I have a friend that was an LPN for 3 years and has been an RN for almost 2 years - all of her experience is in skilled nursing, LTC and home health. She is trying to get a job in a hospital, in houston, tx and has been unsuccessful (she received her ADN degree in NJ - therefore, her clinical were completed there). She has her BSN from University of Phoenix. My friend alleges that every time she applies to hospital jobs she gets rejected with automatic replies stating that they are looking for candidates with "experience"....how does she get this experience and/or a chance to work in a hospital?
She has revised her resume several times and it looks great to me and other professionals but she is lacking "hospital experience" and has been told that she is not a "new nurse" so she does not qualify for residency programs. She is very discouraged and wants to return to NJ - I don't know know how else to advise her...do you have any suggestions that I can give her?
I am in the same vote as ineedachange1, BSN, RN ( first post) I do not understand how to get the experience of working in a hospital if I CAN"T get into one??! It has be very discouraged and frustrated. I have had multiple nurse that I have trained for home health I am currently working at tell I would be great in hospital. I have a lot experience with wound care although I am not certified wound nurse yet.. I just need to get foot in door and I can't seem to make that happen.. I don;t get passed the automated email and when you call all you get is " the application process is online"....I even trying temp placement agency but that worries me be trying just to get in.. still nothing...
I live in ca- the bay area...
I cannot move to another stated. I have a house and young family so this is not an option for me... any other tips,
Please help!
I’m in the same position. So I just applied to a periop 101 program. Once completed I hope to get hired somewhere .
Specializes in Oncology, Pediatric HH/Private Duty Nursing.
a common thing that isn't talked about is that many of these people are attempting to get into their local "big name" hospitals. That's like trying to leap before you can walk. I can almost guarantee you there is some small no-name community hospital in the outskirts of town, or even in the "not so safe" areas that is always hiring new grads just to stay staffed... but for some reason some new grads/non-acute experienced think they're above that. Start small and see those smalls hospitals as a stepping stone. I got almost immediately hired into a small, acute hospital that wasn't the favored place by both staff and patients, but it got me the experience I needed to get into where I am now.
While I appreciate your offering input, it doesn't feel to me that it is very supportive. I actually have tried smaller hospitals both in this area and within a 150 mile radius. I don't have issues working in any area and I don't care about big name hospitals - I just wanted to move out of community health nursing and it's really difficult for a nurse without acute care experience to get an opportunity even though I've been a nurse for 6 years - I don't care how small the hospital is. I actually got a job in Fresno so it worked out but thanks for your opinion.
emergenceRN17, ASN, BSN, RN
833 Posts
I’m in the same position. So I just applied to a periop 101 program. Once completed I hope to get hired somewhere .