LPN turned RN cannot find a job

Dear Nurse Beth Advice Column - The following letter submitted anonymously in search for answers. Join the conversation!

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 I am reaching out for some guidance and support as I navigate my transition into the role of a Registered Nurse. After recently obtaining my RN license, I am eager to gain experience in the field. However, I've encountered challenges in finding opportunities, as many positions require prior experience. As someone who has worked as an LPN for over 8 years, I am confident in my ability to provide excellent patient care and adapt quickly to new responsibilities. Despite my experience, I am finding it difficult to secure a position that will allow me to build on my RN skills.

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

Congrats on earning your RN!

I'm sorry you're having difficulty landing a job, especially with your qualifications. The job market is competitive, depending on where you live. When I worked with a residency program and was involved in selecting candidates for a 30-position residency twice a year, we often had up to 300 applicants. It was heartbreaking to turn away so many new grad RNs.

With so many applicants, a point system was put in place.

Many candidates were eliminated because of poor grammar on their resumes. It was assumed that failure to proofread an application could indicate a careless practitioner. Others lost points because they did not know how to write an impactful cover letter or application essay. Many new grads received outdated job-seeking advice or no advice in their nursing programs. Most did not optimize their applications for applicant tracking software (ATS). I could go on and on.

Some candidates who reached the interview stage struggled with presentation and behavioral questions, giving cliched Google responses and limp handshakes. This lack of preparation stems from their misunderstanding of what nurse managers prioritize in a new hire. Many believe nurse managers prefer candidates with extensive theoretical knowledge or the ability to tackle complex clinical scenarios.

Nurse managers look for new hires who will be a strong fit for their unit, prioritize safety, and solve existing challenges. Many applicants mistakenly focus on their school record, but the emphasis is on being a solution. Since all new graduates lack RN experience, the key is solving specific problems, whether reducing turnover, speaking a second language, or promoting teamwork. 

Many candidates who would have become excellent RNs were turned away because they sadly lacked the skills to apply and interview for the job.

It bothered me that no one was helping these new grads, and this spurred me to write my best-selling first book, Your Last Nursing Class: How to Land Your First Nursing Job—and Your Next! I drew on my background as a hiring manager to provide them with insider tips and what hiring nurse managers look for in a candidate. 

Landing a job must become your full-time focus during that one-year golden window when you are still eligible for a residency. After that, you transition from being a new grad to an RN without experience. What steps have you taken to activate your network?

Many LPN-to-RN grads are surprised to learn that prior LPN experience does not necessarily guarantee them an advantage. 

I wish I could be more specific to help you, but it's hard to know what contributes to your situation. There are many possible reasons. One could be your location and the opportunities, or lack thereof, in your area. Would you be open to relocating?

Generally, your resume could be the culprit if you are not landing interviews. If you are landing interviews but failing to secure a job, your interview skills need improvement.

These are just a few things that come to mind. Let me leave you with several helpful articles.

Best wishes,

Nurse Beth

What to Wear to Your Interview

Dos and Don'ts of a Cover Letter

Fumbled During Interview and Lost the Job

How to Land a Job

 

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