1.5 years after graduation and I have not a single nursing job under my belt. What is a girl to do after spending all that money and time and work on an education?
I've come up with a plan? What do you think?
What if I allowed my RN license to lapse by not renewing it and I applied for work as a CNA/PCT in order to get into the hospital, get experience and make connections. Then after a year or so I could reinstate my license and hopefully get hired at the hospital where I was working as a CNA. Any thoughts on this wacky idea? What would a nurse manager think of hiring an RN who had let their license lapse to work as a CNA?
Don't let it relapse! I know its hard to find a job! I graduated last may (2012) and took my nclex in June. It took a few months to get a position but I finally did! I applied everywhere and it just so happened that the agency I was working for (agency that provides private homes for people with disabilities) had an RN opening. I get along great with the supervisor and always have. So thats how I got my job and she gave way for other nursing oppertunities for me in other facilities. So if you know someone who is already working as an RN, it might be good to talk with them.
To answer the original question...no way! The better question for the OP to ask is "why haven't I been hired?"-that is the real issue. Where have you applied? Have you checked your resume for typos and incorrect dates? How about your references or past jobs? I'd go see a career counselor or someone else who may be able to help you to spiff up your resume and/or nail down the problem..
If your personal situation allows for it, look at your options for moving to an area that is having a nursing shortage. While there really isn't a shortage in most urban areas, there are still areas of the country desperately needing nurses. My backup plan if I hadn't gotten my current job was to volunteer at a local free clinic to somewhat keep my skills up while I got my BSN (I graduated in Dec with an ASN) and my daughter finished high school, then move either to the TX Border or up by the new oil fields in N. Dakota, which my research indicates are places that have a nursing shortage.
Sometimes in order to get that golden '1 year experience' we have to think outside the box. I'm lucky that I didn't have to implement my Plan B, but I had it thought out in case.
I'm also a little skeptical that the OP has been unable to find a RN job in 1.5 years of looking. Maybe not the fancy shmancy hospital job every new grad wants, but there are other places a nurse can work.
Nursing home? Rehab facility? Corrections? Dialysis Clinic? Home care? Methadone Clinic? Other places I can't think of now?
Working as a $12/hr tech because you're holding out for your dream job seems incredibly unwise. I realize it's not all about the money.... but is any of it?
It's really all the connections you have made while you were in Nursing School and the people you know. There is a difference between a student and an active student. I was President of the Honor Society and have worked on multiple projects for my school. Through that I've been very fortunate to have established connections in the medical field, receive a scholarship, get to personally know my fellow classmates, professors and faculty. In our state, a General Nurse right after graduation can be hired depending on how soon you can take the NCLEX and pass, that will secure your spot. Now if you don't pass the exam, that opportunity will go to someone else.
Also, I'm fairly outgoing so I took the opportunity to network in the hospitals that I did clinical in. I would get to know the managers and supervisors and find out who are the recruiters in that hospital and get their email and phone numbers. A lot of my friends did the same thing when they choose to do a preceptorship in their last semester of nursing. The school I went to is also well known for our training in bed-side care and a lot of hospitals prefer to hire from our graduating class than among other universities and colleges in the area.
I truly believe as a nursing student, you have to do more than just study and get good grades. I think we also have to be an "all-around" student (I know that's difficult to do while being in a rigorous program), but how else could you find a job in your field without getting yourself known in the community. That's why it fables me why this person can't find a job a year and a half later after school? During school everyone has the opportunity to reach out and gain experience by applying to be a part-time or even as a PRN Assistant/Tech or volunteering at a nearby hospital or clinic. And now instead, this person wants to go backwards after receiving their license?!?
In any degree, not just nursing, you don't just get hired after being a hermit the whole time you were in school, then expect to get hired with no experience. You have had to have made yourself marketable for a future job opportunity- You don't learn that from Nursing School. It's called thinking ahead and being smart in order to move ahead in your future. You have that opportunity now as a student, that's good your applying now, but you have to make yourself known. Go to HR and follow up, speak to your professors, classmates who have connections in clinics and hospitals, write down numbers and take cards. Also don't limit yourself to your favorite "floor" there will be time for that later, just get your foot in the door of whatever offer comes up and get experience. Don't let them know also that you only want to do a certain side of nursing, if a Oncology Nurse Supervisor interviews you. You better act like, Oncology is the place you want to be in for a long time. No one wants to invest in a new grad who they know is moving on after a year.
