Quit Job While Pregnant and Can't Get Hired

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Honestly, if I were in your situation, I'd swallow my pride and ask the place you just quit from for a job. If they are desperate for a warm body, they might agree as they don't need to train you.

Agreed. The OP said that she refused the opportunity to transfer to a different unit because she 'didn't want to leave her residents,' but then she quit and left her residents. It sounds as though the DON was being very accommodating by offering her a transfer, and it would have made so much more sense to stay in that facility! That bridge may be burned by now, but it's worth a shot.

If that fails, I'd get on board with everyone else's advice. Try agency for now if you can, since a full-time job (especially a residency with a long orientation) is unlikely while you're visibly pregnant. It seems like some of these issues could have been avoided with better planning and foresight (like foregoing the transfer option at the last job), so focus on making a rock solid game plan (i.e. job hunting, childcare, etc.) for after the baby is born!

Try a temp agency. Here in Illinois we have brightstar care. They offer a large range of specialties. Hired me immediately as a new LPN. They place for last minute call offs at places they have contracts with. Or to cover vacations. Vaccination clinics. I did Private hospice with them, adult day care, SNF. It was a life saver while I was trying to find the job I wanted vs a job I needed. And the gap in your work history can be due to difficulties in pregnancies and then your current one. When ready assure potential employers that with family support childcare is never an issue and after the baby came you are finally mentally and physically ready to care for other people (back on your feet and ready to go). I too walked out of a SNF due to an unmotivated DON to do the right thing. Don't worry about the gap from school to license. Difficult pregnancy is all you have to say if they question it at all. Good luck and don't give up. And in my experience stay away from SNF.

traumaRUs said:

Though an employer can't ask about daycare, your plans for future pregnancies, etc., you can bet that it would be to your advantage to somewhere state that your daycare is solid and you are now ready to fully devote yourself to your job.

However, most employers get around this by asking the person being interviewed to "tell me about yourself;" at which time many candidates provide much more information than they should. One needs to be cautious in how to answer this as the potential employer is free to consider any information they might be provided.

Every place I applied has a 90 day probationary period. If you got a job now, you might not make it though the 90 days because hiring is a slow process after interviews and background checks. Maybe do something else in the interim, like a temp position.

I agree that the advice above is excellent.

Best of luck to you. :)

The last 2 were nursing homes, what happened at the non CNA issue one?

If graduation was in 2013, would she still be eligible for a new grad program? Or is it timed from when NCLEX is passed?

Not sure but due to her circumstances it wouldn't hurt to try as she's still at the level of a new grad.

Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
If graduation was in 2013, would she still be eligible for a new grad program? Or is it timed from when NCLEX is passed?

Depends on the program's criteria. If they require applicants that have graduated within the last 12 months, then she probably won't qualify. But if they require applicants to have less than 12 months' experience, then she could qualify.

Of course, she should try and apply regardless, as the worst thing that'll happen is that they'll tell her "Sorry, but No." But if she can sell herself the right way, they might consider her even if she doesn't technically qualify.

Specializes in Med/Surg/Infection Control/Geriatrics.

Why does NCLEX even have to be mentioned? It's not State Boards. I never took NCLEX at all. It wasn't required and as far as I know, still isn't.

I myself, have never had an interview where that was even mentioned.

If she just is honest about what happened, she may make more headway than trying to gloss it over and have to wait so long.

If I were interviewing you, and your work ethic outside of having to quit due to bullying and a D.O.N. with no backbone, was good, and your attendance was decent, I'd hire you.

We all have to start somewhere! For now, perhaps applying for a non-nursing job that's temporary that doesn't require lifting, might be the financial answer until she is on her feet with going for a nursing job again. No shame in that!

Why does NCLEX even have to be mentioned? It's not State Boards. I never took NCLEX at all. It wasn't required and as far as I know, still isn't.

I myself, have never had an interview where that was even mentioned.

If she just is honest about what happened, she may make more headway than trying to gloss it over and have to wait so long.

If I were interviewing you, and your work ethic outside of having to quit due to bullying and a D.O.N. with no backbone, was good, and your attendance was decent, I'd hire you.

We all have to start somewhere! For now, perhaps applying for a non-nursing job that's temporary that doesn't require lifting, might be the financial answer until she is on her feet with going for a nursing job again. No shame in that!

NCLEX is mandatory to be a nurse. It's a licensing body and NCLEX is the licensing board nationwide. In the past there was a paper test given per state but nowadays it's an electronic administered test.

https://www.ncsbn.org/Nursing_Licensure.pdf

Agree a non-nursing job for financial stability would be ideal but due to the pregnancy aspect and the road taken to get there maybe resting and having a healthy pregnancy is best.

Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
Why does NCLEX even have to be mentioned? It's not State Boards. I never took NCLEX at all. It wasn't required and as far as I know, still isn't.

The NCLEX has been in existence as "the NCLEX" since 1982. It absolutely is required to pass the NCLEX to practice as an RN in the US.

In this case, the OP has a significant lag time between finishing school and taking the NCLEX. That can be an issue with hiring managers. It will be noticed because they will want to know when a potential employee graduated from school and when he/she was first licensed.

Specializes in Pedi.
Why does NCLEX even have to be mentioned? It's not State Boards. I never took NCLEX at all. It wasn't required and as far as I know, still isn't.

How do you think people become nurses if NCLEX "isn't required" as far as you know? State boards don't exist anymore. In order to become a licensed nurse in the United States, you must take and pass NCLEX.

Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
NCLEX does NOT have to be passed to be a RN. I took State Boards and I'm a fully licensed RN. I'm a little concerned for YOUR employers if you don't realize that the NCLEX hasn't been around forever...

Let's all simply agree there is a licensure exam, and the current version is the NCLEX - which is applicable for the OP.

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