Need RN Job Advice!!!

[RN6157]

:yawn:Hello,

My life as a Nurse has been quite a journey so far, and what Im about to explain might be a lot, but Im in need of some advice so any comments would be greatly appreciated.

I graduated with ADN in December of 2009, and worked as a Graduate Nurse in the ER for 4 and half months. I had worked there for 3 years as an aid, and 6 months as a nurse extern. I failed my boards, and worked for 45 days after that feeling extremely depressed and felt very incompetant at that point. My employers said to take a couple wks off to prepare for the boards again, and if I failed then I obviously wouldnt be able to come back as a Gn. Well unfortuntly for me I failed AGAIN!! At that point it was May, and I took a review class online that wasnt very helpful at all but I was told to take the summer off to study and study to make sure I was ready to take the boards again. And, well apparently in September it still was not my time to be an RN. I wanted to give up my dream at this point, I literally felt like I had died and so embarrased to even walk out my door. I worked with my mom for her business to keep myself occupied and was pushed by my family and friends, and my heart not to give up because bein a nurse was what I was meant to be. I took kaplans nursing review in January and studied that for another 3 months, and well...I PASSED!!! The best feeling of my life, and I can look back at it and say, it was worth this feeling and that is going to make all that more stronger and appreciate my career all that much more because I worked so hard for it.

Now..my problem is is that I have applied for 22 positions all around my area, and also an hour away from where I live, and Im not getting any call backs. I m scared that I may never find a job!! I went through all of that and now Icant find a job!!! I havent even been called for an interview. I would like med surg..I think that would be great experience for me instead of starting out in ER. I can get my time management, critical thinking skills down, and develop patient rapport better that what you get in an ER. Im just worried that employers are looking at the fact that I havent worked in a year because my recent employer is Er as a graduate nurse. I know I m gonna have to explain the fact that I didnt pass the first time, which is embarrassing, but it does happen, but I just hope I get to even have an interview, and when I do, Im gonna need some interview advice. If anyone has advice or encouragement on what to do or if you guys think this is a problem, plz let me know. THank you so much for your time!!!:):):):)

[pat8585]

Just tell them you had to take some time off and study for your boards. I don't think it will be that Big of deal. You did eventually pass! Congrats!

[jammin246RN]

Try places you may not think of... such as LTACs, Acute Acess hospitals, plasma banks, ocupational health nursing, drug rep companies, prison nursing, plasma banks.... The list is literally endless... also check out craigslist and apply for a few positions there! Good luck and congrats!

[Akeos]

applying for 22 positions is nothing, most new grads, at least in my area apply for hundreds... don't get discouraged

[RN6157]

Try places you may not think of... such as LTACs, Acute Acess hospitals, plasma banks, ocupational health nursing, drug rep companies, prison nursing, plasma banks.... The list is literally endless... also check out craigslist and apply for a few positions there! Good luck and congrats!

How would I find open positions for those types of places, a lot of places like that dont have websites to apply online, like the hospitals do?

[pat8585]

indeed.com is a good job site.

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

There are many, many new graduates who can't find work right now, whether they passes the NCLEX first try or not. Like the other post said, apply to every position you can find, even if it says you need experience. If there is a hospital without a website, go there directly and ask for an application. Fill it out right then and then hand it back wth a copy of your resume. Keep applying and don't get discouraged. It's a tough market right now.

Ashley