They said I wasn't good enough. I didn't give up and neither should you.

9 It took me many years to find work as an experienced RN. Many might of seen me on this board venting of the hardships I was going through. My last job I worked in the ICU, but over time I couldn't keep up with my certifications due to not making any income. It was also hard to find reputable places to work. It seemed those were the only ones hiring in my area and I was in competition with the New Grad surplus in my area.

I have heard it all from managers, recruiters, and some nurses:

You aren't good enough.
You are a job hopper (I was laid off when a floor closed in a hospital and I also did travel nursing)
Your degree isn't high enough.
You need ACLS for Med/Surg.

The reality of just having licenses in good standing weren't enough anymore. I even tried finding work to relocate, but without cash in hand to move made it difficult. I could go on... If you were or are in my situation I am sure you know the routine.

FINALLY an agency hired me. I wish I would of found them sooner, but of course not many post jobs online. They were here the whole time. Darn, shoulda-coulda-woulda. It took me awhile for them to get me hours, but once I started working places love me. I didn't forget what I was taught. It was like riding a bike. It was so funny people said you would need a refresher, but I go to places with no orientation and ROCK!
Congratulations!!!If you don't mind me asking, how many years experience do you have and how long were you away from nursing?

Quote from SAHMnurseCongratulations!!!If you don't mind me asking, how many years experience do you have and how long were you away from nursing?

The economy is making things tough for new grads and seasoned nurses alike.

Quote from RuthfarmerThe economy is making things tough for new grads and seasoned nurses alike.

Being a new nurse, graduated in May and licensed in september and living in florida its hard to find a job. Within 2 months Ive been called by 5 home health agencies, decided to go with two closer to my home, got hired by a dialysis company for little pay and the traning was horrible so I left, and I have an interview with one of the most well known hospitals in south florida on tuesday. A lot of nurses especially new grads are only looking at hospitals, theres jobs out there, try calling a home health agency, get the experience until your dream job comes a long. I live were they say hospitals arent hiring but everyone in my class is now woring RN's, 3 home health and everyone else hospitals. Its still a nurses market but you got to be open to other possibilities.

Hi dance4life,I really want to hear more about your experience and the agency nursing that you are doing. I am just over 1 year in the profession and I am really struggling to find "my place". I am starting to wonder if such a place exists. I graduated into a terrible job market and took my current position to get my foot in the door. I am part time nights; not so great. I am just down in general. I had such high hopes of being fulfilled by this profession. I thought long and very hard about going to nursing school. I loved school and clinicals, but the real deal just feels so different. I haven't put my finger on it yet. Feeling lost... Thanks for posting.LF

I don't know if it was you or someone else, but I saw posts about agency nursing and I tried. I am happy that people like yourself posted about your experience because I would have kept submitting resumes with no result. So thank you.

In western North Carolina the nursing shortage is alive and well. But let me tell you about my personal experience. I was and LPN, went back to school. My mother died 8 days before RN graduation. I intended to stay at home that summer and rest. I was putting in applications at various large hospitals. On my way home one day, I thought about a small hospital and decided to stop and put in my application. I was interviewed on the spot. The nurse manager looked at me and said "When can you start?"I explained the LPN/RN thing. She looked at me and said, "When can you start?" They put me to work PRN until I passed boards. When that occurred, I got one paycheck and realized the pay increase. I had my husband's insurance, and Bill Clinton made it happen that if I worked 1000 hrs. a year they had to let me participate in their retirement.I worked. When sent to a different department, I went. I worked there for 15 years, full time, PRN. I picked every day that I worked. If I was short a day on one check, I got an extra day (or two) on the next. Finally I settled in the ED, stayed PRN, and loved it. I never worked Christmas.I think that small hospitals, ambulatory surgery sites, free standing EDs, and smaller venues are overlooked. It has been a wonderful ride. I retire in 24 months.