Inability to Land a Job With Experience?

Nurses Job Hunt

Published

Hi. I've lurked here forever and recently registered. Anyway, I am having significant difficulty obtaining a job as an RN. I graduated May 2012 and had a job within weeks, was made a supervisor when I still had a provisional license. Yea, I should have seen the red flags. So, I stayed at this position for 11 months before landing my dream job in a neurology unit. I took the job and after six months, I had to resign following an automobile accident. A two week notice could not be worked out due to the circumstances but I was told this would not be a problem. Now, after six months of looking I am basically unemployable!!!

Apparently, the hospital made me ineligible for employment due to the lack of notice, even though I was told this would not occur. I live in a small rural area, the nearest job prospects are about an hour, which I don't mind but the problem is that the requirement to work at these facilities is being eligible for rehire at your last nursing job. The next nearest market for me is 2 hours plus and relocation is just not possible. Even if it were, many employers also have this requirement.

I've had several interviews and have been applying like crazy, even willing to take a pay cut and work as an Medical Assistant or LPN. Still, no luck. I don't know what to do at this point. Jobs are very meager in this area, even non-healthcare jobs. I was enrolled in the BSN but could no longer afford to go without a job. Travel nursing is out of the question as I have three small children. Anyone else experiencing these issues and if so, what did you do?

Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Check with your BON to see whether it would even be permissible to work in a lower (non-RN) nursing role... if may not be.

So sorry you are stuck in such a quandry, but if there are not jobs available to you in your area - and you are unable to relocate, it would seem that you will not be able to work as a nurse. You may want to contact an attorney to determine whether you have grounds for a claim against your former employer if they have essentially frozen you out of the job market.

So sorry to hear. I was home for about a year once, about seven years ago, and I am still asked about it in interviews. Employers do not like a gap in employment apparently. God forbid you take time off to recover from a car accident.

I would just be honest, explain in your cover letters about why you had to abruptly leave, and that you have made a complete physical recovery now. I would also get in touch with someone you used to work with there, that can be a reference to state that you were a dependable employee while you were there.

Have you considered a staffing agency?

Thanks for all the advice! Right now I am not in the predicament to afford the services of an attorney. I have been a freelance writer since 09 so that helps with the gaps on the resume, but shew. I am still continuing to apply for several positions and have even landed a few interviews but I have found that many are interviewing 10 nurses and upwards for one position. As far as staffing agency goes, there are really none in the area. However, I have checked out a few with a 2 hour commute or so. I only graduated nursing school in 2012 and mostly have been hit with the "not enough experience". However, I am still continuing to look, someone has to hire me eventually. I have been conditionally accepted into nurse practitioner school, one of the requirements is that I have 10 months more experience staff nursing.

+ Add a Comment