Loosing hope

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Good afternoon,

I recently passed my RN boards and I'm currently searching for a job. I am in Massachusetts with my associates degree so basically it's about who you know at this point and lots of praying haha.

I have a ton of experience including ICU, med/surg, oncology, emergency room and maternity. I also have a degree in respiratory therapy, no license though.

I tell you all of this for advice or maybe to vent because I am getting no where with this job search. I am open to any job including long term, acute, home care, psych, you name it.

I've been on a few interviews, some really good and some well not-so-much...but it's been extremely frustrating. I interview very well (do my research, dress appropriately, prepare for questions, ask questions) and I look at every interview as I will only get better! Either they ask me if I have a BSN(which I'm starting in January) or totally waste my time. I got a call yesterday at 8:30 am to reschedule for a 9 am Interview because the nurse manager called out sick. I live 45 mins away. I call to check in on my application and they just give me the generic answer or they just flat out reject me for no reason. I am constantly trying to remind myself to stay positive, but it is really hard. People in my class who have literally no healthcare experience are getting jobs in acute care! Like good for them, but what about the people who gained experience while in nursing school ? I may not have a 4.0 gpa, but I did get B's and I wouldn't change the experience I have for anything.

Please just leave any advice or well wishes because I am loosing hope !!

OK so basically you are a new grad RN. Here is my first suggestion take a deep breath and relax, I too was in your position many years ago. Have a professional look over your resume to make changes or recommendations. Sending a nice thank you note after the interview is a nice touch. Also widen your jobs search, look into rural areas, dialysis centers, health departments, doctor office, pediatric clinics, outpatient & urgent care centers. As others have mentioned before your previous experience will not count, I was in healthcare for over 7 yrs before my RN and it counted for nothing. You stated that you worked as a CNA and unit clerk, can you contact your previous employer to see if they have openings? You can also dress to impress and drop off your resume at sites you may be interested in, not everywhere posts jobs on indeed or career builder. My first RN job was 1 hr away from my home but it was a good job and it gave me the experience i needed.

Good luck and hang in there

Coco

Thank you for the advice, I really appreciate it.

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You have to be patient and persistent. Why do you have a respiratory therapy degree but no experience? Anyhoo, just keep sending out your resume and apply to nursing homes.

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You have to be patient and persistent. Why do you have a respiratory therapy degree but no experience? Anyhoo, just keep sending out your resume and apply to nursing homes.

I was broke from respiratory school and didn't have money to take my boards, so I went back to work as a CNA... totally irrelevant to this convo. So I should keep applying and be patient ...why didn't I think of that?

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

the only thing I can offer is to commiserate about getting ZERO feedback after an interview. I was a teacher before becoming a nurse. I have been on so many interviews and they never give you any feedback. I think it is a legal thing. I called one place back because I had such a great interview and I was sure I had the job. All of a sudden, totally different vibe. Something happened. Don't know what. I love "Just not a good fit" or "we chose someone else" It is very frustrating.

I am a horrible interviewee. Where I got my job, there was a shadow experience so I got to interact with the other nurses and the patients and they could see more of my personality.

Having the experience you have (I understood that yours was aide experience, which does count) that should help you answer some of those questions like "tell me an experience where......" You should have something to share.

Don't give up!

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You need to use every contact connection you made as an assistant. Every email, every phone number, any friend that can connect you and pass your resume along. It's who you know these days. Seems like you have many connections at your old job.

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You need to use every contact connection you made as an assistant. Every email, every phone number, any friend that can connect you and pass your resume along. It's who you know these days. Seems like you have many connections at your old job.

Thank you for the advice, I have used my connections at work as my references. Unfortunately, they don't hire nurses with just an associates degree. I plan on going back after some RN experience.

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the only thing I can offer is to commiserate about getting ZERO feedback after an interview. I was a teacher before becoming a nurse. I have been on so many interviews and they never give you any feedback. I think it is a legal thing. I called one place back because I had such a great interview and I was sure I had the job. All of a sudden, totally different vibe. Something happened. Don't know what. I love "Just not a good fit" or "we chose someone else" It is very frustrating.

I am a horrible interviewee. Where I got my job, there was a shadow experience so I got to interact with the other nurses and the patients and they could see more of my personality.

Having the experience you have (I understood that yours was aide experience, which does count) that should help you answer some of those questions like "tell me an experience where......" You should have something to share.

Don't give up!

Thank you for the advice ! I totally agree with you about the zero feedback. It's beyond frustrating when you leave an interview thinking you did great and they thought something different. I would be ok if they didn't like me, but gave me feedback to learn from and go forward with. I agree with shadowing too, although it's not always possible, I think it's a good idea you would be a good fit. The experience I had did help in the interviews and I will forever be grateful for those experiences because molded me into the nurse I want to be. Thanks again !

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.
I was broke from respiratory school and didn't have money to take my boards, so I went back to work as a CNA... totally irrelevant to this convo. So I should keep applying and be patient ...why didn't I think of that?

Perhaps your attitude is a factor. Might be worth some self-reflection. People responded to your post in an attempt to help you.

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Though I am just getting ready to apply to an ADN program myself and fear I may not be overly helpful, I would recommend seeing if your school or a local school offers a course after graduation for students having difficulty finding work. The school I plan on applying to in particular offers such a course in order to help their graduates gain more nursing experience. I am not sure if you would be able to find a program in your state, but it may help.

I believe I did also see that you had reached out to some of your references and that they mentioned that they did not higher people with associates degrees. If this is the case, you may want to consider doing a RN-BSN program right away if you are able to. Consider contacting some of those that you graduated with to see if they can give you some feedback or help you get a position and/or applying for New Grad programs.

Don't give up hope. You worked hard to pass your nursing classes and pass the NCLEX. Your journey may have a few roadblocks, but you will get there in time!

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

As a completely disinterested UK nurse I think you are needing to wind your neck in a bit.

People on this site have answered your post and have asked questions for clarification.

You have responded like a huffy teenager. You have been sarcastic and generally not very nice to people who have tried to help you. If you behaved at an interview with me that way I would have no hesitation in binning your application.

You have stated that your CV is "stellar" (always a worry when people think that they are perfect) but you cannot even spell 'losing' correctly in the title of your post.

If you want help and advice, ask for it and people will respond but DON'T then become sarky when the advice is not what you think it should be.

PS.

Don't try flaming me or abusing me as a) I don't care and b) I will just block you.

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Specializes in Private Duty Pediatrics.

"You have responded like a huffy teenager. You have been sarcastic and generally not very nice to people who have tried to help you. If you behaved at an interview with me that way I would have no hesitation in binning your application."

I agree completely with GrumpyRN. Your attitude is poor, and you do not take constructive criticism well. Personally, I would rather not work with someone who is defensive, sarcastic, and rude.

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That is great that you are getting interviews, that shows your resume is in good shape. I would take a critical look at what is happening in your interview. In your post here, some people got the impression that your past health care experience is analogous to RN level of care. This was off-putting to many nurses. Do you think the same thing might be happening in your interviews? As a hiring manager, I look for confidence in applicants, but not over confidence. Over confidence often equals unsafe, especially in a new graduate.

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