No Work Experience - Graduated Many Years Ago

[WildRoseRN]

I graduated during the Great Recession and found it impossible to get into a preceptor program. My RN license has been inactive for many years. No work experience. Is it even worth applying for jobs in New York? I've been told there are so many experienced RN's out of work now, my chances of getting a job are very small. I'd certainly need a refresher course and preceptor program as well.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

By being someone with years of no nursing experience, you have placed yourself at an incredible disadvantage. Yes, you need the refresher course. As for a preceptor program, you may not find yourself getting into one of those- if you mean traditional residency programs, they are meant for true new grads. You are no longer a new grad. Did you seek employment outside of the hospital setting previously? That's going to likely be the only place willing to offer a job at this point. Nursing experience outside of the hospital setting is still nursing experience and will look better if the hospital setting is still your end goal.

[Enarra, BSN, RN]

Send your resume to agencies too some are willing to work with old grads. Do some volunteering to network. Hop on LinkedIn make a good profile, use it to find recruiters and they even have Their own job listing engine. Best of luck

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

WOW!. Yeah, you have an uphill battle. Definitely take a refresher course and then recognize you aren't qualified for internships or residencies. Those are generally only open to those who are within a year of graduation. Your best bet for employment is going to be working places others might be less willing to work, on shifts others don't necessarily want. LTACH, corrections, SNF, night shift, etc. Good luck.

[LIL_RN]

LTACH and SNF will train and hire you with no experience