Ways to beef up experience?

RunBabyRN · May 24, 2014

New grads VERY rarely get hired into L&D, regardless of prior experience. I have an offer in postpartum (just waiting to take my NCLEX, then we can move forward!). California, as you know, is particularly tough. Getting in some experience as a doula can be helpful, but isn't a guarantee by any means. As things stand now, most new grads are taking what they can get, job-wise. Clinic/outpatient jobs are even harder to land without experience than hospital jobs. You'll need a few years under your belt to really even be considered. If you're able to go somewhere rural, the job prospects are better.

Phlebotomy experience is a very limited area of health care (I was a phleb, among other things). You'll learn some stuff about the labs that are commonly run, and what the components of a given lab panel might be (like a complete metabolic panel or complete blood count), but you won't really learn WHY they are being run or what out of range values mean. Or even what the normal ranges are.

CNAs work side by side with RNs. You'd be in elbow-deep in patient care, and you'd be doing part of what you'll do as an RN. It's really a good stepping stone toward becoming a nurse. Plus, you can make connections that MAY help you when it comes time to look for an RN position. That said, again, no guarantees. Of the people in my class who worked as CNAs, NOT ONE had an offer waiting for them when they graduated.

Doula work and lactation work can be good for sure. I was a lactation specialist, and when I got into my maternal child rotation, the nurses loved me! I was then able to precept in mother/baby, which was like a 180 hour job interview. The manager has yet to see my resume, so she's not familiar with how much prior health care experience I have (first responder, Navy hospital corpsman, phlebotomist, lactation specialist). She liked how I performed, and I spoke up for myself. I always recommend others do the same!

RunBabyRN · May 24, 2014

Also, a friendly heads up, you may want to change your avatar to something more anonymous, as you never know who may come across your posts one day. Anonymity is highly regarded on AN! :)

Nursing24/7, LVN · May 24, 2014

Got it! Duh I don't know what I was thinking...Thanks I'll change it right away

Nursing24/7, LVN · May 24, 2014

So basically you're saying that nothing really helps...Having some prior experience may help but then again, it may not. It's just the luck of the draw, being in the right place at the right time or someone recognizing your strong skills & work ethic & hiring you/recommending you based on what they see. I get it.

RunBabyRN · May 24, 2014

So basically you're saying that nothing really helps...Having some prior experience may help but then again, it may not. It's just the luck of the draw, being in the right place at the right time or someone recognizing your strong skills & work ethic & hiring you/recommending you based on what they see. I get it.

Pretty much. :bored: BUT, having prior patient care experience of ANY kind, really, will help you to get more comfortable with touching patients and asking them embarrassing questions that are necessary for quality care. This is where I would imagine CNAs and doulas might have the advantage (though doula work won't make you more comfortable touching male patients). Some of my classmates really struggled with clinicals and being comfortable, and it held them back from really being able to delve into patient care. I, however, was able to take a full patient load because I could focus on learning what I needed to know when my classmates were just starting to take 2 patients. I think THIS is the kind of thing that helped me land a job. I know that the NM spoke with my clinical instructor (who told me about it after the offer came).

Bottom line is that there are, of course, no GUARANTEES, but this kind of stuff can HELP you when it comes to standing out above the rest. Some people did most of their clinicals at Kaiser, which, at least around here, DOES NOT hire new grads. I spoke with HR, and even with my own extensive non-RN experience, they told me to apply once I have RN experience, and not to bother until then. WOW.

When you get into clinicals, consider it all a job interview. Speak up for yourself, jump in and get your hands dirty, and introduce yourself to managers whenever possible. If the nurses give you good feedback, ask them to let their managers know. You never know when that all may help! I asked the nurses to do this, and I don't know if it helped or not, but it certainly can't hurt! :)

Alex Egan, LPN, EMT-B · May 24, 2014

I think one big this is can you relocate after graduation. You stand a better chance gettin into a speciality as a new grad if your willing to go someplace...not trendy for a few years.

I use my phone, to type, I work at night, and I'm a bad speller. Pick any reason you want for my misspellings

iPink, BSN, RN · May 24, 2014

I heard people on here say they got certs and joined AWHONN to get noticed by potential employers. I personally never did any of those things to get in. I only joined AWHONN as part the clinical ladder requirement for my raise. :)

If relocation is not an option for you, try getting in via the CNA way while you are in school. That is the road many successfully take.

I'm a career changer and had absolutely no prior healthcare experience. When I graduated from NS, I started in critical care but got in because I knew someone in high places. I had a great experience there for a year but was itching to move into a less stressful unit in Women's Health. That same person who got me in my first unit text me out of the blue that the Women's hospital was hiring and got to choose which unit I was interested in. I said anything except L&D and she suggested PP. I emailed the manager and got an interview scheduled within 10 minutes after I clicked "submit". My hospital is magnet so as long as I had my BSN, it was a done deal. Also the women's hospital is in my hospital system so I just did a job transfer.

I really enjoy what I do and plan to grow in my specialty for the remainder of my nursing career. That's my story, others are different.

Katie71275 · May 25, 2014

I was hired directly into L&D. The hospital I was hired into did not have a new grad program but the supervisor did not mind new grads. One plus was that we had graduated from the same nursing program(her MANY MANY years before me), but graduates from my program are highly sought after and well regarded. I did not have any health care experience aside from being a nurse tech(similar to an aide but not quite) during nursing school. I also had 5 years experience with child protection as a foster care worker/investigator dealing with difficult patients and I think that background makes me valuable as 1)I know how to talk to people, 2)I can handle myself in court and 3)the hospital I was working at dealt with similar clients from CPS and I was comfortable with that population when others weren't.

It is very hard to get into L&D, but it IS doable! Also yes, consider relocating. We just relocated for another L&D job and I was very happy to get the offer. Oh and don't forget to send thank you letters after any future interviews.

Nursing24/7, LVN · May 25, 2014

Thanks everyone who responded so far. Please keep the advice & tips coming!

SmilingBluEyes · May 26, 2014

Ok here is the deal. Just like anyplace else, word-of-mouth can do the trick. WHO do you know that can help you? Try to find an acquaintance that "knows someone who knows someone". Really, that is how I got my jobs (And I have had several in nursing), using word-of-mouth. Sometimes, it's not "what" you know, but "who" you know.