I need a JOB

Psychcns · Jan 2, 2016

Try urgent care and/or minute clinics to get started. And try all the above suggestions!! Also locum tenens! Once you have a job it is easier to look around.

Iknowwha2du · Jan 2, 2016

When jobs are few and competitive to get, employers pick and choose RN's that don't have a paper trail showing unfavorable work history...that is just how it goes. You may need to choose a job that you may not want, so you can work your way into employment. I worked at a LTC facility before getting a hospital position. Can you work as just an RN for now without worrying about the NP position? Maybe you could network your way into a position at a facility that hires NPs. Have you tried a rehab facility that isn't apart of a large hospital? I know those types of places hire NPs. I think nursing homes do as well.

PG2018 · Jan 2, 2016

It's probably more related to your area and your specialty than anything else. Many geographic areas yield more problems with finding employment, and FNPs seem to have the worst time finding a job among all APRNs.

Look at the scut nobody else wants like retail clinics, and try for experience there. You can grow your experiences and networking from there.

If I were FNP, my ideal jobs would be headache clinics, sleep medicine, dermatology, and allergy. I think sports medicine is interesting too but only when the injuries are traumatic otherwise the appeal seems to fall through the floor. So those may be some out of the ordinary options for you. I think us psych folks need to better break into headache and sleep.

Goldenfox · Jan 2, 2016

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

Easy. If you really want to know, all that you have to do is ask a friend to call them pretending to be your prospective employer and ask for a recommendation. Then you'll find out if they are saying negative things about you. I doubt that it's them though, jobs are just not as easy to get as they used to be. Supervisors and managers know better than to make disparaging remarks about former employees to other employers---unless they really want to get sued. Most will only confirm that you used to work there, your position, how long you worked there for, and your last salary. If pressed to say whether they would rehire you or not, most will cite a corporate policy that prevents them from making further statements or giving out endorsements.

blondenurse12, MSN, NP · Jan 4, 2016

Do you still work as a RN? Try to see if any co-workers have heard of anyone hiring. It seems like more and more the only way to get a job that isn't crappy is to find someone who knows someone. I know I have been keeping my eye on jobs in my area and literally the only things available are contingent positions or jobs advertising a $35/hr wage. The market is saturated in a lot of areas, unfortunately.

Dumplins, MSN, RN, APN · Jan 6, 2016

I would say it's more geographic as well.

Most corporate facilities will definitely call your references to have you checked out, so make sure your references will give you high reviews.

The private practices I've had interviews with did not even think twice about calling my previous employer OR calling my references. All they looked at was my resume and me as a person.

A job will come up, just make sure your resume and cover letter are on point and and personalized. I quickly realized spending time on a personalized cover letter + resume for each job is far more superior than having a cookie cutter resume + cover letter and applying to a million jobs. Quality > Quantity

guest939210 · Jan 9, 2016

I feel your stress! Take anything to get experience. I started with the United Healthcare Group, doing home H & P's. Pay was excellent, support from other NP's. I think that with the past down turn of the economy people are working more to keep their jobs. Married females may have husbands who lost their jobs. Also look to the AANP or ANCC sites for job opportunities. Best wishes.

kat2020 · Jan 23, 2016

Hi there, I too agree with other posters on that it is not likely due to that RN error. I think it's just generally tough to land a job nowadays. I was in your situation up until today. I've read this forum looking for any advice I could get. And I did. A lot of fellow NPs are suggesting to not give up your job search and to continue looking with your head up high, one day you will get a job. It proved to be true!!! So I'm here to give you hope by telling you my story.

