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?
Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.
I am really glad you changed your mind. I can understand why you thought of it as an option. Are you in a rural or metro area? Have you applied to all kinds of jobs or just hospital?
Thanks! I live in the metro area of the East Coast.
Because we can get by on my husband's salary for now, me relocating and splitting up the family just isn't something we think is a good idea for us. I've tried evvvverywhere that I can imagine might hire RNs. There are certainly more SNFs in the area that I can keep trying, and for now that's the plan.
But thank you all for all the responses, even if you thought this was a "stupid" idea (how impolite!!).
That would be me, telling you I found the idea you presented and asked for public critiquing to be, well....a stupid one. I didn't call YOU stupid. Misguided, perhaps, but not stupid. When you ask for thoughts on what you yourself called a "wacky idea", you have to be prepared to hear all the words that might be used. I was not impolite. I was answering honestly.
Moving forward, though, I am glad you've reconsidered this as an option. I agree with you that moving with a young family is probably not the best move (since your husband IS gainfully employed, etc etc). And I think if you look long enough....and in the right places....you'll find something :)
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.
I wonder if you're thinking of Graduate Nurse (GN), rather than General Nurse? I am unaware of any such term....but a Graduate Nurse is one who has graduated from nursing school but is as yet unlicensed. You can be a GN (graduate nurse) in any State but you are NOT a nurse unless you are either an RN or an LPN---not a 'general nurse'.
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.
I believe her. I graduated from nursing school, in Boston, in May 2008. I volunteered in an ER during school and started looking for jobs in January 2008. I applied at every hospital, nursing home, and rehab center that didn't specify BSNs or say "No new grads". I got turned down by all of them, including a 1-star nursing home.
I finally found a job in January 2009. Unfortunately, the position was cancelled, and I was sent home 45 minutes into my first shift. I finally found a job in assisted living, 250 miles away, 2 months later,
The only advice I can give is to move. Wyoming and North Dakota are still hiring nurses. There's a housing shortage, but you could buy an RV or camper before you leave.
If you're religious, have you considered a mission trip? My godmother's youngest daughter graduated with a BSN in May 2010, looked for a job for a year, and ended up going on a year-long mission trip to Haiti to get nursing experience. Unfortunately, she still couldn't find a job when she came back to the States. She's now going for her Masters.
Yes yes!!! Thank you. That's what happens when you've been starring at the screen and answering nclex questions for hours... "graduate nurse"... got it!
I wonder if you're thinking of Graduate Nurse (GN), rather than General Nurse? I am unaware of any such term....but a Graduate Nurse is one who has graduated from nursing school but is as yet unlicensed. You can be a GN (graduate nurse) in any State but you are NOT a nurse unless you are either an RN or an LPN---not a 'general nurse'.
Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.
I know of several RN'S in Philadelphia that have not landed a position 1-2yrs post graduation due to the almost non-existent job market for new grads. Keeping your license is in your best interest---glad you've tosssed that idea.
I'm recommending an old fashioned idea: Open a telephone book, look through listings for medical clinics, physician group practices, especially cardiology groups, nursing homes, assisted living, state health centers, home health agencies, wound care clinics, drug and alcohol rehab centers, boarding homes, office of aging services and submit a resume to those NOT looking. You just may cross someones desk at the right time position opens up or may be tucked away for future opening.
CrunchRN, ADN, RN
4,556 Posts
I am really glad you changed your mind. I can understand why you thought of it as an option. Are you in a rural or metro area? Have you applied to all kinds of jobs or just hospital?