New grad, should I hold out at my current job or just take the first thing I can get?

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Specializes in Case Manager.

Long story short, I work as a nursing assistant in a hospital. I got this job between my first and second year of NS. I got it with the sole intention of being hired there as an RN when I finished. Well skip to earlier this year (March), I had a write up which resulted in me NOT being accepted into our GN program. Skip to now and I have graduated NS, taken and passed the NCLEX and am currently awaiting licensing (pending fingerprinting and results).

So now, I'm essentially cast aside and can't start working as a GN/RN with the other graduates that also work at my hospital, BUT there are regular open RN positions that can be applied for once I have a license number. When I was written up, it prevented me from being to transfer for six months. Next month will be the sixth month.

I HAVE been applying for positions in other hospitals outside my facility, but I feel as though having my ADN is more of a negative than a plus, and yes, I'm currently enrolled in an RN-BSN program that's due to start in September as well.

So the question is should I just hold out until next month when my probation period will be up and I'll have an RN license and just apply to positions in the hospital or should I just start applying any/everywhere, including LTC? I've done everything that's required of me to rectify the situation, have gotten multiple awards and recognitions since then and haven't had any further issues.

Any comments and advice would be appreciated.

If it were me, I'd be applying at other hospitals and applying at my own, when the probation is up. You may be holding your breath for nothing if you don't know a nurse manager at your current place of employment that is aware of your 'incident' and is willing to take a chance on you. Good luck.

-NJ

Specializes in LDRP.

Why not ask human rescouces if they would even consider rehiring you when your probation is up and youre liscensed? I would apply everywhere reguardless.

Specializes in Case Manager.
Why not ask human rescouces if they would even consider rehiring you when your probation is up and youre liscensed? I would apply everywhere reguardless.

I've already spoken to HR and my direct manager about the issue. HR says that I can still work on the floor as an aide once licensed, and that I'll have to look for regular RN positions within the hospital.

Specializes in Ambulatory care.

Apply here, there, everywhere and try to schedule a middle of the week day as your off day so you're available for interviews. You owe no one loyalty or what not. Do what is best for your career. Do an awesome good job at your current place, network, introduce yourself to nursing managers on every floor, get to know your Me i applied to everything that was RN nursing. I've accepted while I would love to work at my volunteer hospital my dream job really I am perfectly willing and happy to work at a facility (hospital, ltc, nursing home, rehab) because i need to get the exp learn the skills and practiced what i learned. and the efforts did pay off as I got a job offer at a different hospital in thier off site facility.

Apply everywhere! It can't hurt. Worst-case-scenario you can practice your interviewing skills! I went on several interviews for jobs I ended up not wanting but it def. boosted my confidence in interviewing and realizing what I DID want! BEst of luck to you.

how to get that 1st job?

Specializes in Case Manager.
Apply here, there, everywhere and try to schedule a middle of the week day as your off day so you're available for interviews. You owe no one loyalty or what not. Do what is best for your career. Do an awesome good job at your current place, network, introduce yourself to nursing managers on every floor, get to know your Me i applied to everything that was RN nursing. I've accepted while I would love to work at my volunteer hospital my dream job really I am perfectly willing and happy to work at a facility (hospital, ltc, nursing home, rehab) because i need to get the exp learn the skills and practiced what i learned. and the efforts did pay off as I got a job offer at a different hospital in thier off site facility.

Already in the process of doing all this, but until I get an actual license number, I can't really start working as an RN.

apply for all jobs! Take the first one offered and if something else comes along you can always tell them you decided to go with something else. A bird in the hand beats a bird in the bush any day!

Specializes in Case Manager.

I'm going to also do that but would like to stay at my current place of employment because I could apply to internal positions as an internal applicant. And internal positions are usually more lax as far as requirements/qualifications.

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