I am so tired of the same story over and over again! I am currently waiting to hear if I got accepted to nursing school for Spring 2012. However, a year ago, I got my CNA certification, EKG, PCT, and Phlebotomy certification, hoping that I would be able to get a job in a hospital to get some experience. I have submitted soooo many applications I've lost count. I was actively searching for jobs for about 6 months and stopped because school got demanding and I wanted to focus on doing well. Now that I have finished all my prerequisites, I have been actively trying to find a job since June. I have had a couple of phone interviews, but the same issue always comes up. I have no direct patient care experience. But wait....there's more. How am I going to get experience when no one will give me a chance. Even the LTC facilities in my area want someone with at least 6-12 months experience. I volunteer at 2 hospitals in my area, and hoped that would have helped, but it's not. One Nurse Manager even told me that she would love to hire me, and wishes she could create a admin position (I have a strong admin/paralegal background) so I could get my foot in the door, but because they are a smaller hospital, she can't take that risk. She told me to apply at bigger hospitals and see if I can gain experience there. So.....I've been applying to the bigger hospitals in the Atlanta area, and although they always have at least 10-15 postings for PCT/CNA's all the time, I can't seem to get a break. I don't know what else to do. How do I get experience when no one will hire me??????? Is there anyone in the ATL area that has had any success getting hired without having any experience and NOT being a current nursing student? I just feel that my experience along with others that I have met goes to show that the lovely saying, "It's not what you know, it's who you know" is so true.
Thank you all for the advice. I have considered applying for another job area, like housekeeping, or unit sec.(they want experience also). Hopefully I will be able to get my foot in the door that way.
Okay....so I am looking online at some open jobs at the hospitals. I am going to submit my application for a housekeeping tech, admin assistant, and maybe food service tech. On my resume, I currently list my certifications (CNA, CET, PCT, CPT) and ID numbers. Do you think I should take all that off and dumb down my resume? And if I am called in for an interview, how do I not make it appear that I am only trying to get my foot in the door?
Sorry I took so long to reply... I personally would definately mention my accomplishments in the interview. A good percentage of service workers have some sort of goal in mind. Whoever the recruiter is for the hospital should take interest in the fact that you have these degrees and you plan on moving up the totem pole. Good luck!!! You have a lot of certificates!!!!!! I would hire you..lol
What scares me is that if we are having such problems getting a job as a tech, are we going to have this much problem finding a job as a NURSE? (those of us that are or will be students) I am really starting to think that it will not be so bad in 2 years, but I just don't know???
I would try and see if you can go and get a letter of recommendation from your clinical instructor for the CNA class. This helped me land my first position at a long term care facility. I worked there for about a year, applied at a hospital and got in! I will be starting my clinicals next fall and I have already learned so much in my two years at a hospital! Hope this helps and good luck with school!
Specializes in interested in specializing in Peds or OR.
What scares me is that if we are having such problems getting a job as a tech, are we going to have this much problem finding a job as a NURSE? (those of us that are or will be students) I am really starting to think that it will not be so bad in 2 years, but I just don't know???
Finding a job after getting your RN is next to impossible too! There are tons of threads on here about how new grads can't find positions anywhere...not even in nursing homes and assisted living. Its pretty much been like this since the economy dived in 2008. I currently work in a hospital as a unit secretary and 3 of our PCAs have their RN and have not been able to land a position, not even in the same hospital! One of them graduated 2 years ago. Typically, it takes a new grad about 6 months (best case senario) to 2 years (worst case) to find a job. I'm in nursing school now and praying the job market improves in the next 2 years o_o
Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Flight.
Finding a job after getting your RN is next to impossible too! There are tons of threads on here about how new grads can't find positions anywhere...not even in nursing homes and assisted living. Its pretty much been like this since the economy dived in 2008. I currently work in a hospital as a unit secretary and 3 of our PCAs have their RN and have not been able to land a position, not even in the same hospital! One of them graduated 2 years ago. Typically, it takes a new grad about 6 months (best case senario) to 2 years (worst case) to find a job. I'm in nursing school now and praying the job market improves in the next 2 years o_o
I wonder if we're still allowed to work as techs after we get our RN. I don't want to quit and lose all my pto & such bc I can't move up in my career lol
Specializes in interested in specializing in Peds or OR.
I wonder if we're still allowed to work as techs after we get our RN. I don't want to quit and lose all my pto & such bc I can't move up in my career lol
The hospital I work at allows techs to keep their position even after attaining their RN. The catch is that you have to be already in your position. If somebody who doesn't currently work there applies for a tech position and has their RN, they are ineligible for hire. It all depends on the facility you work at.
Be patient and keep applying you will get a job. I just got hired with no medical experience as a pca at a good hospital and they will provide me with training and I thought i would never get a hospital job. Just be motivated and dont give up you will get your opportunity, I wish you the best of luck!
I am so tired of the same story over and over again! I am currently waiting to hear if I got accepted to nursing school for Spring 2012. However, a year ago, I got my CNA certification, EKG, PCT, and Phlebotomy certification, hoping that I would be able to get a job in a hospital to get some experience. I have submitted soooo many applications I've lost count. I was actively searching for jobs for about 6 months and stopped because school got demanding and I wanted to focus on doing well. Now that I have finished all my prerequisites, I have been actively trying to find a job since June. I have had a couple of phone interviews, but the same issue always comes up. I have no direct patient care experience. But wait....there's more. How am I going to get experience when no one will give me a chance. Even the LTC facilities in my area want someone with at least 6-12 months experience. I volunteer at 2 hospitals in my area, and hoped that would have helped, but it's not. One Nurse Manager even told me that she would love to hire me, and wishes she could create a admin position (I have a strong admin/paralegal background) so I could get my foot in the door, but because they are a smaller hospital, she can't take that risk. She told me to apply at bigger hospitals and see if I can gain experience there. So.....I've been applying to the bigger hospitals in the Atlanta area, and although they always have at least 10-15 postings for PCT/CNA's all the time, I can't seem to get a break. I don't know what else to do. How do I get experience when no one will hire me???????
Is there anyone in the ATL area that has had any success getting hired without having any experience and NOT being a current nursing student? I just feel that my experience along with others that I have met goes to show that the lovely saying, "It's not what you know, it's who you know" is so true.
StarLite1980
98 Posts
Thank you all for the advice. I have considered applying for another job area, like housekeeping, or unit sec.(they want experience also). Hopefully I will be able to get my foot in the door that way.