wiwhitedog

I have been out of school for more than 6 months. The residency programs and new grad programs that I have applied for I was not qualified for - out of school too long. I applied for the all the ones within 50 miles of where I live.

Thanks I will look into that. I had my resume designed by a professional and it got me one interview. Rather than hire for the position the hospital closed the unit.

I have been looking for my first nursing job for quite a while. All the jobs that I have looked at that have been posted require one year (at least) acute care experience. This includes long term care/ nursing home positions. I apply for these positions anyway, but only get nice "thank you, but no thank you" replies, if I get a reply at all. Any suggestions on how I can get acute care experience without getting an acute care position. My state does not allow me to work as a CNA and hold a RN license. I will move if I need to, but I cannot move without a guaranteed position (don't have a the financial resources)

Thank you all for your responses to my query. I have made the choice not to pursue nursing employment. Just to clarify a few points. I can not work nights because I need a very set pattern in my life. I am Aspergers. I did not know it at the time that I went to nursing school. I would never have went had I known. The Aspergers is also the reason why I cannot work in a nursing home. Too many residents. The environment is too overwhelming. Nursing is an excellent career for someone who is neurotypical (normal) but for someone who is a slight bit different, it is pure hell. Nursing is suppose to be one of the most caring professions, but that is not the case. Nurses and the nursing career can be very nasty. That is what I would tell anyone considering the profession. There is no nursing shortage, but a shortage of nurses that fit the stereotypical role of a nurse. That is a sad state. Nursing is losing out on some really kick ass good, compassionate nurses. But then nursing is not alone. Employers want stereotypical employees. Everybody must fit the norm or they can not find employment. Be the slight bit different, or not have a car or not have access to a support system and these people are cast aside. The next time there is a complaint about a fellow nurse coming into work hungover, still drunk for the night before, has to rush home because their child is sick, is incompetent or leaves for another job in another town, just remember me. I may not be able to work nights, but I am an extremely good nurse and I am well past all-night drinking, children issues and I own my own home. I am not leaving. FYI: younger nurses do have family and home responsibilities. They are called children and spouses. These are things that are protected under federal law. Taking care of an elder parent is not protected. I have given up on the nursing profession. I will leave that to all of you. I will maintain my license. I worked way to hard for it and will be paying back my loans for the rest of my life. Good bye fellow nurses, my time among you has truly been terrible. The memories will not be fond.

Home Health - 1 year acute care experience, minute clinics - 3-5 years or NP, methadone clinic - none in my area, private duty - 1 year acute care experience, LTC - 1 year acute care, CNA positions - must surrender Rn license, flu shot clinics - phased out under WI law, pharmacists do them - I have been down list more than once. I have applied for everything from LTC to clinics to acute care in any department and on and on. I have had my resume professional written. I hired a employment specialist. I have had interview coaching classes. I have volunteered at hospitals and clinics. I have joined professional organizations and have worked networking channels. I applied for every nursing position that I could find within 100 miles of where I live in the first 3 years. I would hear a whisper of a job opening and I was on it. As time passed, I was told that my degree was too old. So I tried to find a refresher course. There on none around here. In the meantime, I got my ACLS, PALS, I became an EMT, I took CE classes in pediatrics, emergency care, toe nail and foot care, geriatric care and I have read journals, lots of journals. I even taught adjunct in pre-medical classes. I think I have done everything that I could do to make myself more employable. I have done everything that I could think of to do and then some. For whatever reason, I am not the person that the healthcare institutions wants to hire. All that I have heard is my degree is too old, I have no medical experience, I have too much life experince (ie: I am too old) As I have said, I am wrong. I accept that and am moving on. On to what I don't know. Besides that is not the point of the question.

I did move on 2 years ago after I was the best candidate for a position, but could not be hired because they had hired someone's grandmother. The resume submission and interview were just a rouse to cover-up the improper hiring practice. The question just came up again. I used to think nurses where the coolest people. I got my answer. I no longer wish to be a nurse.

I asked for advice on what to do - didn't need to be told repeated that I am "wrong". I have been told that I am "wrong" for my entire life. I guess I should not have expected anything more.

I can't work nights, I can not move (five major hospitals in 35 mile radius - I will travel), and nursing homes have too many residents on floor ( I had 42 residents on my wing and I was only RN in building) I don't think that is being that inflexible. It is not like I will only work day shifts, Monday through Friday in the ICU unit - that is inflexible. I will work days, Pm's, 7 am to 7 pm, any unit, weekends and holidays are not a problem. Oh wait, I guess wanting to work in acute care is being inflexible.

I don't see anything wrong with "wanting my cake and eating it too". Is it not the American dream - work hard, go to school, study hard. I have put in my years of doing for other, putting aside what I want for the wants and needs of others. Settling for what comes my way. Is it so wrong to want something for myself - to have something go my way instead of having to fight for everything and rarely getting what I want - just geeting what is left over. Before you give me the speech - have already heard it.

The question is - I am going to be able to find a nursing job after 6 years of being out of school or should I move on?

No it is not possible at this time to work nights. Nursing homes are requiring at least one year of acute care experience. No experience not job, no job no experience. I am great in an acute care setting. Nursing homes - too many residents, too easy to make a mistake - I tried. Currently working for myself - not making ends meet. I take care of my Dad (he's 85) and he is helping with my expenses (food, taxes, clothes, etc.) I have tried to take a refresher course - I can get theory only, hands on skills are not available within 150 miles of where I live. It is very frustrating - I can't get a nursing job, can't get any job because I have not worked in many years (job search and nursing school) I am trying to find "happy" in my life. I thought nursing would be my path to "happy". I guess I was wrong.

Hello, I am in a quandary and I need some help. I graduated in 2009 with a BSN. I have been looking for my first RN position for almost 6 years. I have applied for over 257 positions and have been granted 5 interviews. These interviews have resulted in responses that run for not enough experience to the position and/or interview were held to meet hiring requirements. I have worked several weeks in a nursing home (not a good experience- too many residents) and in a summer camp. I cannot move far away from where I live and working nights are hard (family situation). I am over 50 years old. Here is my question- is it time to quit looking for an RN position? Would getting more education (MSN or DNP) help? Should I re-train in a another medical related field (surgical technician or medical lab) or will that make me overqualified? I need to get my life moving forward rather than stuck in neutral or going backward. What do you think?