavoidable error

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
It was reported and the BON dismissed it.

Just in my experience... I have not seen any other advanced practice nurses having difficulties obtaining a position. It is possible that your past experience is more significant than you thought.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

Who are you using for references? Do you know what previous employers might reveal, especially given the incident? That could be the issue.

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I have no idea as to finding out

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I do realize that and it's what has me worried. I know there is nothing on my license but I also realize word of mouth is a powerful weapon. I am getting really frustrated

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Just in my experience... I have not seen any other advanced practice nurses having difficulties obtaining a position. It is possible that your past experience is more significant than you thought.

Plenty of areas are saturated with NPs, it is no different than what a new grad RN goes through.

The idea that there is a surplus of APRN jobs is a flat out myth.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Moved to NP forum. Some things to consider:

1. Your experience - are you capitalizing on that? If your RN experience is not in primary care, emphasize your assessment skills, quick learning ability, etc.

2. Have someone you know and trust review your resume with an eye to updating it.

3. Network with your states' APRN organization

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Network with NP group. There may be a chapter near you. Contact a recruiter. They may help you. Call back and ask why you werent selected. Be honest about difficulty finding a job. They may give you insight. I dont know where you are from but there are tons of NP jobs in this country. Look on nationnal data banks. You may have to relocate, but do so temporarily. I am in the south and we hire NPs from the Northern states, who end up getting jobs back home after gaining rxperience. Good luck

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Moved to NP forum. Some things to consider:

1. Your experience - are you capitalizing on that? If your RN experience is not in primary care, emphasize your assessment skills, quick learning ability, etc.

2. Have someone you know and trust review your resume with an eye to updating it.

3. Network with your states' APRN organization

THIS^.

I don't think that it is that stuff from your RN background long ago. Whether you were fired or not, leaving a job is not that big a deal as long as the BON doesn't have a big negative on your record for some egregiously reckless error or something like stealing narcotics.

You should rework your resume and make sure that it is visually appealing, and make sure that your references are still good to go. As far as the resume goes, you should highlight the areas of your RN experience that relates to the position that you are applying to, and in your cover letter you should talk about the diverse patient groups and the different types of issues that you've work with. And definitely network. It is not at all unusual that it takes a while to find a job as a new grad NP. This happens a lot, especially if you live in an metropolitan area where there may also be a lot of other NPs looking. Also, as others have suggested, as long as your personal circumstances permit it you should consider relocating to where more job opportunities are even if its only for a while.

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Specializes in Allergy/ENT, Occ Health, LTC/Skilled.

I don't think it's so much as "word of mouth" as much as it is that the tide it starting to turn with NP jobs. I am in Ohio and SO many people are going for NP or have already obtained it. I am apart of a local Facebook nurse networking page and there are daily posts about NP students looking for clinical spots because there are none left in the area with the high number of NP students in this area. They seem to find jobs fine for right now but me thinks in a few years they will be in the same position as regular RN's -- too many NPs, not enough jobs. And as an NP, your job prospects are even lower since your obviously going to want an NP role and pay and those roles aren't as plentiful as regular RN gigs.

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