I want to cry...

[PatiencePlease]

Hey everyone,

This is a combination vent and a cry for advice. I graduated with my ADN 12/2009. I worked from May 2010 until May 2013. I just finished my BSN 08/2013. Now, my entire nursing career I worked in a plasma center, which was just a complete dead end job. I tried other places, but no one would even give me a chance. I interviewed at one hospital and everything looked great until I accidentally let it slip I had epilepsy. Needless to say I didn't get the job. I've been out of work since May, on top of the fact that I was fired. In my opinion I was thrown under the bus. All of a sudden management stopped letting things slide. I was on the receiving end. I don't have any hospital experience. When I fill out online apps, I get stonewalled when they ask, "Do you have one year hospital experience?" I can't say yes, so the next message is "Thank you for your interest in so and so health system, unfortuneately your experience does not match the canidate that we are looking for". So I try looking at new grad positions. They want letters from clinical instructors. I haven't seen or talked to my clinical instructors in four years! They told me I would fail! So no, I will not get a letter from them. I've looked into corrections, school nursing, office nursing anything and everything. I had to cash out my 401K, I had to move back in with my Dad, I did not get unemployment, I don't know what to do. I don't want to give up on nursing. I love nursing. I am starting to give up on my dream of being an ED nurse. I have over $30,000 invested in my education. I go to conferences by myself, I have joined associations to try and become active, network. I have people telling me, well you will have to move out of the Chicago area, I have my Dad telling me I will fail if I do. I'm not married, no kids, all I have is my dog to bring with me. I'm ready to cry. I've gotten two prospective job opportunities, but neither have benefits and with O'Bama Care being enacted 01/2014, a lot of places are switching their workers to less than 30 hours because if an employee works more than 30 hours, the employer must offer health benefits. My meds cost over $300 a month with COBRA. I can't go much longer without insurance, or a job. I'm going crazy, I just don't know where to go from here...

[Argo]

Expand our search and get a job where ever you can doing what you want to do. Apply nation wide and get an internship in an ED. Move to where you get a job. Alaska, Florida, New Mexico...... Go and get your experience. Once you have 2 years under your belt you're good to go......

[twinmommy+2, ADN, BSN, MSN]

The more rural of an environment you go there will be more opportunities for job openings. Maybe you could even commute from where you are now if you want to be closer to your family?

[sharpeimom]

I have epilepsy too, and how I handled it was to include a copy of a statement from my neurologist, on his letterhead, that my complex partial seizures were very well controlled, that I had an unrestricted driver's license, and that there was absolutely no reason to assume that my diagnosis might interfere with my abilities to perform my job satisfactorily.

In other words, if you are confident and matter-of-fact, or appear to be that way, it will go a long way. Make it a nonissue. Jobs are tough to come by right now. Get a hospital job in any area that will hire you then make it work long enough to get your year in. I sweated out my six months in ortho (which I absolutely HATED!) then switched to a psych floor in the same hospital where I loved it. learned a lot, and stayed on.

If you feel beaten down, it will show and defeat you. If you don't feel confident, FAKE IT! You will be hired soon.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Branch ou south of I-80....there are jobs in IL in more rural areas.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

Yeah, and what kind of parent tells his kid that she'll fail? No more listening to that, hear me? Listen to Sharpeimom. Closely.

Your neurologist may have some help for you on the meds, too-- ask the office/practice nurse practitioner or nurse patient liaison; ask your pharmacist, too.

You need to move out asap. I know it's a stretch and a challenge, but you can do this.

[RainMom]

Definitely look south (springfield, champaign usually have listings not to mention the smaller rural hospitals).

[elprup, BSN, RN]

Prescription Assistance Program | may help with your meds. Check them out and see if you qualify. Oh, and don't listen to your Dad. We forget the world is truly amazing as we get older. Hang onto your dreams. Apply everywhere. If you get a job, move! Cannot be any worse than living with somebody who keeps you down.

Best wishes.

[Marisette, BSN, RN]

You completed nursing school and passed NCLEX, your a nurse. Of course you can do this. Tune out the dooms day people. If youcan leave the area, go elsewhere. If not, look into sub acute care (nursing homes) or dialysis. They many not be your dream job, but it

will help you get experience, confidence and perhaps be your stepping stone to another opportunity. Be careful about down playing any experience you may have. Some people can work at a plasma center and say, they were saving lives. Look at your old job description and the responsibilities you had and make sure your resume includes them. Getting fired or let go can really hurt the ego, but I believe most people have been fired at least once. Perseverance is the only option.