pingpong101

Hi, I am planning to open up just a small business doing basic ADLs for people who need it. Can you use your own business to keep your nursing license active? I have about 2 yrs left before mine expires because I haven't worked as a nurse since I graduated. I realized nursing isn't really for me (bedside) and I could not get a home care job because new grads were a dime a dozen where I live and I kind of want to avoid any complicated conditions without proper training. That's why the business I want to do is just basic ADLs. I am planning to run it independently so I am worried how QA will work if I get audited and how I can basically explain my performance if I'm the only one working, will I give it to my clients? Also wondering IF this will count as nursing hours and If I get to keep my license active? Does anyone have any idea I tried to google it but nothing really came out.. Thanks to everyone who might give me some advice!

Thank you for your advice. I know taking risks is what I need to do but I'm still really doubtful in my future in nursing. I feel like I am pushing myself into doing something I don't like but do it because I have no choice since I've worked so hard to get the license. I'm so ambivalent. I think it would be a different scenario if there was work in my area because had I gotten work right away and experienced what it's like as a working full fledged nurse, then I can finally make up my mind and either stay or go. I want to be happy but I don't want to waste my handwork and efforts especially when I'm still not sure if I want to call it quits. It's very hard to explain but I appreciate your honest opinion about moving. I will have to make up my mind by the end of this year to relocate for sure. I'm not as experienced in psych nursing though which worries me, I didn't do my consolidation in psych and only had a few weeks of experience in mental health a couple of years ago so it's all a blur to me. Do you think there's still a chance for me to get in if I review the theory behind it and the meds etc? I was thinking of getting a psych certificate which has a 1 week placement after taking the 8 courses I believe. I was thinking of doing that but it costs close to 10 grand for only a one week placement. My problem is I don't have 10 grand, and my second problem is I think the certificate is geared towards people already in mental health and just need the certificate because it's required after they get in for the job meaning I would probably be sooooo very lost when it comes to placement (but I think this is the negative anxious me coming out), what do you think? Should I take the chance and get it? I'm really second guessing because if I did have the 10 grand I wanted to take another course like Xray Tech which would be roughly the same price or just a little more expensive. Thanks for introducing yourself :) I will take a look at your other threads to get more advice from you thanks for letting me know. I for sure apply to resumes that says 3yrs experience below. Anything more than 3 yrs I don't apply to. However all my interviews fall short after they find out I have 0 zero experience. It's like they took a chance to interview me but always find out more valuable people after which is a no brainier I guess. The biggest hope I really do have is taking home care or agency care or LTC verrrrrrryy far away from my area about 3-5hours maybe even more. But I calculated all the expenses I would have to make to relocate with my approximate beginner salary and student loan debt and my ending would be roughly -$13 grand (yes negative) lol. If I stay at home and work as an aid if I can get it or even work a min wage at retail I would get positive 2 grand because I won't be paying rent. I just don't know anymore. Not everything is money I understand but I need the money to be able to comit to a job that's further away and if I have to relocate I think it's only natural for me to worry about expenses. There's hospitals closer by that recently hired some new grads but I didn't bother to apply because I just can't for the fear of losing my last ounce of sanity in me. I really admire how nurses in the hospital floor do it. I just can't. Unfortunately mental health is never on a hiring around my hospitals.

I haven't seen that much adds that would help with relocation but I think by the end of this year if I don't get anything else I will probably have to relocate. Yes I'm terrified of what I will encounter actually. I'm not sure about being a nurse anymore I've had a really rough time in nursing school and I realized it really wasn't what I wanted to do, but people are saying that nursing work is different from nursing school (I know it's going to be much tougher and that's what scares me, if I was hanging on the edge at nursing school I'll probably fall off the cliff at work). You are right I am very ambivalent with proceeding my career however I haven't started yet so I'm really on the fence, should I just take the risk and get a job then determine if I should stay as a nurse or should I quit now and keep my sanity. I have no problem stepping out of my comfort zone as I did in school but I feel like there's also a limit and that I have issues with being pushed out of my comfort zone vs stepping out. I think I'm a hard worker and very determined person but lately I've been getting really stressed and emotionally withdrawn at thought of working as a nurse. It scares me at how much things I don't know yet, and the plethora of jobs that I've applied to that wasn't qualified for. I didn't have much of an ego to begin with and the constant rejection and longer I stay unemployed is making it worse.

Yes I have my Bachelors degree, I felt dumb for taking it right away after highschool. I should have gone into LPN route first to test if I really would like nursing I at least would not have been in so much debt that I am now. My favorite part of nursing school was nothing lol joking asides I did like community health where we worked with children, and also mental health I was assigned in mood disorder so I liked it but I have a skewed perception because my peers who were assigned in Psych ICU for example said they'd never set a food inside a mental health unit ever after seeing the restraints.Thanks for letting me know about home health I've been researching on it and I think it's my best bet right now! I have applied to some but have not gotten replies back. There are home health companies that are only hiring in areas 2-3 hrs away though but honestly by the end of this year I might even consider it to get my foot in. Do you need experience or even a bachelors in social work before you get a Masters in it though? (Sorry if it seems like a dumb question I honestly don't know and would love to know the options I can take with my degree in nursing). I would love to do more social/emotional aspect of nursing like social work however I have a family friend who is a social worker but works in a retail store because she said the jobs required you to be fluent in a popular language to the community ie; Spanish, Mandarin/Cantonese, Indian, French. If you could not speak those languages she advice me to stay away. In terms of teaching, it's always been my dream to be a teacher but my city is saturated with teachers and people who are wanting to get into teaching and have their teachers college credentials. I have a family friend who graduated 5 yrs ago and have gone to teachers college but till this day she only works as a substitute teacher. I'm getting really frustrated and sad about the bad economy and job market nowadays. I don't mind going to school again but definitely would regret it if I came out more in debt and without a job still. Thanks for your warm wishes and for your reply! :)