Hope all the best in the rest of your nursing program, graduation, NCLEX & getting a job as an RN!!! =)
Per the OP's post history, moving out of the country for six months and then having a baby right after graduation probably didn't help her employment situation.
There are plenty of stale old grads on this site. Not sure why this concept is so shocking. :lol:
Per the OP's post history, moving out of the country for six months and then having a baby right after graduation probably didn't help her employment situation.
There are plenty of stale old grads on this site. Not sure why this concept is so shocking. :lol:
THANK YOU for this response. This sums up exactly what I was going to respond, too!
Also, because I saw it mentioned a couple of times, I would have been extremely upfront with the hiring manager. That is why I asked how you all thought they would interpret the situation!
But thank you all for all the responses, even if you thought this was a "stupid" idea (how impolite!!). However, if you were nasty in your response, I didn't read the whole thing. Obviously.
I have clearly decided not to do this! It was simply and idea and from the overwhelming response, it is not an idea I should pursue. But this license is pretty useless these days so having to pay money, albeit a small amount, to keep it active is adding insult to injury.
Volunteering is not an option for everyone. I DID volunteer before having a baby, but I can no longer afford to pay to work.
It's ashame that anyone would have to resort to this action in order to secure a job. The problem that comes in for me is that how do you know that you won't secure employment as a Rn with in a year? And are you a certified nurses aid bc some jobs require certification?
If I did try this stunt, it would have to be at a large facility with multiple floors/managers/specialties bc it's highly unlikely that the manager that hires you may feel safe enough to employ you as a RN. RNs are known for having high ethical standards and if you can lie about this situation what else are you willing to lie about.
I can see you transferring to a different floor only after pulling a manager a side and telling the truth. (It also places you at risk for being fired as well) My sales pitch would be that I was going through financial hardship (add kids in their if you have some) and this the only thing I could do in regards to still being able to work my passion which is taking care of sick people and make some money. I'd be strategic and head to top level management. I'd tell the CNO or Supervisor first and ask of his/her opinion in regards to the best next step..and then call for a 2nd meeting with two other managers pleading your case. Someone would hire you, but look what you'd have to go through in order to get hired.
It's ashame that anyone would have to resort to this action in order to secure a job. The problem that comes in for me is that how do you know that you won't secure employment as a Rn with in a year? And are you a certified nurses aid bc some jobs require certification?
If I did try this stunt, it would have to be at a large facility with multiple floors/managers/specialties bc it's highly unlikely that the manager that hires you may feel safe enough to employ you as a RN. RNs are known for having high ethical standards and if you can lie about this situation what else are you willing to lie about.
I can see you transferring to a different floor only after pulling a manager a side and telling the truth. (It also places you at risk for being fired as well) My sales pitch would be that I was going through financial hardship (add kids in their if you have some) and this the only thing I could do in regards to still being able to work my passion which is taking care of sick people and make some money. I'd be strategic and head to top level management. I'd tell the CNO or Supervisor first and ask of his/her opinion in regards to the best next step..and then call for a 2nd meeting with two other managers pleading your case. Someone would hire you, but look what you'd have to go through in order to get hired.
Again, as indicated in the original post and explicitly stated above, I would never lie about it. That wasn't even on the table as an option. And the "sales pitch" as you put it is the exact and honest current situation. I do need to work and I do want to work in nursing...nothing is being sold, though!
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joliefleur102
11 Posts
Don't let it relapse! I know its hard to find a job! I graduated last may (2012) and took my nclex in June. It took a few months to get a position but I finally did! I applied everywhere and it just so happened that the agency I was working for (agency that provides private homes for people with disabilities) had an RN opening. I get along great with the supervisor and always have. So thats how I got my job and she gave way for other nursing oppertunities for me in other facilities. So if you know someone who is already working as an RN, it might be good to talk with them.