Should I take a non-nursing position?

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i, like so many new grads cannot find work in maryland. yes most hospitals are hiring experienced nurses. i have worked as a cna for almost three years. i was told that i had to quit my job after i became licensed, so i did, because no problem, "nurses were in demand." i have been considering taking a position as a medical assistant, but i have been advised not to do it, because "it looks bad to future nurse recruiters". i also heard that after six months or so, hospitals do not want to hire you as a new grad, and when they do hire new grads again, the positions will only be open to new grads from a certain month. i graduated three months ago! i will ask the famous question: how do you get the experience if nobody wants to train you? should i take a nursing support position? will it be too late for me to apply for a new grad position when they start back up again in a few months? please share your thoughts with me. or at least words of encouragement....i need it :cry:

thank you very much, and good luck to everyone in the same boat.

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i, like so many new grads cannot find work in maryland. yes most hospitals are hiring experienced nurses. i have worked as a cna for almost three years. i was told that i had to quit my job after i became licensed, so i did, because no problem, "nurses were in demand." i have been considering taking a position as a medical assistant, but i have been advised not to do it, because "it looks bad to future nurse recruiters". i also heard that after six months or so, hospitals do not want to hire you as a new grad, and when they do hire new grads again, the positions will only be open to new grads from a certain month. i graduated three months ago! i will ask the famous question: how do you get the experience if nobody wants to train you? should i take a nursing support position? will it be too late for me to apply for a new grad position when they start back up again in a few months? please share your thoughts with me. or at least words of encouragement....i need it :cry:

thank you very much, and good luck to everyone in the same boat.

i also wanted to ask for your thoughts on this: should i offer to work as an rn for a cna or medical assistant salary? at least i will have an income, and hopefully gain experience, and no longer be considered "a new grad." thanks again.

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This is a sad situation.

However, your last comment may work. You can ask to perform RN roles so that you keep your skills updated and also build up your resume. However, you can negotiate with them that you will get just a tiny bit higher than a medical assistant but not up to a RN salary. This way, you will have your skills. Hopefully soon a position will open and you will have experience. Im sorry Im giving you this comments as this is a real brain waste for the nursing profession

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I got out in May and am still waiting for a job... in nearly all my interviews since graduation I have met some resentment about "So, you graduated in May... WHY haven't you gotten a job?" so I can definitely understand where you are coming from. I'd saying try to get a nonnursing position if you have other things to take care of family/paying bills/etc. One of my friends suggested that I work as a Nurse tech/CNA while looking for a job; however, all of the employers that I have discussed with so far say that it's not "possible" since I graduated and have a license.

To give you some hope, I had an interview yesterday and it was the FIRST interview that I was not asked why I didn't have a job w/o out that negative connotation. Hopefully you will find a nurse manager who IS understand of the situation when you do interview (like I did). This manager said in the interview that it wasn't fair to ask questions about experience (outside of clinicals) since I am seeking a job to GET experience (Which a lot of us are).

Have you tried looking out of state? Home health agencies?

Good luck!

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Specializes in LTC.

try genesis healthcare. they work with new grads ! good luck and don't give up.

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Specializes in Peds.

I just applied to two MD positions at Genesis right before I read this! My aunt is trying to help me think of more places to apply to. So far, I have applied to 14 positions....my resume was sent over to another place, so that may as well count as 15. I applied to 5 non-nursing positions...I have kind of a promising lead on a retail job, so I may have to settle for that until I can find something. I find it terrible that they look down on those who did not find jobs right away....things happen, and mainly it's not our fault, esp with so many new grads applying for the handful of positions. I am going to keep trying...nursing is my passion, and I did not bust my butt off to do well in school AND pass my NCLEX on the first try to just sit at home with a license that I can't put to good use....I will not take this lying down!

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Specializes in ICU, CVICU, Surgical, LTAC.

jobs will not hire you as an MA/CNA/LPN if you are an RN. I know from experience. Also they can't pay you let than the base pay for an RN. It's illegal. Do you have your ASN or BSN? if you go back to school while you are looking for a job you'll have an excuse for not working right away. Even if you just take one class at a time ya know. At least you will have something to say when they ask you how come you haven't been working. I think employers do realize the market and will have to be understanding. They usually open up positions for december grads in late october/early november. I'm assuming they'd rather have someone who already is a licensed RN over those who haven't even taken their boards, so If I were you, I'd apply early.

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Specializes in Peds.

I got a call back from the recruiter at Genesis, and she said they have already filled their spots in the new grad program. I'm not sure if that is ALL locations, or if it's just at that one spot in MD. She left a message while I was asleep, but I am going to call her back because she said the next program starts in January, and they start interviewing in November. Just the thought of not getting a job until January is terrifying...I have $92 left in my account! However, I might just have to deal with it...I just don't know how.

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jobs will not hire you as an MA/CNA/LPN if you are an RN. I know from experience. Also they can't pay you let than the base pay for an RN. It's illegal. Do you have your ASN or BSN? if you go back to school while you are looking for a job you'll have an excuse for not working right away. Even if you just take one class at a time ya know. At least you will have something to say when they ask you how come you haven't been working. I think employers do realize the market and will have to be understanding. They usually open up positions for december grads in late october/early november. I'm assuming they'd rather have someone who already is a licensed RN over those who haven't even taken their boards, so If I were you, I'd apply early.

This is partly true, but is specific to the institution. I actually contacted two people at the Maryland Board of Nursing to be directed to where I can find the details of the policy in writing, stating that an RN cannot work as a CNA in Maryland. I have their responses posted in another thread. As long as the potential employee also holds their CNA certification in good standing in addition to their RN license, they can work as a CNA. But as Angel RN 1 posted, employers are highly unlikely to go for it, which truly is a shame. I have a potential tech position lined up though, and the pay will be appropriate to a tech. However, I held this same position, at this same hospital before taking my boards. My clinical director (I know this sounds crazy) was shocked that I could legally come back, but in reality most nurses, managers, education, etc. did not know that a CNA can work as an RN, which is the reason that I did not fight it too much before leaving. I was kicking myself for not doing my own research after a month or so of unemployment, and I only contacted the MBON myself out of desperation and trying to find a loophole.

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Specializes in Peds.

MissBrittanyRN, which county in MD are u from? If that is a personal question u dont wanna answer, I understand lol I'm just excited to see sumone on here from my state.

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Its fine, I am a floater between Anne Arundel and Queen Annes.

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Specializes in Peds.
Its fine, I am a floater between Anne Arundel and Queen Annes.

Ohh ok, I'm from PG County.

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