That's my main drawback. I won't be able to afford to move because I'm currently unemployed. I just can't pack up and leave. Most of the adds I've seen that are further from me (around 3-5hours) are only hiring part time as well. I'd be more than glad to take part time work to start with but I won't be able to survive if I have to move and pay rent. My other concern is being alone in a new place with a new job with no support from family or friends. I don't want to sound like a wimp (which I am anyways) but we all heard how hard it is to transition from a student to nurse to an actual working nurse. It would be much horrible for me without the support especially since I'm still second guessing my career in nursing. Thanks for your reply though. I'm sure many people will share the same thought that we unemployed folks should stop complaining and move to the jobs but it's very much easier said than done, everyone is different and some are able to move and some cannot. There are plenty of jobs in my city though but definitely not in nursing, so I got to think about it some more and ponder if it's worth moving in the middle of no where just to get a nursing job that will stress the heck out of me or just stay in my bubble place and finding work which pays decent amount of money but obviously less than a nurse salary. I really have realized that to enjoy nursing has to be a calling which I probably don't have. I wanted to help people and care for people but for some reason I get so anxious in the hospital/floor and busy environment.

Hi there, I'm a stale grad now I guess with the new batch of graduates coming up. I made a thread a while ago but never got replies. Basically I'm thinking of leaving nursing, not now but maybe by next year if I still don't get a job. I'd hate to quit without having worked as a nurse but it's been a year now since I've been applying and have not gotten anything. I have had only a handful of interviews and was not successful because of lack of experience. My confidence got an all time low when I was being interviewed along with a bunch of nursing students on there way to graduation this summer. Since nursing school, I've had tons of anxiety during clinical but I was at peace somewhat during my community and mental health placement. People say nursing is such a broad umbrella and opportunities are plenty but to a new grad without experience, there's still a massive wall that blocks it. I have applied to all and every LTC adds and clinics and any outpatient settings. Anyways with my year off, I decided to start looking more into different careers. I realized the more I was away from nursing the more anxious I was about my depleting skills that were already lacking to begin with. I still want to remain in the healthcare field preferably out in the community like public health or another option I was thinking being an xray/ultrasound tech or even a unit clerk. I feel like a coward for giving up and this was the reason why I wanted to complete nursing school even though I realized I wasn't meant for it. I don't think I'm a bad nurse but I'm a very anxious person and unconfident to the point it really shows. I'm still fairly young so going back to school is still a good option for me but I'd really hate to give up everything I worked hard for just because I'm losing hope in this job searching. Any advice? Should I just quit or stick around until the last glimpse of hope? I know I only have 2 more years until my license expires meaning if I don't get a job within 2 yrs or else I'm not gonna be able to work as an RN anyways, so should I just keep applying to jobs and hope I get something before my 2 yrs is up, then switch into a different career? I know I'm gonna get tough comments like just quit if you don't like it and to grow a back bone, and it's really easier said than done. I'd like to get some constructive advice if possible. Thanks.

I have been on the fence on this one for 4 years now since I stated 1st year of nursing school. I eventually graduated and now have been job hunting for a year; I'm not considered a new grad anymore. I don't want to divulge too much information location wise but the city I live in is flooded with new grads. Many have gotten jobs, many have not and choose to move on. I'm thinking if I should be one of those that move on, however I'm really devastated that I feel like I gave out without putting a fight because I know my heart isn't in nursing (I don't think I'm a terrible nurse I just don't love the work environment, I can take care of patients and everything else, its just the really bad work environments I've seen so far and lack of support to new people) but I worked so hard to get my license. I have applied everywhere I can get to without having to move. I cannot afford to move both financially and emotionally. My family is everything to me, and yes if it means giving up to see my family even for a year, I don't think I can do it without turning crazy. They are my support and they are the reason why I got through nursing school. I have applied in every type of nursing as well ie; clinic/mental health/ LTC/ rehab/ what else is there.. and I'm just not getting anything. I had my resume proof read, redid my resume/cover letter is tailored for every position..the only thing I haven't really done is network because I am not a social butterfly that can get network skills right away. I have connected with a few of my past classmates but they too am struggling with job hunting or some have gotten jobs and have just advice me to keep applying. What more can I do now? Should I just pack my suitcase with this whole nursing career and try something else? I have been soo aggravated with this situation. I hope you guys can give sincere advice that's not too mean/harsh. I appreciate constructive advice though.

Thank you for your replies :) I could unfortunately not make it to the interview. Our car broke down and had to go into the shop over the weekend. I had to call in to cancel. They might have found a potential candidate already. Its okay live and learn. Thanks for the comments.

I thought about it (moving) but had a serious talk with my family and they don't want me to move that far out. Those are the thoughts that are going through my mind now: what if I like it, what if I get the job, what if ...? I'll never really know until I go but getting there is such a problem. Edit: I had a friend that went to an interview 3 hours away just to find out she didn't get the job. This is what is frustrating me. Going to interviews maybe even an hour away is tolerable whether or not I get it but more than that is really hard.

Hi, yah 2 hours is a lot of time to commit. And this is only the interview process. I would be traveling 4 hours in total for maybe a 15 min talk of rejection. I'm happy you got a job somewhere close though and one you like.

Hello friends, First time poster here as a new grad RN. I applied somewhere in a rural area. According to google it takes 2 hours drive to get there. This is assuming without traffic and good weather conditions. I applied to the place not thinking first and am regretting it. I'm happy I got an interview but it's 2 hour drive and I honesty don't think I will be able to commute there back and forth every day if I do get the job. Should I still go? How about other applicants here? How far would you go or an interview?