T_Ann

i've had the same problem here in charleston. i have a nc nursing license (permanent addy is in nc, here for husband's job & will be for awhile) and under the 'nurse licensure compact' my nc license is honored in sc. back in october i started my job search. applied to a few agencies to give flu shots figuring i could tweak my schedule to be off for the holidays and then find something full time after the first of the year. i literally cleared my schedule thinking i would hear back from the agencies within days & start giving flu shots the following week. now, mind you, i was applying to jobs recently listed on craigslist, monster, careerbuilder, etc. i went on to apply to some of the hospitals, ltc facilities, etc. i only apply to posted jobs for which i am qualified. long story short, i applied to over 30 postings and have never been contacted other than a couple of places sent a letter after a month or so saying they appreciated the application, but.... that's fine, at least they sent me something. one of the hospitals has you sign up on their website, fill out their application then check back to see the status. after months my status is still 'application sent to department manager'. it's been crazy. i've worked since i was 15 years old and have never, ever not been called for an interview at least. i started to wonder if, even though as listed on the sc b.o.n. website about the nlc & reciprocity with other states, employers want you to just flat out have a sc nursing license and don't really like the whole reciprocity thing. i ended up getting a prn job up in nc & driving up to work a couple of days a week there. the drive is getting old and i think i'm just going to get a job at bed, bath & beyond to get the employee discount and stay closer to my husband. sorry this is such a long reply. i hope it makes you feel better to see that other nurses have had the same problem. good luck to you and the rest of us looking for a nursing job in charleston! :)

thank you all so much for the replies! i will read up all i can about wound vacs, picc's etc. it has been awhile. i see the benefit of extended care, but i'm a busy-body and i fear that i would have the urge to wash their dishes or vacuum just to keep moving every second. are extened care shifts typically 8 hours or 12 hours, or either? if i get hired i'll start out slow with a couple of days a week and go from there. i wouldn't want to get overwhelmed & frustrated with myself . i do really feel that hh is more for me. being able to actually spend time with and care for a patient is what i want to do. not like my hospital experience where i couldn't spend any time other than on the "basics". sixty minutes in an hour divided by seven patients = no time. anyway, thank you all so much and i appreciate any & all input on the subject. i'll keep you posted on my journey!

hi! i'm thinking about applying to a home health agency in western north carolina where i live. i worked med/surg for a year and then to an internal medicine md's office for three years and have been out of nursing since last year. is my past experience enough to get me up and running in home health, or should i basically consider myself to be back at square one experience-wise? no way would i go back to med/surg (6-7 patients, sometimes 8!) for experience. any feedback is greatly appreciated! :) oh, any input on home health agencies in w. nc? thank you!!