Looking for Career Advice

kk83 · Nov 3, 2013

Hi all! I graduated in May 2012 and landed my first job at an awesome hospital. I was there 4 months and unfortunately had a health issue that prevented me to make the drive (60 miles each way), so I resigned from the position. I applied for positions at the local hospital and had one interview in early 2013 but they read my resume incorrectly and thought that I was still employed - so basically although the position stated "no experience necessary", the interview was over once they realized their mistake.

I'm currently enrolled in a RN - BSN program that I will be graduating from in May. I live in New York, but in a very small area. The closest larger cities including those in PA are an hour at least each way of drive time in perfect weather. My husband is a software engineer and I believe would have a fairly easy time finding a new position outside of where we live currently because he has so much experience and work history in his field.

I am totally in a place where I would pack up and move for the chance to acquire a good position and I really don't have any limitations on where I could go. When I explained my short first stint working during my interview, I simply stated that I took a position too far away and realized that I needed to work closer to home and had learned from that misstep on my part. I did however gain valuable experience, manage the care of 6 patients on average per day, was in a specialty area, and electronically charted proficiently. BTW, the hospital I was applying at was a 5 minute drive from my home so distance was not an issue. I had completed 2/4 of my clinical experience there with current recommendations from 2 heads of departments in the hospital.

Now I am just feeling down because I had an issue at my first job (which I loved) that was out of my control and I feel like it overshadows the rest of my employment options because I'm not really a "new grad". I don't have current references (only those from my time in nursing school in 2012) and although I will have my BSN, I'm not sure how much that will help me.

Any advice? I feel sort of lost on where to start and have debated talking with a career counselor to see what options I have but figured I'd see if others have experienced anything similar.