bkworm8it

Hi all, My sister and I have been having a discussion about what to put for months / years of experience when applying for an RN job. I got my license in November of 2012 and have been working at a LTC facility since January. I've been putting 6 months but less than a year since I have only 'worked' for 6 months. My sister says I should count the last year of school and license being in November to put at least 1 year. We did to a lot of hours during the 2nd year and I did 240 hours in the ICU as a preceptor so do I count those? She thinks because I don't include that time that my applications are being overlooked. I'm curious what others do/think Thanks!

Thanks all, Sorry I didn't get back sooner. Decided to not think about not finding a job and went to my mothers and painted her bathroom for her. Well I've had my teachers, my mom, my sister, and my precepter review my resume and cover letters. I've also gone in person to several locations and spoke to hiring managers but each one tells me they don't hire new grads. Makes me wonder how any new nurse gets a job. I've applied at all the hospitals in the area and within driving range. (meaning I don't have to fly to get there lol but up to an hours drive). I've also looked at clinics and some nursing homes/skilled nursing homes but no bites. I've also been trying since school to find a job in my other field but that's very tight as well and seems the temp agencies don't have much. But I'm still looking everywhere. I was wondering if I should try Alaska lol, isn't that state always hiring for something? As for my classmates, the ones that stayed in touch are ones without jobs. One would think there would be someone willing to hire me. I always see about 10-15 openings per facility I check but they all say they don't hire new nurses. Makes me wonder if they ever get the positions filled. One hospital is even using all their day shift nurses to pick up and work extra day's and night shifts but won't hire new grads even though they are loosing their staff left and right. Just doesn't make since to me. Thanks again all for the encouragement. I'll keep getting out there and pounding the pavement. Hopefully someone will give in and give me a try!

I took my NCLEX exam before Thanksgiving and have been putting in applications. I put in maybe 35 applications and went in person to several places. So far I've gotten one interview and then was declined for 35 positions. I'm beginning to think as a new nurse I'm never going to get a job. I went into nursing school being told there were all kinds of jobs and we'd get a job as soon as we were out. I'm about to loose my home and don't know what else to try. Some of my cohort already have jobs. They were offered during their preceptorship but the place I was put does not hire new nurses. Any way just needed somewhere to go vent and cry. Anyone have ideas how I can make myself more presentable or capable to get that first job as a nurse?

Thanks everyone! It's official, the state has activated my license today!

Congrats to all those who passed!!! Praying and wishing the best for the rest!

Yea for both of you!! I have to wait tell Monday to confirm my passing with the WA state health dept. They usually make the license active within an hour of the exam. However I finished after 530pm so I'm assuming everyone was gone and have to wait tell Monday for it to be changed to active to confirm I passed. It beats paying for the $$ to find out :)

OMG I got the good popup!! I thought I didn't because it took me through most of the registration form before popping up to say that I had already registered and please call blablabla..... I'm so tired, nauseated and headachy but happy. I got 200 questions before it closed on me and a two hour drive home thinking I failed because nothing I studied seemed to me on that darn test.

Way to go!!!!!!!! Very awesome!!

AWESOME!!! Congrats. Well now you have one more thing to celebrate!! Thanks so much for posting. Posting here has helped calm my nerves - some lol. I'm taking today off, not thinking about tomorrow - much. I plan to just take my time and one question at a time!!

I've decided not to study today and just clean and organize stuff and forget I have the exam tomorrow. (At least until tomorrow!) I'll probably go over a few things tonight but not much. How's everyone else doing?

Hey Tweeto, How did your test go? Hope all went well for you!

Thanks for the encouragement everyone! I'll add you both to my prayers for your test begosh and nvertedangel!

I guess were all in the same boat. Well we'll keep chugging along and lots of prayers. I'll pray for you.

You too! I'll keep you in my thoughts on Wednesday!!

Hi all, I've been reading all the posts here the last few months and have been studying off and on for the last 3 months. I've gone through the recommended LaCharity book and have done some test on the Saunders CD. A friend just got me setup with Kaplan last week and I've been going through the qbank questions and reading all the rationales. I've also memorized most of the lab values. I'm having a hard time studying these past few days. Just looking at a book or questions is making me anxious and nauseated. But I feel like I don't know anything. I'm doing low 60s on the qbank but it's the SATA questions are freaking me out. I rarely seem to get them right. I always miss by one. Anyway, I'm just worried that maybe I didn't study hard enough and afraid of not passing. I'm unemployed and no income coming in and live one my own so it hasn't helped worrying about money and studying. Thanks for listening (reading)LOL