NY has a shortage but I still don't have a job!!

oramar · May 14, 2008

Good luck!

trace_element · May 14, 2008

I'm in the same boat, having worked psych and ltc (3years) and then trying for acute care jobs. It seems hospitals don't even consider those jobs for experience.

It stinks to then have to hear about the supposed 'nursing shortage.' There was a thread going yesterday about this.....that hospitals really are only looking for EXPERIENCED nurses.

fvestar · May 14, 2008

Hello mama_bird,

I sympathize with you 100%... I am going through a similar situation and I wish you the best in your search. I found for myself, that trying to make the transition from being a stay-at- home parent back to work has been such a nightmare. And, nowadays it's a form of career suicide if you haven't been current in most of these health allied/nursing profession for a period of time. :down: Keep the faith mama_bird and remember that I am in your corner, KIT and email me if you wanna vent.:typing

bookwormom · May 14, 2008

I think the non nursing info, especially the "Experience of Interest" dilutes your resume. I'd give more info about the nursing experience ( what you did, skills, etc.) Also, although I'm sure others may disagree, I'd omit my GPAs. That was a long time ago and not completely relevant to your current job search. I think the part about working for a MS in nursing is good, but also would omit that GPA.

A recruiter might wonder why you were working on a MS in nursing with so little clinical background. And why, in the middle of graduate school, you seemed to leave nursing completely. You might anticipate these questions and address them in your cover letter.

I'm not clear how you could work in a nursing home as an LPN, since you are licensed as an RN.

Perhaps in your cover letter (or in your resume) you could make a point of explaining how you have kept up with the nursing profession--for example recent continuing ed, current CPR certification, and relevant volunteer experience-- ex. volunteering in your kids' school or helping at the senior center, that sort of thing.

I've been on some (non-nursing) academic search committees recently, and I see that when people read a resume, they are looking for information about what is not stated. Then they try to put the pieces together. You might find that talking with hospital recruiters before you send a resume could make them more receptive to your specific circumstances.

Good luck!

elkpark · May 14, 2008

The "nursing shortage" is, to some extent, an urban legend. Your very limited prior experience (2 years in the PP office; did I read your post correctly?) followed by being out of nursing entirely for so many years is not going to make you very competitive/marketable.

The refresher course is a good idea, as is looking for a job in LTC. Best wishes :) --

Quickbeam, BSN, RN · May 14, 2008

I think the non nursing info, especially the "Experience of Interest" dilutes your resume. I'd give more info about the nursing experience ( what you did, skills, etc.) Also, although I'm sure others may disagree, I'd omit my GPAs. That was a long time ago and not completely relevant to your current job search. I think the part about working for a MS in nursing is good, but also would omit that GPA.

I absolutely agree with this. I did hire/fire as a nurse manager for years and the non-nursing interests/GPA aren't relevant. They also make you look like you are trying to say you have more experience than you do. Leave that stuff out.

I believe you need to understand that you are lacking critical care or hospital experience and no arranging of your resume will make up for that. In my state you'd not be allowed to work as an LPN since you are not one. I think the refresher class is a wonderful idea and would make you very employable (at least in my state). In the meantime, you could certainly try to look for work essentially as a new grad.

I do not mean to be harsh here...it's just a reality that health care moves very quickly these days and recruiters are trying to minimize the expense of bringing in new staff. My state has no real nursing shortage and anyone who thinks they will be immediately employed is often very disappointed.

Best wishes to you.

mama_bird · May 14, 2008

I put my non-relevant stuff on there so they can see I am not "lazy" LOL.

How would you view a resume from someone who was out for 9 years and had no volunteer experience, self-employment at all? It must be common.

I am going to take the class in the fall; for now I have 2 interviews to go to: one LTC and one an easy paperwork job that is not med-surg at all.

I wish I had never gotten RA!

llg, PhD, RN · May 14, 2008

As others have said, your resume is not very competitive. You have very little actual nursing experience and the experience you DO have was in an outpatient setting and was many ago. You are unlikely to be hired for an inpatient staff nursing position unless you take a refresher course.

Use that refresher course to "prove yourself" to the institution in which you do your clinicals. That will be your best chance of getting an inpatient position. That position might not be your dream job, but it will give you some much-needed experience.

Even if you are not seeking an inpatient position, I suggest revising your resume to highlight the nursing experience and minimize the non-nursing stuff. When someone is looking to hire a nurse ... they scan the resume looking for the nursing education and experience. So, emphasize your nursing experience and achievements and don't bury it in amidst a bunch of other stuff. You might want to expand your nursing content by describing your job duties a little.

Also, as someone else suggested incorporate (either on your resume) those things you have done to maintain your nursing knowledge and skills over the years. Keep in mind that the primary thing the reader is looking for is evidence that you are/will be a good nurse for their instititution. When there is a shorter of resources, employers can't afford to invest their limited resources in hiring people unlikely to work out for them. While the initial response might to hire "any warm body," the good institutions will get beyond that soon and start focusing on quality in hiring -- investing only in those people with a high probability of success and longevity in their institution. They strive to conserve their resources used for training.

linzz · May 14, 2008

This is going to sound weird but in a way you are lucky in that all you need to do is take a refresher course to go back to work. Here in some provinces of Canada, if you are not working for over 5 years, you must take a refresher course to even keep your licence and now a new thing has started among educational institutions that if you have been out of nursing for 9 years or more, you must go back to school all over again as if you were never a nurse. I am sure that once you are back, you will have no problem finding work. Best of luck.

Quickbeam, BSN, RN · May 14, 2008

How would you view a resume from someone who was out for 9 years and had no volunteer experience, self-employment at all? It must be common.
.....
I wish I had never gotten RA!

It is very common for returnees to come back to nursing after many years away. When I was hiring I was always looking for current hospital work experience. I did hire a woman who had been away from hospital work 8 years but had been taking care of a critically/chronically ill child at home as well as an in-law with MS. She was a great employee because she knew how to really work home health systems which was critical for the job she was applying for. It was relevant; she also knew how to use that experience in an interview setting.

I have RA/OA/DJD and although I no longer do hospital nursing, I've never left full time professional nursing work in 21 years. Although you cannot be asked about your health, you need to be aware of what your capacity is for work. The ADA doesn't protect people who cannot do the essential functions of a position.

Best wishes to you.

Kiren · May 14, 2008

I think once you take the refresher course you should be able to find a job pretty easily. I am from WNY too and as a new grad (as of this Friday) the recruiters have been chomping at the bit to hire us. Millard Fillmore Suburban is opening some new units and has been hiring a lot. The Catholic Health System and ECMC have been begging for nurses as well. There are plenty of nursing jobs to go around in WNY.