Tips for a zero-experience nurse?

[honeyshota]

Hi. I'm new here in allnurses.com so please pardon me if I posted this in the wrong area.

I was just wondering if anybody can post some tips for newly-licensed nurses on how to finally land a job.

Currently have a BSN-RN degree from 2007 to 2011. Relocated to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada from 2011 (2 weeks after my board exam), but I was just able to get my LPN license in February 2016. Started looking for a job in June but unfortunately I am still not being given a chance for interviews.

If you were chatting with a friend/co-nurse in my situation, what would you tell this person?

Thanks. Hoping for replies :)

[dishes, BSN, RN]

Many IENs are in the same situation as you and have worked as health care aides while undergoing the Canadian nursing licensing process. It is not a wate of time, it is surviving! In regards to rural nursing, Canadian nurses do not consider a thirty minute drive from a city rural nursing, they consider rural nursing to be in areas that are hours away from cities and nurses relocate to the area in order to work in it.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

I've worked rural, and although they are desperate for staff, recent nursing experience is important because many of these facilities are so short staffed. The orientation period is not extensive.

These facilities will gladly accept new grads, but if you have not been practicing, you're a liability. That's why a refresher of some sort would be in your best interest, OP. You don't have support staff in these places, and sometimes there's only two staff working.

Rural is not 30 minutes. Rural is more like 2-4 hours away or more. Areas where many people do not want to work.

[dishes, BSN, RN]

Have you applied to any home health/private duty employers? Some IENs in your situation work for an agency, in these cases the agency employer may offer work as an aide at first, then after the employee has proved themselves capable, they may move them up to a LPN position. It is not ideal, but in an employer's market, there are not a lot of options.

[honeyshota]

Thanks for the reply, Joanna.

However, with the financial situation I have as I mentioned in my previous replies, I might not be able to go for a refresher course in the near future. It costs $11k CAD and I am not capable of paying for that amount yet nor would lenders be able to approve me of loans.

Thank you as well as dishes for clarifying what a "rural area" is here in Canada. I might as well try applying in these places too. Also, Calgary is 3-4 hours away from Edmonton.

What other ideas would you be able to suggest given my current situation?

Thanks.

[dishes, BSN, RN]

What other ideas would you be able to suggest given my current situation?

Diet clinics sometimes hire PNs to give vitamin B injections

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Hi. I'm new here in allnurses.com so please pardon me if I posted this in the wrong area.

Thread's been moved to our First Year After Nursing Licensure forum. We wish you the best of luck. :)

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

While other posters can certainly offer advice, the OP's challenges are related to having no recent experience as a Canadian educated nurse and the depressed economy in Alberta.

Health authorities are more cautious than ever with spending because of the slump in oil, now intensified with Ft Mac Murray as that community rebuilds itself after the fires.

Positions are scrutinized and frozen if needed. The OP is one of hundreds competing for a single position, AND competing during the worst recession that AB has experienced in 30 years.