RN 033

wow, I suggest you re-read your last post and listen to your intuition. My guess is this time next year, you'll have bank, but be MISERABLE. Hope some of the patients you care for will be better off in spite of your ulterior motives $$$. It's so disappointing that nursing has become a money vs. profession for so many, no judgment...we all got bills/loans to pay...good luck

I found Public Health nursing more to my liking. I love educating clients, hooking them up with referrals and providing nursing care that is more holistic and preventative. I work in Lead poisoning prevention, CHDP and Foster Care. It's a million miles away from clinical hospital care. Hours are good, so are the benefits. It doesn't pay as much as hospital, but my sanity is worth it.

Rapid Interpretation of EKG's, Sixth Edition (Paperback) by Dale Dubin Hands down THE best! you will have a solid understanding instead of memorizing

I'm a recent BSN grad from CA and, yes, the PHN certification is included in the program. It wasn't until I had the public health curriculum that found my "calling". I love this job. You're lucky that the CA economy is picking up because there has basically been a hiring freeze. It's still a very tough market. Get online and go to the county websites for the job postings. It can be a long process. I applied in January 2013 and was hired in October, government is slow. Lots of funding issues, too. See if you can network with the nurses there for contacts and inside info for potential openings out here. Good luck!

Personally, I am so happy that I have a job and doing what I've always wanted to do. Think how horrible it would be for you (if it is getting on your nerves) to struggle through school, years of unemployment/underemployment, student loans, etc. No sorrys here... all you long time nurses don't know what you've got till it's gone!

@ MrChicagoRN Yes, I would also consider relocating to Northern KY. I was born and raised a "buckeye" :) With all of my extended family still living out there, it would be a quick & easy relocation. Any advice on initiating license process for both states?

Thank you for your reply...it is kind of a catch 22. I don't want to relocate until I have a job lined up and I understand why facilities wouldn't want to hire unless I was a resident. I wonder if getting my Ohio license now would make me more marketable when I visit. Any thought to that idea?

I am a recent CA RN-BSN grad with 8 months of LTC experience. My job prospects locally are very limited and I have exhausted any hopeful employment within an hours drive from my home. I believe moving will be necessary to land a decent job (LTC facility management is horrible, not the residents!). If I have to move, I'm thinking of moving back to my hometown where I have extended family, Cincinnati. I have planned a trip back home for the holidays and was wondering...What's the most effective way to approach job search while there for two weeks? Do I contact/apply for positions prior to my trip? Are there any Cincinnati area AN nurses that could give me info on recent grad job markets? Thanks!

Thanks for your advice! Within the interview I discussed my computer program abilities and think that was all that was necessary. I must have done something right, because they have requested another interview this week! :)

I am scheduled for a second interview with the county public health dept. I applied in Jan. as a new grad BSN, PHN. My initial interview was in late March and unfortunately I was rejected due to lack of experience. Since then, I now have eight months of SNF experience. I was surprised when the county dept. called to see if I was still interested in employment! I now have my second interview scheduled next week and am looking for ways to really impress upon the interview board my desire and skill to meet the job. A friend had mentioned that she used visual elements for her previous job interviews (not nursing) to impress the hiring panel. I have PowerPoint projects and a capstone poster from my BSN course that I thought would be applicable to the position. I will be bringing updated copies of my resume and cover letter. I have studied various AN advice that will also add to my discussion for this next interview. What are your thoughts to bringing my laptop to the interview to show the projects? This is my DREAM career, I want it to be my reality! Thanks in advance for any insight :)

See if you have a local One Stop Unemployment office or similar department that can help you gain confidence in your interview skills. They provide opportunities to learn skills and practice mock interviews along with resume help. Good luck!

My first job as a new grad was filled with unprofessional behavior and disrespect for coworkers. I thought maybe it was just the facility, but after reading so many posts and talking to seasoned nurses, believe it to be common practice. I'm looking for other avenues in nursing where I can continue working without all the drama. Honestly, if I had truly listened to the warnings from people prior to getting my degree, I wish that I had chosen a different profession. I didn't think it would be as bad as what I've experienced.

I applied for a county PHN position in early January, interviewed in March and was rejected in April due to lack of experience (new RN-BSN grad), about a six week wait before I got the letter. I just received a call yesterday asking if I would still be interested in the position!!! Oh heck yeah! Government processes at snail speed I guess. Maybe they hired someone that eventually didn't work out. After my interview, I made sure to email each of the three interviewers, thanking them and re-emphasizing my qualities and desire for the position. Maybe that left a positive impression for them to reconsider another interview 5 months later, who knows? I've been reading your thread, gleaning more information to use on my next interview with them. I hope that you will be hired, sending positive thoughts your way! I would love to have more advice that might benefit me for my next interview from you or any other AN reader...thank you!

I was a new RN grad tired of getting turned down by hospitals. I finally got a job as night charge nurse - 58 LTC residents and only 2 CNA's. I was scheduled to have 2 weeks orienting but only had 6 nights and then was asked to take over because they were short staffed. I took out malpractice insurance my third night-scared after every shift that I may have done something wrong-very stressful! I've managed to survive 4 months now and am glad I did. Other positions that I had applied for or interviewed for all fell through. I would've still been unemployed if I hadn't taken this job. Besides the insurance, I would suggest getting your sleep/wake schedule on nights set in advance. Those first two nights of the 6 that I oriented were a blur because my brain didn't want to think. Make yourself do mental practice like reading or reviewing nursing material during the hours from 0000 to 0600. Good luck!

I could have written this post!!! I'm an ADN grad of '10 and BSN of '12. I also put my career on hold while raising a family. I finally stopped looking for jobs at hospitals after having been rejected for years. The BSN didn't seem to make any difference. I've gotten turned down for PHN positions also. Having no experience other than clinicals has been devastating for launching my career. Personally, I wouldn't spend any more money on education. Taking any nursing position will be more attractive to potential employers. I work at a SNF now on the sub-acute rehab floor. Reality is that I need a job. Things didn't turn out the way I planned, but oh well, I'm able to make payments on my student loans. Hopefully, after a year at the SNF, I will have more opportunities available. Good luck!