ecsmith6

Congrats on the job!! Just wondering- how did you end up getting your in? Any advice? It sounds like you really worked hard so good for you for getting that job!

Congrats on the job!! Just wondering- how did you end up getting your in? Any advice? It sounds like you really worked hard so good for you for getting that job!

How does volunteering not provide experience? I work as a volunteer RN at a free clinic and do everything an RN in a regular clinc would do---vitals, draw blood, perform EKGs-- plus I learn a lot from the nurse practitioners that I work with. It's the only way I could think of to get experience until I get hired. Plus in a recent interview, the manager interviewing me was very impressed that I had been doing this and related the patients that I see to the patients on her unit.

Thank you! I appreciate you taking the time to respond! I've been reading your posts on other threads--you sure do have a lot of wisdom!

I am so sorry that you don't have a job yet! I am in the same situation except I graduated less than a year ago. I imagine that you must be quite frustrated that you have been out of school for so long and aren't working as an RN yet. It really stinks that the unit you work on as a CNA won't hire you. I know a lot of places want some experience but you at least know the unit and how it works. I have been working at a free clinic as a volunteer to get experience. A nurse practitioner runs it and knows my situation so she has been trying to teach me as much as possible. I also help train the undergrad students that are there for clinical which has helped me learn what I know well and what I need to brush up on. I have also been able to network a little as the 2 nurse practitioner students that are there for clinical are working nurses and have talked to their nurse managers for me (although unfortunately I am hoping to move out of the city). Just keep applying your butt off and hopefully you'll get something soon!!

Hi nurses! This is my first post on here and I really appreciate any help/tips! Here is my situation: I graduated with my BSN in May 2013 from a prestigious college in the Midwest. My GPA esd 3.7 cumulative and a nursing GPA of 3.9. I worked during my senior year as a nursing assistant on the transplant unit and volunteered at free clinics where I worked with other health students and volunteer doctors on providing care for homeless people. My final clinical was a 1 on 1 clinical on a heme/onc unit. I passed my boards in July and am still jobless 9 months later. I started working at a grocery store in October for something to do and I also started working as a volunteer nurse at a free clinic in January and I do that once a week, which has been awesome. I also have taken a couple of classes (IV therapy and insertion and interpreting lab values) and I also got ACLS certified. I have had about 5 interviews with hospitals but they always go with someone with more experience. One part of my is relieved that I have at least gotten interviews but the other part is still frustrated that I haven't been hired yet. I have just recently started applying to the twin cities and am traveling there next week and plan on going directly to HR departments to talk to recruiters. Anyone have any tips on this? I know that if I am desperate I should consider nursing homes but that terrifies me. I have been considering that though. I think that there is a little hope that I can get a hospital job with perseverance because I think I have a good resume but I need help on standing out. I am trying my best to stay positive but it is getting really embarrassing being a college graduate working at a grocery store... Words of wisdom anyone? How do I go about walking into a recruitment center? I am not normally an aggressive person so I know this will be tough for me but could be worth it. Any new grads from the twin cities area that could offer advice? I didn't go to school in Minnesota and am not from there so I don't know any inside scoop. thanks to everyone reading this and writing back!!

Best of luck! I took the nclex in July and am still jobless as well so I know how frustrated you must feel... especially when the general public thinks there is an abundance of nursing jobs.. Hang in there!