Nurse Staffing Agencies?

[LilyAnne]

I have been applying to numerous jobs for about a month now. No phone call. No interview. I have a year of nursing experience. I absolutely don't know what to do. I dont have a bad record. I dont know what I'm doing wrong.

Do you think I should apply in nurse employment agencies? Can anyone tell me how this works? I've heard some horror stories about them, but what choice do I have? Employment gaps wont look good in my resume at all. Can anyone recommend a good employment agency here at Ohio (Columbus area)?

I also plan on applying as a patient support assistant or medical assistant. However, I'm a RN-BSN. Is this a bad idea? I've been told that most RNs who get hired in have worked a patient support assistants. Not sure if it's true or not. I don't want to seem desperate, but I do need to start somewhere.

[stripedog]

I talked to a recruiter at a local hospital and she told me NOT to apply for patient support assistant or medical assistant jobs, because it puts your license at risk (if you do something above what you are supposed to do in the lower role), plus they don't want to spend time training you in one position, only to have you leave for a real RN job after they invested all that money in your training - burn your bridges so to speak.

I'd like to know about nurse employment agencies too. I'm a new grad, having trouble getting interviews.

[SpelaD]

I'd like to know about agencies too

[NurseHopefulInOH]

Most MA jobs pay about $10/hr and they will question you about why you want that job over a nursing job. I'm an LPN and applied and even interviewed for MA positions because I want to work in a clinic and every time I get turned down because im "overqualified" and ill just leave and they dont want to have to pay me more. My advice would be to apply for HH or LTC jobs. Or conisder re-locating. I've heard C-bus is terrible for jobs right now.