No Job offers......are you accepting lower positions?

[grateful2010, LPN, LVN]

Has anyone accepted lower positions due to the lack of Job offers for new RN's? I recently accepted a Job as a LPN/HHA at an agency. I also landed a gig as an RN administering flu shots during the flu seasons, I'm excited, it will build my resume. I don't like taking a lesser position but I have to do what I have to do in the meantime to gain whatever experience I can. I can imagine how excited the employers are to pay me less, although I am qualified for more (degree/license wise). I continue to put my resume out until I get my dream job of working in a hospital as an RN. Until then, I guess i'll pay my dues...

What has been your experience?

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

The bottom line is that you have to eat, and any employer with sense would see this. If I were a perspective employer reviewing your resume, at the very least, I would note that you are not lazy, are trying to get in from the ground up, and therefore, understands what each position entails leading to your being a better RN. I hope things look up for you sooner than later.

[MERRYWIDOW46]

Please confirm with your State BON that taking a lesser position does not violate the RN practice act.

In my state once you are licensed as an RN you may NOT work as an aide, PCT, LPN. You are ALWAYS held to the practice standards of an RN. The facility my or may not know this. (Although, I am not sure how they wouldn't know).

Good luck, it is a tough job market right now and not only for new grads. Experienced nurses are having difficulty finding jobs also.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

Please confirm with your State BON that taking a lesser position does not violate the RN practice act.

In my state once you are licensed as an RN you may NOT work as an aide, PCT, LPN. You are ALWAYS held to the practice standards of an RN. The facility my or may not know this. (Although, I am not sure how they wouldn't know).

Good luck, it is a tough job market right now and not only for new grads. Experienced nurses are having difficulty finding jobs also.

I certainly hope that they would be willing to bend a bit in the meantime, due to this current economic environment. And, this is a great question to ask my BON, because the practice of working in lesser titles at least until an opportunity arises itself is common practice on my side of the world. We have at least 5 LPNs who have become RNs via Excelsior, but because there is a job freeze, there are no openings...even though our facility desperately needs more RNs. I am aware that no matter what, a person would be held at the standard of an RN; most just took their chances in order to remain employed at all. And, I can see more of this happening.

[grateful2010, LPN, LVN]

Please confirm with your State BON that taking a lesser position does not violate the RN practice act.

In my state once you are licensed as an RN you may NOT work as an aide, PCT, LPN. You are ALWAYS held to the practice standards of an RN. The facility my or may not know this. (Although, I am not sure how they wouldn't know).

Good luck, it is a tough job market right now and not only for new grads. Experienced nurses are having difficulty finding jobs also.

Oh Goodness, I had no idea there could possibly be a problem. I will call BON to inquire. Thank you so much!

As pagandeva2000 said, hopefully they are willing to bend.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

Oh Goodness, I had no idea there could possibly be a problem. I will call BON to inquire. Thank you so much!

As pagandeva2000 said, hopefully they are willing to bend.

It would be a good idea to call, especially if they are not allowing you to work at ANY nursing capacity except RN. If it is so in our states (I live in NY), all I can say is that I know plenty of people are taking their chances. I am sure that plenty of CNAs, LPNs, etc would rather live indoors and eat, so, they will not give up their current positions as willingly...especially since things are so tight out there. I am an LPN, and if I had any difficulty obtaining another LPN position, I would work as a CNA in a New York minute to stay afloat. I have too many bills to not work at all.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

After I pass my exam in October, I may consider doing some of my own advertising (ie...in the local paper as a new grad RN...clinics, homecare, tutoring...whatever). I think we all need to do what we have to do in the meantime, AND maybe get a little creative too.

People need RN's everywhere. Regardless of what is happening out there. Aside from utilizing the traditional routes of job search, I'm also starting to think of other ways. I'm getting too old to sit around and wait for phone calls and emails from prospective employers who are bombarded right now with resumes.

Any additional thoughts on ways for us RN's to actually USE our skills?

[grateful2010, LPN, LVN]

It would be a good idea to call, especially if they are not allowing you to work at ANY nursing capacity except RN. If it is so in our states (I live in NY), all I can say is that I know plenty of people are taking their chances. I am sure that plenty of CNAs, LPNs, etc would rather live indoors and eat, so, they will not give up their current positions as willingly...especially since things are so tight out there. I am an LPN, and if I had any difficulty obtaining another LPN position, I would work as a CNA in a New York minute to stay afloat. I have too many bills to not work at all.

I agree wholeheartedly. My only concern now is, since i'm insured as a RN, if i work under another healthcare profession other than a RN would I stiill be covered

After I pass my exam in October, I may consider doing some of my own advertising (ie...in the local paper as a new grad RN...clinics, homecare, tutoring...whatever). I think we all need to do what we have to do in the meantime, AND maybe get a little creative too.

People need RN's everywhere. Regardless of what is happening out there. Aside from utilizing the traditional routes of job search, I'm also starting to think of other ways. I'm getting too old to sit around and wait for phone calls and emails from prospective employers who are bombarded right now with resumes.

Any additional thoughts on ways for us RN's to actually USE our skills?

I like your thinking. I want to know the answer to your question as well.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Aside from Facebook (which I do not particularly like), is there not some way that all of the RN's and new grads can come together, and either lobby effectively for more jobs, or figure out some way to organize ourselves to provide services and learn/ maintain skills?

The more I think about this perplexing situation, the more I consider various alternatives. Because RN's, RPN's, LVN's, whatever the title is have ALOT of knowledge and skills. Overall, people on this forum have been very positive. However, it is frustrating to see that so many qualified people are looking for jobs for months.

More importantly, there is strength in numbers, which we have. I am Canadian born and educated, but the same issues apply throughout Canada and the US right now. For example, why is it impossible to conceive that someone (a nurse) start their own recruiting, and/ or organization. Obviously, this takes planning, money, time, networking....etc. But it is not impossible, especially if people are willing to work together, or at least network in some way. People do this all the time. And recession...yes...but health care is always in demand.

If you have a license, and you are practicing within the professional standards/ ethics, there is really nothing stopping you from venturing out on your own.

I just know that there is always some way, provided it is realistic. I don't know exactly how, but there must be some way. It just seems ridiculous and very unproductive to have so many nurses not being utilized.

[elprup, BSN, RN]

joanna73-exactly, there has to be some way, but I have not found it yet! And it's getting really frustrating for those of us who refuse to move our families "one more time".

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

I hear that. Fortunately for me, I don't have a family, so I am free to travel. I'm just trying to be positive and think about feasible solutions. I have 5 years of debt to pay off that will grow if I don't come up with something relatively soon. Others are in the same boat, I'm sure. What can I tell you? I've spent hours looking all over, only to find jobs for NP's, RPN's (LPN's), and experienced RN's. I even wonder if those jobs actually exist? So I can either get frustrated and give up, and watch my debt grow, or work my butt off to figure something out.

[carolmaccas66, BSN, RN]

I have accepted a job with less pay. As someone says, one must eat but it will still be experience that counts in the end hopefully.