1 year of "experience", looking to move forward in career

[bnyoung22]

I graduated in spring 2011, and finally landed a job at a cardiology office in January 2012. Here I am a year later, ready to move forward. I would really like to get a job in a hospital, my dream job is mother/baby, L&D, or NICU. Getting a job in a hospital would been better pay and tuition reimbursment (I'm currently taking classes for my BSN). However, I'm coming up on 2 years of being out of nursing school and I feel like I have lost a lot of my clinical experience (IV, peg tube, trach care, etc.). There is not much clinical work in a doctors office setting besides doing EKGs, blood pressures, and renewing prescriptions. I'm beginning to get discouraged because I have sent in numerous resumes; not only to local hospitals, but to out of state hospitals as well, with no real responses. Even though I technically have 1 year of RN experience, I don't feel like I'm a good candidate for the positions I'm applying for because I don't have the "clinical" experience and I'm still a "new nurse". Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I can do? Should I look into adding onto my current certifications? If so, what are your suggestions? Help!

[RhinoRocketRN]

U may have to do med surg first

[AngelicDarkness]

Try some continuing education courses to add on to your resume that is relevent to L&D. It will help you get back into some of your skills that you missed doing and will look great to potential employers:)

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

In terms of a hospital job, you would still be considered a "new grad" by many organizations (mine included) because you do not have 12 months of acute care experience. So, you may still be eligible for opportunities that are designed for new grads... it's worth a try.

[dspacc]

I would, take any suitable job in a hospital that you may find. Right now it's very hard to land a job in a hospital, unfortunately. I would apply to jobs that may interest you, hope to get an interview. After landing a hosptial job it is much easier to transfer to the unit of your choice once you reach the probation period of a hospital. This is what I did, but it was many years ago. I worked med surg for over a year, and transferred to the NICU. I loved that job, but left after my child was born. Now, it's impossible for me to get back into a hospital but that's another story.

Apply apply apply! That's my advice. Take any interview you get! If nothing, the interview itself gives you great experience for the next one

Good luck!

[bnyoung22]

Thanks for the input! I have definitely found that getting a job in a hospital is not an easy task; I keep applying for positions (med/surg, mother/baby, etc), keeping my fingers crossed!