7 years since I passed the NCLEX and only 6 months of "Experience"

[Jell11220]

Hello, I'm not sure if this is the right place, but I need advice and guidance. I'm so lost about what to do. I graduated from my ADN program and passed the NCLEX 7 years ago. Right after passing the NCLEX, me and my ex-husband who was military at the time were stationed overseas in Japan. I tried to find any nursing job on the military bases but they would not hire me due to me being a new grad and only having my ADN. Japan does not accept American nurses due to differences in education and obviously because if you are not fluent in Japanese, specifically the medical terminology, it could never work even if they did. I was there for over 5 years and was never able to find a nursing job on any of the bases. I even tried volunteering through the red cross office on the military base and I never got anywhere. I was only able to work non-nursing jobs. 

Originally, we were only supposed to be in Japan for 3 years. Then Covid hit and they were not allowing people to leave for another whole year. Afterward, I discovered my ex-husband committed a crime. I was pregnant and our son was only 18 months old when I found the evidence on his phone. I had to make the decision and turn him in to his chain of command and the security forces. I was all set to head back to the states but suffered a ruptured fallopian tube. My pregnancy turned out to be ectopic. The flight was cancelled and I had to undergo emergency surgery and figure things out from there. I got stuck in Japan for another year after that. 

I was finally able to come back to the United States with my son at the beginning of 2022. The trial for my ex-husband happened and he went to military prison. Me and my son lost everything and had no support.  The only place willing to hire me as a nurse was a cosmetic surgery clinic. However, it was mostly an administrative role. I planned to work there for a few years and then try my luck in another field. Well, I lost that job 6 months in because my son kept getting kicked out of daycare. COVID caused a big childcare shortage and I had absolutely no family or anyone else to help me care for my son. The one place I found kicked him out due to behavioral issues. Everything we experienced with his father caused a lot of emotional distress for him and me.  I couldn't afford a nanny or sitter because in my area they all request the same hourly rate I was making at the time. 

I tried finding other positions and childcare options. Nothing worked out. I could only work in non-nursing roles. I decided to finally finish my online RN-BSN program that had been put on hold multiple times. I was finally able to graduate with my BSN 2 months ago after many set backs. However, since I did my clinical education so long ago, no place will hire me. I don't blame them either. I have looked into RN-Refresher programs but the only state approved one near me is hard to get into and they only do it once a year. I would also have to quit my current non-nursing job to do it. It doesn't seem feasible at this point in time. 

So after all this background my question is, should I keep trying to find a nursing position? Or am I finished as a nurse before even really starting? I'm considering going back to school for a different field in healthcare. I'm lost and desperate. I welcome any advice or opinions. Even if it is something I may not want to hear. If my nursing career is a failure because I made the wrong choices in life (example: marrying my ex-husband turned out to be a poor choice), I will accept that and do my best to move on. 

Thank you. 

[ponderingDNP]

These are some incredibly tough breaks. Have you tried applying to nursing homes locally or the CLCs at the VA?

[Jell11220]

Hello, thank you so much for responding! I did try applying to nursing homes and I did look into the CLCs at the VA near me. However, they all want nurses with more clinical experience and all of them want RNs to be in supervisor or case management roles. I don't have the experience they are looking for. They are only offering direct patient care positions to LPNs. So I am underqualified regarding my nursing experience but considered overqualified because I have my RN. I'm at a loss. I've considered looking into home health, because I have been told they offer "extensive training". But I am unsure if that would be safe considering my lack of acute care experience? 

[Curious1alwys, BSN, RN]

Similar trajectory. I also went back for my RN-BSN to be more marketable after taking time off to care for my children. That said, I still did a refresher course. First, actually. Still couldn't get jobs. Once I got the BSN + refresher, I got lucky, finally. You have already spent the money on a BSN, I feel like you will have to somehow take the hit for the refresher. Or risk taking a job you will feel unsafe in. 

It's a hard place to be, I'm sorry. I ended up getting an educator job making pretty good RN pay but my position was recently eliminated. So I might be forced to do a refresher again if I can't get into case management or something else like that.  Home health scares me without pretty advanced clinical skills. 

[ponderingDNP]

Jell11220 said:

Hello, thank you so much for responding! I did try applying to nursing homes and I did look into the CLCs at the VA near me. However, they all want nurses with more clinical experience and all of them want RNs to be in supervisor or case management roles. I don't have the experience they are looking for. They are only offering direct patient care positions to LPNs. So I am underqualified regarding my nursing experience but considered overqualified because I have my RN. I'm at a loss. I've considered looking into home health, because I have been told they offer "extensive training". But I am unsure if that would be safe considering my lack of acute care experience? 

