Lost and in need of advice

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Long story short I am a Dec 2013 ASN graduate who basically has no nursing experience. No experience and such a gap in time since graduating has made it really difficult to find a job. I've submitted MANY applications and feel as more time slips by, the harder it will be for me to land a job. It's a vicious cycle.

Any advice?

I would also look at volunteering at a low income clinic or homeless outreach as an RN. It would show that you are doing something positive on your resume and get you back in the swing of things with patients. Look for "volunteers in medicine ". Maybe also have your resume professionally done. If your resume and cover letter dont stand out, you will be passed over.

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Good idea on the volunteering. Or maybe flu clinics coming up. Just refresh on giving a shot. You will only need 1 skill for that!

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
I'm sorry I guess somewhere I missed something, you graduated and passed NCLEX and you are having trouble getting a job??? I'm seriously confused. The hospital that I work at hires new grads all the time so I'm not understanding what the problem is..

OP is not a new grad. She graduates in Dec 2013, licensed in March 2014. Had a short term paid "new grad internship" in medical telemetry but was let go at the end of orientation

as unable to keep up with unit pace. It's been 20 months since graduation.

Are you looking for work outside acute care? Long term care? Rehab? Subacute rehab? Private duty home health?

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If you have any friends working at a hospital, you could have them put in a good word for you to a nurse manager. The hospital where I work has a consistent turnover and is always hiring for nurses. I've managed to get a few of my friends a job like that. Nurse managers can call HR and have you application sent to them. They will then call you for an interview. Be prepared for a peer interview prior to an interview with the nurse manager that pulled your application. My bosses role in the hospital is tad higher than the typical NM. She has no administrator other than the CEO and CNO. It's worth a shot. Good Luck.

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Specializes in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgical.

I volunteered in a medical clinic at a substance abuse residenct treatment program for a few months before getting an interview that led to my first hospital job. Had a great retired RN show me the ropes, and the patients rocked. It didn't hurt that any non-compliance or attitude

from them resulted in consequences for them in their program.

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Thanks for the input. Yes I did pass the NCLEX, somebody asked. I don't know about the teaching courses though cause they might be looking for someone with more and recent experience. Nurse informatics was brought up to me by someone but we both found out that requires more schooling which I'm not opposed to but don't want to make it my end all be all. Two hospitals in my area have said neither have upcoming volunteering events but I'm thinking of just going there and introducing myself. I made a list of possible live CE courses in my area and will look for those small, niche health centers like someone mentioned. Gotta keep on trucking!

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Good stuff! I've heard many times that volunteering is a great way to get your foot in the door

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1) Revamp your resumé. It obviously isn't working for you. Get a professional resumé writer or a nurse recruiter to look at it.

2) Go to the facilities you want to work at. Find the recruitment office. Ask them what you need to do to be a good candidate.

3) Do what they say.

4) Consider that you may have to do things outside of your comfort zone to get some experience. It is coming up on flu season and you could probably get on with a drugstore or mobile flu shot clinic. You can call the local nursing schools and horn in on their volunteering and get some exposure that way. You can call local trade colleges and see if they have any clinical instructor positions open for LPN or CNA students. Look for school nursing, public health nursing, or clinic nursing positions. Widen your search net and you will be more likely to find someone who will take a chance on you.

5) You should enroll in a refresher course while you are job hunting, and put it on your resumé. It may be the jump start you need.

Good luck!

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Thanks for the advice again guys. Got some good updates: After relentless hours of applying within and out of my city, I got an interview today for a home health company, pay is $16/hr (FL), very flexible and I could start orientation as early as next week after I get the remainder paperwork gathered and submitted. Coincidentally i received a call today from a recruiter, who after a phone interview said I make a good candidate and meet the basic requirements for the graduate nursing program at their hospital. The hospital is about 2 hours away, however, and the HR person should be calling me soon this week with to set up an in-person interview. So yay for the opportunities, but the decision has left me at odds with what to do if I got the GN job, not to mention it's TWO HOURS AWAY!

I'm so happy I might get something not in the dollar menu today.

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