I graduated last summer but haven't started looking for a job until mid December. I had an offer from one of my specialty preceptors but it didn't work out. So I was getting more and more desperate as far as to look at locums and relocation. I posted my resume on a lot of sites and got a ton of calls from recruiters all telling me that no one is willing to train a new grad travel NP unless I decide to go perm and relocate. I didn't want to do that so I continued looking. I landed one interview and the pay was low, 85k for being a solo provider in a pedi office, no benefits, and with an option to train for free for up to a month (what?!). Then another interview telling me that since I don't speak Spanish (TX) they are no sure about hiring me. And another interview paying 108k for pedi, some benefits but no health insurance, with another Dr/PA there most of the time. But they said they are interviewing other candidates with experience so I wasn't sure I would get it. Then tons of calls and planning for more interviews next week when all of a sudden I decide to check craigslist (yes, Craigslist - my last resort) only to find a job posting in my area posted 5 mins ago!!! The ad said that they are willing to train a new grad, Spanish is preferred rather than required, and to call anytime. So I did call, mind you its Friday night. The Dr answered and set up an interview for today, a Saturday! And ... I got a job!!!!!!! With much higher pay per hr instead of salary and with benefits. I'm still going to be a solo provider in a pedi office but I was assured that I'm always going to have access to other providers after shadowing the Dr and another FNP for couple of days. I'm happy but the excitement hasn't hit yet. After so many promising leads telling me how much they want to hire me (with lowballing salary) but need a week, and another week, and another I guess I'm being cautious with this one until I sign a contract. I'm supposed to get it today. So we'll see. But I felt much better naming the pay rate/hr myself after reading all the negotiation posts here instead of just blindly following the interviewer's lead.

I wish you luck and I'm positive you will find a job soon! Just keep looking and considering all job offers. It's always nice to pick from a few offers but you gotta do what you gotta do in the end to get that golden year of experience!

RNnowFNP · Jan 24, 2016

That is great thank you for your encouraging words

RNnowFNP · Jan 24, 2016

Hi everyone, First I want to thank everyone for all your encouragement and support. And, I wanted to give an update. Just this week I recieved my first offer its ok but I will be a wellness NP in 3 different clinics. My other opportunity has not given me a written offer but has given me a start date with all some of the benefit information verbally, (which is the one Im leaning toward). The salararies are about the same so that isnt a deciding factor. Now I just have to decide.

Goldenfox · Jan 26, 2016

Hi there, I too agree with other posters on that it is not likely due to that RN error. I think it's just generally tough to land a job nowadays. I was in your situation up until today. I've read this forum looking for any advice I could get. And I did. A lot of fellow NPs are suggesting to not give up your job search and to continue looking with your head up high, one day you will get a job. It proved to be true!!! So I'm here to give you hope by telling you my story.
I graduated last summer but haven't started looking for a job until mid December. I had an offer from one of my specialty preceptors but it didn't work out. So I was getting more and more desperate as far as to look at locums and relocation. I posted my resume on a lot of sites and got a ton of calls from recruiters all telling me that no one is willing to train a new grad travel NP unless I decide to go perm and relocate. I didn't want to do that so I continued looking. I landed one interview and the pay was low, 85k for being a solo provider in a pedi office, no benefits, and with an option to train for free for up to a month (what?!). Then another interview telling me that since I don't speak Spanish (TX) they are no sure about hiring me. And another interview paying 108k for pedi, some benefits but no health insurance, with another Dr/PA there most of the time. But they said they are interviewing other candidates with experience so I wasn't sure I would get it. Then tons of calls and planning for more interviews next week when all of a sudden I decide to check craigslist (yes, Craigslist - my last resort) only to find a job posting in my area posted 5 mins ago!!! The ad said that they are willing to train a new grad, Spanish is preferred rather than required, and to call anytime. So I did call, mind you its Friday night. The Dr answered and set up an interview for today, a Saturday! And ... I got a job!!!!!!! With much higher pay per hr instead of salary and with benefits. I'm still going to be a solo provider in a pedi office but I was assured that I'm always going to have access to other providers after shadowing the Dr and another FNP for couple of days. I'm happy but the excitement hasn't hit yet. After so many promising leads telling me how much they want to hire me (with lowballing salary) but need a week, and another week, and another I guess I'm being cautious with this one until I sign a contract. I'm supposed to get it today. So we'll see. But I felt much better naming the pay rate/hr myself after reading all the negotiation posts here instead of just blindly following the interviewer's lead.
I wish you luck and I'm positive you will find a job soon! Just keep looking and considering all job offers. It's always nice to pick from a few offers but you gotta do what you gotta do in the end to get that golden year of experience!

Thanks for sharing this. I've never been able to understand the lowballing and the stall-then-lowball tactics that some of these people try to pull. Unless they are able to trap an unsuspecting new grad with a really bad non-compete and or a binder that hooks you to them for years, what typically happens is that people simply move on after they get a year of experience. Then the lowballers are back to spending more time and money on recruiting and training or paying an agency another finder's fee to recruit someone else---who will also leave. And, yes, many of those agencies can be a big waste of time too. It all comes down to a lack of respect. To them, we're pawns, not professionals.

Congratulations on your new job!