Need Some Advice

Nurses General Nursing

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I graduated from nursing school in 2009 and applied at many facilities with zero result. They did not want to hire me because I did not have acute care experience.( in my head I'm thinking, "how am I suppose to get that experience if no one is willing to hire me)." My determination was a force to be reckoned with, so I continued applying to companies. There was this one home health agency who hired me from the start. The pay was lousy but at least I could work as a RN. The company was a pediatric home agency where I cared for chronically ill clients in the home environment. It took me a moment to realize that this job did not count towards my one year experience and I didn't use 90% of the skills learned in nursing school. But I used this time to go back for my BSN. After I received my BSN at the end of 2011, I resigned from this home agency. I was feeling that his company was not the right fit for me. Pesonally, I'm a little discouraged and insecure about getting a job and my technical skills, respectively. However I continued to apply to facilities. I applied to a LTC facility and was told that I didn't have any experience. I was devastated. All this work for nothing. So here I am with an AA, ADN, and a BSN with no real nursing experience and no one willing to hire me. So this week I decided to apply for the gn program at a local hospital since I'm being told that the experience I have is " no " real experience. I'm really hoping that something pan out because I have been out of work for over six months and out of school for about a year. I'm feeling really discourage and wondereing if someone can give me some advice as to what should be my next move.

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Specializes in Pedi.

What kind of patients did you care for? I do pediatric home care and my agency does a lot of private duty... patients with vents, trachs, G-tubes, CVLs, TPN... you've gotta have SOME skills you can capitalize on. I'm wondering why you would have resigned a paying job without another job lined up, though... it's going to hurt you that you haven't been practicing as a nurse at all for 9 months.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Hello, and welcome to these forums!

Am I correct in saying that you resigned from one job without having another job offer lined up? This may have not been the best idea. Although the pediatric private duty did not count as acute care experience, it did count as valuable nursing experience.

Private duty nursing = RN pay and RN experience

Being unemployed = no pay and no experience.

So this week I decided to apply for the gn program at a local hospital since I'm being told that the experience I have is " no " real experience.
You are not a GN since you have been licensed since 2009 and have two years of experience. Most GN programs want recent graduates and generally reject applicants who graduated several years ago.
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I resigned because I found out that the current job that I worked did not count towards nursing experience in a acute facility. I thought that maybe since I recently graduated with my BSN I would be considered a newly graduated nurse. I'm just trying to find my niche

I graduated from nursing school in 2009 and applied at many facilities with zero result. They did not want to hire me because I did not have acute care experience.( in my head I'm thinking, "how am I suppose to get that experience if no one is willing to hire me)." My determination was a force to be reckoned with, so I continued applying to companies. There was this one home health agency who hired me from the start. The pay was lousy but at least I could work as a RN. The company was a pediatric home agency where I cared for chronically ill clients in the home environment. It took me a moment to realize that this job did not count towards my one year experience and I didn't use 90% of the skills learned in nursing school. But I used this time to go back for my BSN. After I received my BSN at the end of 2011, I resigned from this home agency. I was feeling that his company was not the right fit for me. Pesonally, I'm a little discouraged and insecure about getting a job and my technical skills, respectively. However I continued to apply to facilities. I applied to a LTC facility and was told that I didn't have any experience. I was devastated. All this work for nothing. So here I am with an AA, ADN, and a BSN with no real nursing experience and no one willing to hire me. So this week I decided to apply for the gn program at a local hospital since I'm being told that the experience I have is " no " real experience. I'm really hoping that something pan out because I have been out of work for over six months and out of school for about a year. I'm feeling really discourage and wondereing if someone can give me some advice as to what should be my next move.
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Oh and I cared for pediatric patients with trachs, GI tubes and other special needs

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Specializes in Pedi.

Getting a new degree does not make you a newly graduated nurse... you've been a nurse for 3 years. Sorry, hindsight is 20/20. Home care does not count toward acute care experience (because it's chronic care), but it's still NURSING experience which is better than no experience. I guarantee any prospective employer looking at your resume is wondering what you've been doing for the last 9 months and the fact that you've NOT been working as a nurse for that long is going to hurt you way more than that your only professional experience is in private duty. I would try to get back into ANY area of nursing NOW.

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Thanks KelRN215 sometimes the discouragement can put you in a rut but I guess you are right. I was so focused on getting into a hospital I didn't stop to think about that.

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Specializes in ER; HBOT- lots others.

where i live we have a "critical care university" that takes nurses of whatever status and puts them thru another program that you work and learn each floor in the hospital, then its a job in ICU. not that you have to stay in ICU, but its a start. and heck, you said you are looking for your niche, you might find it when your not looking.

on a side note, do you know how many ppl dont find their "niche" for years? i wouldnt worry about finding what you want, get your experience so you can find what you want..

gl!

-H-

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Well I guess what I really mean is that I want to nurse and be an all around nurse able to work in any environment. I have tried acute facilities and even LTC facilities but because I don't have acute experience I am over looked. I feel that the chronic care experience will and has hurt my chances of working within these acute facilities, since they only want that type of experience. I don't have a problem working as a private duty nurse but as I search through the many job openings they all want acute. I just don't want to be limited in anyway.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I don't see why you shouldn't have a chance at the GN program, since you lack the so called "acute" care experience, a residency program would be ideal to get the training and experience you need and you have the "coveted" BSN hospitals are pursuing 2nd prestige and magnet status. Don't give up! Play up your strengths, including your home health experience with medically challenged children, I think that is relevant esp when dealing with the technical aspects of trachs, G-tubes, etc. Don't sell yourself short!

Good Luck!

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Specializes in geriatrics.
I resigned because I found out that the current job that I worked did not count towards nursing experience in a acute facility. I thought that maybe since I recently graduated with my BSN I would be considered a newly graduated nurse. I'm just trying to find my niche
What's done is done, but resigning from a job in this economy without another one isn't wise. You definitely will not be eligible for new grad programs, since you have nursing experience and graduated 2 years ago. Try applying for PRN in home health, LTC, and hospitals. You need to work, and while you're working you can continue to apply to hospitals. It amazes me how many new nurses want to hold out for hospitals in this economy. Any nursing job will suffice while you gain experience.
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Thanks Brandy, @ Joann, for me, money is not an issue. My husband makes enough to take care of our economic situation while I pursue my dream. I've also put away enough for a rainy day. My dilemma is finding a nursing position of substance where I can hone my skills and become experienced in every aspect. So I'm not looking for a job because of the money. I didn't become a nurse for the financial part of it, to me the money is a bonus. If I had to I would do it without payment. I have a real passion for the profession and want to actually help people young and old.

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