Just to clarify, you applied to local nursing homes and only "looked at the CLCs". If this is correct about the CLCs, I recommend that you go ahead and submit your application to the VA. Lack of experience should not prevent them from hiring you since they have a Transition To Practice for brand new nurses. You would not be eligible for this program but the point is, they do hire nurses with minimal or no experience. You may walk in on the lower end of the RN pay scale initially, but at least you would have employment and as time goes on, you'll get your step increases and bonuses when everyone else does.

So, if you haven't applied already, get it in. You miss 100% of the shots that you don't take. They are slow to respond in everything they do, so don't let that deter or discourage you. Get it in and remain vigilant with the job search in other areas or locations. The first time I entered federal service, it took them almost a year to bring me onboard from the day they offered me the job.

I don't think the delay is anywhere near that lengthy now, but you won't know until you apply. Go ahead....they may surprise you. And please, whatever you do, don't call and get advise on whether or not to apply from anyone there. The person reviewing your application may have once been in your shoes (or known someone close to them who have). No second guessing....just do it. ? 

Good luck!

 

[Jell11220]

Thank you so much for the advice! I will go ahead and submit my application to the VA. I had not heard of their transition to practice program. I will give it a shot! I just have to keep telling myself submitting my application only has the potential to help me with my predicament vs hurt me. I really appreciate you taking the time to respond to me. 

[Jell11220]

Curious1alwys said:

Similar trajectory. I also went back for my RN-BSN to be more marketable after taking time off to care for my children. That said, I still did a refresher course. First, actually. Still couldn't get jobs. Once I got the BSN + refresher, I got lucky, finally. You have already spent the money on a BSN, I feel like you will have to somehow take the hit for the refresher. Or risk taking a job you will feel unsafe in. 

It's a hard place to be, I'm sorry. I ended up getting an educator job making pretty good RN pay but my position was recently eliminated. So I might be forced to do a refresher again if I can't get into case management or something else like that.  Home health scares me without pretty advanced clinical skills. 

Thank you so much for responding! I do think a refresher course is my best bet to feel competent and safe in nursing practice. I will just have to determine if I can afford to pay the money and quit my current job to be able to do it. The only state approved refresher course near me is very intense and time consuming. Therefore, they highly advise against working during it. The program is also 4 months long. I like how dedicated they seem to getting nurses competency levels back up. I just need to see if I could afford to do that as a single parent. 

[sarena33]

I don't have children and have never had to deal with the childcare aspect of things, so I apologize if any of my ideas don't make sense for you. If I were in this position, I think I would find a way to create a relationship with the nursing staff at a hospital or nursing home. You could apply to be a unit secretary, patient transport, telemetry technician, or nurse's aid. A position that allows you to have bedside experience is probably best, but you may need to work your way towards that.  Another idea is to obtain a volunteer position at a hospital. Volunteer jobs usually allow you to choose your schedule. Find a way to slowly boost your resume and work your way up the chain to be working under a nursing manager  Once you prove yourself with that staff, have a conversation with the manager about what it would take for them to give you a chance working as an RN. Maybe they would require you to complete a refresher course, but maybe they would give you paid leave to complete it or in the very least, promise you a job once it is complete.  Of course this is all hypothetical and I'm just throwing ideas out there, but if being a nurse is what you want to do, I suggest you do anything in your power to work towards that goal. Even if it takes small baby steps, if you set your mind to it, you can do it!  

Do you have any friends from nursing school you could reach out to?  Sometimes networking with who you know makes all the difference.  Your old classmates may be working in settings that are desperate for staff and could put in a good word for you at their workplace, even if it's just to start off as a nurse's aid. 

Becoming a nurse opens up the door for so many opportunities. Being a single mother, I'm sure you want the best for you and your son, so I don't think you should give up.  You've already put in a lot of time and money into this career, you just need to get a little creative to accomplish your goal.  I know you can do it! 

 

 

[Bluepen]

Congratulations on getting your BSN! I think you should apply to hospital new nurse programs since you have less than 1 year experience. Or even try to find a nurse friend that can be your referral to her unit. It sounds like you are a strong person and went through a lot. Good luck! I think hospitals are desperate for nurses right now and they will train you. Most of the nurses quit during covid and never returned.