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

[grateful2010]

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?

[ObtundedRN, BSN, RN]

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.

From everything I've read about my practice act, it doesn't say anything about not being able to work in a lesser position. But you better believe you will be held to your highest credentials.

[nursel56]

It would be absolutely awful for someone to be penalized for working as an LPN or a CNA when they have an RN license but not able to get a job as an RN! You can't even file for unemployment as a new grad RN!

I do know a couple of RNs working as LPNs in home health. Neither has any clue there might be a problem. One nurse here is able to work as an LPN but she still has her license active as an LPN in addition to her RN license.

I'd be interested in hearing what you guys find out the law is outside of California. I've read quite a bit of speculation here on other threads recently about this issue.

[dance4life]

I don't think I can accept lower positions in the state I live in, but if I could I would!

Being that I can't even get a receptionist job anywhere. Did you know, that some even require a Bachelors degree?

I am getting some rif raff for applying at a place that has a bad reputation, but what am I suppose to do, be in debt or be able to live?

I hear ya.

[nursel56]

Dance4Life I just got very confused over on the Maxim thread- but I want to clarify that even though their pay policies were not so great and the guys could be annoying calling to fill cases at odd hours or the last minute, there is no way I would choose NO JOB over working for Maxim if it came right down to it.

Frankly, they unwittingly let me get my foot back in the door after leaving nursing to be with my kids. I just took it upon myself to learn what I needed to learn even though their oversight was not good. I had enough years of pediatric hospital experience but it was not recent. Just want to clarify that though I wouldn't choose Maxim if I had a choice, I would not flat refuse to work there if it was the only thing available.