Question about expeince

hkrntobe · May 9, 2011

I am wondering the same thing. I live in Orange CO. CA. I feel as though becomeing a Registered Nurse was a bad decision as it has left me unemployed and with no options in the medical field. I can't even get an interview because I have no experience. Going to take my ACLS next week and hopefully that will help however, from what i've read froom other, even that holds little return on the investment of time and money. How do I get my foot in the door? Can anubody offer ANY suggestions?

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · May 9, 2011

Unfortunately, this happends in nursing. The economy tanks......people get laid off from their jobs. The last time was the DOT.com crash in the eighties. Many college prepared people are looking for jobs......the hospitals can only "afford" to train and educate so many new nurses. The market becomes quickly saturated and jobs become impossoble to find for anybody. :crying2:

The good news......the economy turns around, the newly educated but jobless find other employment and get tired of waiting, the newly hired find nursing IS NOT their bag and the minute they find another "good" paying job...they leave the profession leaving holes and the realistic numbers that still shows a nursing shortage....especially of traing experienced nurses. Us baby boomer will be retiring and we will leave a huge hole in the work force....so hope is in the furture. For now it is a waiting game....

Have you tried LTC or LTAC? (long term and long term acute care) Maybe become an EMT and get hired as an ED tech or on an ambulance for a while. I know nothing about L&D except the birth of my own children (it terrified me:lol2:) I know ED's and they are more likely to hire slomeone they know including an EMT. It isn't the best senario but it might a least get some money in your pocket.....good luck

Rob72, ASN, RN · May 9, 2011

Cali is its own world, worse than the rest of the country, for nursing right now, from what I'm hearing. Options: 1) travel nursing. Or be willing to move/travel. 2) I'm assuming you've applied for anything & everything nursing. If so, see if you can do mission trips, volunteer your professional services to a rehab/halfway house, community health clinic. That will get you experience that can at least be listed on an application.

sa[RN]ah · May 9, 2011

I think, unfortunately, there are way too many people who are asking that same question. Like Esme12 said, when the economy goes belly up, people get laid off... even the really great nurses who maybe just drew the short straw. This leaves the job market over-saturated with a lot of well qualified nurses job hunting right alongside the inexperienced ones. Not only that.. people are working a lot longer than they intended because the economy has maybe left a spouse unemployed and they need to support their families. I think the lack of job sercurity too has people staying in their same positions, why take the chance of moving to a new job and losing seniority when you're lucky to still have the job you do. Of course, this could just be my opinion:twocents:..

Regardless.. never let the "X number of years required" in a job posting prevent you from applying. Im sitting in your same boat, I graduated in December with no previous experience and have been hard pressed to find a job [was finally offered one today! and waiting on the decision of another interview as well]. ER has always been my dream job, which of course always requires some sort of experience, but I kept applying to any ER posting in my area I could find. Luckily, it paid off and I landed an interview with an ER a week and a half ago. Yes, its frustrating being turned down for job after job because you have no/not enough experience.. but keep plucking away and somthing will happen for you.

Best of luck with everything! And even though its not really any comfort at all, try taking comfort in knowing that at least you're not alone.. so many people are going through the very same thing.

mbuchanan2107 · May 9, 2011

I am sorry to hear that you are having trouble finding work as a nurse. I have heard that California is in a slump right now. With that in mind, maybe moving to another state or an area closer to border of your state to cross over. The only problem is that you have to apply for another license, I do not believe California is a compact state.

In regards to getting experience when no one will give you the opportunity, I have come in contact with that when I was trying to get into the ER or ICU. I live in Florida and the vast majority of hospitals here will hire a new grad into the ER or ICU and they give them additional training in that area. I went into med-surg. at the beginning and wish I would have gone the ICU or ER route. It seems as though if you have experience in either of those areas, it is easier to jump around in nursing as people like if you have that experience vs. having to train you.

There are hospitals that do hire for seasonal work or per diem if you are willing to try an different area. Getting ACLS, PALS, etc will always help and be good if you already have it instead of them requiring it and you then have to get it.

Good luck

BackpackingRN · May 9, 2011

Im in Seattle, its the same, I actually had a few classmates get job in CA so we all thought it must be better down there....

hkrntobe · May 9, 2011

Thanks for the advice all. Unfortunately I have tried everything from SNF'S to applying for CNA'S and unit clerks. Moving is not a realisitic answer when I don't currently have enough to support my childern now and I just moved here from another state hopeing that would be the answer. I guess it just frustrates me to know that I would have better luck finding a job as a bartender than as an educated heath care provider. :uhoh3: :confused:

hkrntobe · May 9, 2011

Im in Seattle, its the same, I actually had a few classmates get job in CA so we all thought it must be better down there....

Where did they find a job.? (what city) (What Hospital)

BackpackingRN · May 9, 2011

hkrntobe - the latest was at UC Davis Med Center in the ED...