6 months after graduation!

[Moo_21]

I know how hard it is for a new grad to find a job. I experienced it all first hand. I graduated LPN school in early May. Before graduation I had put of tons of resumes. I had sent to LTC, Dr. Offices, and Rehabs. I heard nothing. I figured they would want someone with a license, I mean it is a bit risky to hire a GPN in case I were to fail my NCLEX. Lucky for me, one day after passing my NCLEX I was offered a job. Not my dream job, not even a job I liked. Part time with no benefits, and a bi-polar boss with of course some moody nurses. But hey no one else was offering me anything, and it was a MON-FRI gig. The job itself was hard with alot to learn. I was working in a surgical/endoscopy practice where we did GA pts most of the day. I felt so over-whelmed, as a new nurse I felt like I was drowning in all of it. Not to mention the nurses I worked with had no patience for me. I lived every day in fear I'd be fired! I applied to one company after the next for months! I made phone calls, I wrote emails, I showed up at HR....nothing.

Than something magical happened once I hit 6months of working. It was as if my "new nurse" cloak was taken back, I had experience! ( Hey, I still consider myself a new nurse with alot to learn, trust me!) I had phone calls and interviews set up. I went on 1st and 2nd interviews with 4 different companies within the last two weeks! This morning I was just offered a FULL TIME 0830-1700 at a local specialist office with great pay.

I understand how hard it is for us new grads, and its so great to see stories on here that are positive! I just wanted to share mine. Any way you can get your foot in the door to get experience do it. Even if you have to work a job you hate with stress, try and tough it out. Things won't always be this bad, and when they improve, and you have offers based on your experience you will be glad you stayed so strong!

Good Luck to all!

[lovemybabies2]

Im so happy for you!!

[PNnurse2]

I am so happy for you, hope you are doing great.

quick ?.after NCLEX did you send out resume and applications online to job sites (careerbuilder,monster, etc) or did you do appls on the company job site instead. I did both and walk in person and i have not gotten a call or remail, nothing. Its 13 months. Do i say i have 13months experience even though i never work 6mths.?

Suggestion/tip are appreciated. Thanks

[Moo_21]

I sent out resume's to job sites, I applied to online applications, I faxed my resume into companies, and some I just walked in an handed them in. My first job I got by an ad in the paper, the one now I just took I found on Indeed.com.

I would say you have only have the experience from school since you have never worked. Have you tried pool positions, or PRN somewhere? Its too late to get a flu shot position, but check out VAXCARE around July next year. Apply to PSA homehealth, and take one of their new grad cases, they offered me a job after NCLEX, but I had just accepted the old job I had.

Good luck, and just keep trying!

[PNnurse2]

thanks, moo, i did all of that too, indeed,career, monster,walk-ins referrals etc, no respond. i would get the auto reply that my resume or/and application been recieved and a recruiter will contact if it matches the qualifications. so far till now nothing. i thought including my clinical experience and yrs of hha would be a good thing, but when i got desperate and go by or call these facilities for follow up , they said i need a year of working experience. it must be a florida lpn thing.

thanks any way

i am still searching and applying.

[king_of_the_hill_fan]

It's here in CA, too. One year experience and most of the time no one will count clinical experience. I am applying for jobs all over the place - even the army! I've walked in applications, applied directly, signed up with registries/temp agencies, correctional facilities, monster.com, careerbuilder.com, etc.