Please help (positive advice only please)

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I am a male nurse graduated from a non accredited program and am an RN. I graduated in May passed boards first try in July and have NOT been able to land a hospital job....anywhere... I've had interviews they all say it went great and used words like passionate, would fit in well etc to describe the interview. I always leave feeling good about it. I always seem to get the same you failed interview though citing lack of experience. I worked prior to being a nurse as a direct support professional for group homes doing all the duties of a CNA and then some with added medication administration. I've seen others from my class get jobs that I was passed on and I have more experience than they do. I currently work for a home health care company as they were the only ones willing to give me an opportunity and I'm grateful for it however it feels stagnant with not much growth. I really don't want to lose my skills I worked hard at learning, but am feeling almost hopeless. I'm planning on moving to a bigger city to find more opportunities. I was very hopeful about an interview for a psych hospital for children last week. They said I'd fit in great, was passionate, and made me feel like I'd get it and I got the we are looking for more experience line again (even though in the application it said nothing about experience) Any advice would be great.

PS Yes I've thought about getting the BSN I just want to get some experience first.

If all your woes are really due to the fact that you graduated from a place that isn't accredited, it seems almost cruel for these employers to even grant you an interview if they know the status of your school is going to disqualify you from meeting their requirements.

It sounds cliché, but persistence pays off. I think I was the very last person in my graduating class to find a job. But I did eventually find one that I love.

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I suppose that could be. I was let go from a place on some mistakes by myself. I was told that they can only ask if I was employed for a period of time not as to what happened. I was thinking of omitting from my resume. However I did get offers fresh out school I just didn't want to settle at the time (probably a mistake) with the same info on my resume, and I am currently working as a home health care RN. I will go get my BSN as that seems to be whats holding me back I believe

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First, congratulations on earning your degree and your RN. My recommendation for you would be to start out working in a Long Term Acute Care Hospital (LTACH) or a skilled nursing facility. Most acute care hospitals will want you to have either the experience they are looking for or your BSN I started in nursing in 1992 as an LVN. I went back to school and earned my ADN Degree, passed NCLEX, and got my RN license. The hospital I had worked for five plus years would not hire me for an RN position because they required either 3 years of experience as an RN or a BSN with a GPA 3.5 or greater. The drive behind this is the push for hospitals to achieve Magnet status which requires 80% of their staff to be at least BSN prepared. I was fortunate to land a job in a small community hospital that took my LVN experience into consideration. I have since earned my BSN and I am currently working on my Master's Degree.

LTACHs and SNFs usually do not have the same requirements for experience/degree preparation. Many of them still employ LVNs and are receptive to hiring RNs with an associates degree and minimal experience. Now, it may not be the job you want or the one you dreamed of, but it will give you a solid base of experience and provide you the stepping stones needed to start and advance your nursing career. Lastly, I would advise you to move forward with your plans to obtain your BSN. The more you advance your education the more doors of opportunity will open up to you. Stay positive, do not get discouraged, just take the bull by the horns persevere. Best wishes to you. -Daniel

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.
First, congratulations on earning your degree and your RN. My recommendation for you would be to start out working in a Long Term Acute Care Hospital (LTACH) or a skilled nursing facility. Most acute care hospitals will want you to have either the experience they are looking for or your BSN I started in nursing in 1992 as an LVN. I went back to school and earned my ADN Degree, passed NCLEX, and got my RN license. The hospital I had worked for five plus years would not hire me for an RN position because they required either 3 years of experience as an RN or a BSN with a GPA 3.5 or greater. The drive behind this is the push for hospitals to achieve Magnet status which requires 80% of their staff to be at least BSN prepared. I was fortunate to land a job in a small community hospital that took my LVN experience into consideration. I have since earned my BSN and I am currently working on my Master's Degree.

LTACHs and SNFs usually do not have the same requirements for experience/degree preparation. Many of them still employ LVNs and are receptive to hiring RNs with an associates degree and minimal experience. Now, it may not be the job you want or the one you dreamed of, but it will give you a solid base of experience and provide you the stepping stones needed to start and advance your nursing career. Lastly, I would advise you to move forward with your plans to obtain your BSN. The more you advance your education the more doors of opportunity will open up to you. Stay positive, do not get discouraged, just take the bull by the horns persevere. Best wishes to you. -Daniel

I believe you are mistaking LTAC with LTC. Huge difference! LTACH is more like a long term, extended care ICU riddled with extremely ill vent patients who are somewhat stable, and loads of chronic wound patients who still need that intensive care. It is my opinion that this is not an environment for an inexperienced nurse.

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What do you mean by "non-accredited program"? My board requires that one graduate from an accredited program and I assumed they all did.

Also, are you interviewing for new graduate positions or at least positions where previous experience is not stated as a requirement? A lot of units will take new grads as long as a more experienced nurse doesn't apply and many hospitals have specific internship/residency type programs specifically for new grads.

IMO you should go back for your BSN now if possible. It will be a lot easier now than after you've been out of the classroom setting for a while and having a BSN is becoming more and more necessary to get the good jobs. The pay isnt always that much better, my hospital only gives you $2.00 an hour more for having your BSN, but it will help you get hired and eventually might become a national requirement.

Good luck!

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