You Guys Are Making Me Worry.

Nurses General Nursing

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I've only just been accepted into the local community college nursing program (woo!), which I know may be looked down upon by so many. For example, when I told my cousin (who is working on her BSN via University), she abruptly ended the conversation.

Well, sorry, some of us have kids and limited income. Baby steps to the MSN for me.

Anyway. What is really getting to me is the information regarding difficulty placing positions as grads. Which tells me I need to get my foot in the door NOW, even if it's something as lowly as oh, say, toasting bread ;)!

Here's the thing. I am a middle aged, SAHM that has only recently been given the opportunity to take on a life's dream. My GPA is currently 3.75 and I made a 146 on the NLN pre-exam. My short fall is that the only "clinical" experience I have is a few months at an optometrist's office which could not hold my position after I left to have my last child. That was over a year ago. Again, being on a limited income, it made more sense for me to stay home with the three that are under 5 years than to fork out over a thousand a month in childcare.

So what do I do???? We need the income anyway, and a part time evening/weekend gig would work- if they could work with my family's and the school's hours. I've never applied at- or made a resume for- anything greater than management within Starbucks. The optometrist hired me because they knew me as a patient. I'm not that close to any of the other doctors we know. Should I try them anyway? How do you apply at a hospital?

I sound so disgustingly naive. Any help you could give would be great. And as for right now, relocation is out of the question.

Thank you so much!

Lisa

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

Lisa are you a student? What year are you in?

In my country they accept Assistants in Nursing (AINS, 2nd & 3rd year students) to help out the RNs in the hospitals. Do they have anything like that? Some agencies take on AINs as well, call all the hospitals and agencies and ask.

And I don't see what is wrong with going to a community college for nursing.

It's good u got in and have the guts to pursue ur goals, well done.

Oh and BTW I had a very high GPA with great references, but still didn't get a new grad progamme. In the small city I lived in, it's who you knew not what grades u got that got u a job.

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

The job market is tough right now but I would keep an eye on it before making any huge changes. Sounds like you have two years or more before looking for a job. Things may rebound. In the meantime, get your CNA if you like to get some hands on expereince. Good luck.

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Specializes in chemical dependency detox/psych.

Weekends can be hard to fill, at times. I would recommend you get your CNA license and then try to get a part-time job working at a hospital. Choose one that you would like to get a job at eventually, as they often give hiring preference to those that are already employed by the facility.

Additionally, don't worry about the resume, for now. You need to get a CNA license, first. Then, when you apply, most CNA gigs just will require you to fill out an application--no resume required. Save the resume for when you want an LPN or RN job.

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You're right- classes start in January. I am actually looking into the CNA thing now. Thanks guys!

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Lisa,

congratulations on getting into the community college program. Don't worry about what some people say about the ADN degree versus the BSN . . . I'm an RN with the ADN degree and have been working for the past 5 years in ICU; my ADN degree was all I needed to get hired! As you know, you can always get your BSN or MSN degree later, if you wish.

As a previous poster stated, sometimes after finishing your first year of the 2 yr program, you can take the test for CNA, if you want to start working to get patient care experience.

However, prior patient care experience probably won't make that difference when it comes to getting your first nursing job . . . everything depends on the economy . . . when hospitals start hiring again . . . then new grads will be able to find jobs. However, who knows when that will occur . . .

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no need to put the cart before the horse. Just focus on your education. By the time you complete the program their could be all kinds of opportunities for new grads. I have seen the market swing back and forth like a pendulum.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

I predict that within the next two years, things will begin to improve for new grads, and more jobs will open up. Realistically, with the population aging as it is, governments will have to provide the necessary resources and funding for health care. Right now is the worst I have ever seen it, including the recession in the 90's. Good luck with your program.

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Ok, first of all no need to look down on the fact that you were accepted to an ADN program. In my area the CC programs are much harder to get accepted into than the BSN programs. And, if your cousin is looking down on you for your program that's her problem. You should be proud of yourself.

Right now I would try and get any flexible job you can. After you pass your first clinical a lot of hospitals will hire you as a Nurse Tech or something similiar. The position is for nursing students only and pays more than a CNA/PCT would make. They also have to work around your school schedule since you have to be in school to hold the position. Not that a PCT/CNA job wouldn't be great- but it's better experience. Apply online for these positions and also network as much as you can.

Yes, it is hard to find an RN job as a new grad right now. I just graduated, I know. But, thanks to working as a Nurse Tech, I had a position at another hospital waiting for me. My other classmates with similiar positions have jobs too. Most of the others...do not. Hospital systems around here only hire internal candidates that are fresh out of school. So my biggest advice to you is to get a hospital job ASAP to get your foot in the door.

Good Luck. Who knows, in two years you might have your pick of any job you want!

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Well, lots of different info here =) My 2 cents is it is good to get your foot in the door. You can challenge the CNA license after usually just the 1st semester of a nursing program (I think just fundamentals), not a whole year. That way you just send them your transcripts and they approve you to take the test. But some hospitals hire techs so you don't even need a license. Look into the job postings at your local hospitals and see if they hire health care techs (HCTs), Patient Care Techs (PCTs) or just nurses aides (NAs). If they do, see if you can do per diem. That's what I do and I'm just required to work 4 days a pay period including 2 weekend days. I can work more, but it's pretty good for school.

Good luck!

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Specializes in ED.

I agree with all the above sentiments Lisa. I just graduated this last August and just turned 49 today. I had no prior clinical experience whatsoever, but am now an ED nurse.

How did I do it when there are some grads from 2 classes ahead of me still looking for work?

- I volunteered in the hospital system in which I wanted to work, 8 hours / week.

- I volunteered to be the student member of two college instructor tenure committees.

- I finished out my last two quarters as the student member of the nursing program's curriculum committee.

- As shy as I am, and as unaccustomed as I am to taking on leadership roles, I found every opportunity I could to stand out and make a difference.

In other words I sucked orifice (lol) until I had enough personal recommendations to fill a file cabinet.

And most important, any school-related clinical experience you have, *SHINE*. Stand out. Be very pleasant, very helpful, and very curious. Make them *ask* you to apply there.

This is what happened with me. My last quarter was in the ED at the hospital where I am now working. They *asked* me to apply. When another staff nurse was leaving, they changed her experienced, staff position into a residency just for me.

Please understand, I am not trying to crow here. *I* am not special. But what I *did* was seen as special. You can do it too.

I know how hard it is. I started school with a pre-teen son, so could only work part-time and go to school full time. I was often exhausted, but I made it. You can too. Just give it your best and let everyone around you see that you are doing so.

When you get that CNA job, make everyone there, from fellow CNAs to nurses to families, etc. absolutely love you and want to write a recommendation for you.

Best of luck Lisa, though I doubt you will need it :)

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My biggest advice that I can give to you and any other new nursing student is to work student externships during school...as this seems to be the deciding factor if you dont have any healthcare experience...yes try to maintain a high GPA but this will not gaurantee you anything (as many of us have come to find out)...I say volunteer at the hospitals as much as you can...Network Network Network...be persistent in our job search and you will succeed :D

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