Will I have trouble finding NP jobs?

[chayan]

I'm starting a PNP program at Columbia in June. I'm excited about it, but I'm also worried about what will happen when I'm done. I looked for an RN job unsuccessfully for 6 months. I don't want that to happen again. What can I do during school to improve my chances of being hired when I get out?

I really wanted to work in PICU or pediatric ER, and I still want to do that as an NP, but I know I have no chance without having any acute care experience....

[achot]

Oh, I hear you, You can ask your new professors and teachers for guidance in this issue. I have heard people advise other nurses to get involved in local chapters of nursing organizations in order to gain visibility and it looks great on the resume. Did you ever put together a portfolio? If not, it is a good idea.
I wish I could give you guarantees, but all I can advise is to do your best, daven and hope for the best. I have found that we have to be somewhat flexible about our careers. I wish you all the best! and Lots of Luck in school.

[bobbie613]

I agree with achot who gives good advice! :-)

There are a couple of things to do:
1. Start asking about placement early. Have your resume looked at and spruced up. For example, move your NP schooling up to the top of your resume - denote it as (in progress effective June 2011)

2. See if they can get you a part-time nursing position NOW while you are in school. Look for a part time nursing position yourself. Camp jobs are coming up. You might be able to get one close to home in a day camp or in an observant sleep away camp in Rockland.

3. People tend to hire those they know, those they like and those who are recommended by others they trust. So, make time to get to know your instructors; be helpful and gracious at every clinical site. Remember that your clinical instructors may not be full time professors. That means that they work somewhere else and may know of jobs or can act as an active, employed practitioner reference for you.

4. Try to always be charming, pleasant and very low key. Don't complain about things while you are at school or on a clinical site. Kvetch at home if kvetching is in order. Offer to help others. Ask your professors in clinical, is there something else you can do to help. Team playing and general helpfulness are good employee traits.

5. Find a mentor on the faculty, someone who will be your guide and trusted adviser. This may take a semester to figure out who is the best fit for you. Many times professors have friends at hospitals.

6. I see that you have picked out some of the most advanced specialties. It is good to have such interesting things in mind. Someone once gave me very wise advice after I gave her a list of all the things I wanted in a job: First get the offer! Get in the door! Re-arrange yourself later. You can always move up or sideways. Just get in the door. That means maybe working hours (other than Shabbos/yom tovim) that you don't like. It might mean working on a unit you don't like, etc. You will already need an accommodation for Shabbos, etc. and people are not always so very kind about these things to begin with. If you come with another list, that might not be well received. Keep the list under your hat, so to speak.
7. There are many county and town synagogue message boards. Have you tried posting an ad seeking a position as an RN there?
8. Have you tried Ohel? They have a variety of residences around the city and they need nurses to check the meds, work with the med techs, examine the residents, etc.
9. Are there long term care facilities near your home/school? If so, try (with a revised resume) to apply there. I know you like working with children, but every position is a learning experience and is something for your resume.
Best of all, your family believes in you and your success, and we do, too. There will be just the right spot for you in nursing. You already have not given up and so you are on the right road.

[achot]

Thanks Bobbie, your list is great,
I am not sure that nursing schools have placement programs still, Do they Chaya?

Low Key- absolutely- never be in the middle of the wave makers. School is not the place to get on soap boxes or demand "rights". Save your energies for where they are really needed.

Mentors are a great idea, I still have 'em..

I totally agree with Bobbie about LTC and ignore those who say that no hospital will touch you if you work in LTC, categorically untrue.
I believe that a nurse who is currently employed even in a lesser desirable position is better than one who isnt. As one who is involved in hiring- trust me on this. You can always say you took a "lower pressure job" while working on your NP and you have gained skills on a clinical level as well as organizational levels, interpersonal and prioritizing care.
In the meantime, enjoy school.

[chayan]

Thank you both, your advice is great. HOWEVER,
as you know from following my posts over the past year, I have made many, many efforts to find a nursing job, any nursing job. I wasn't overly particular about specialty or location. I applied everywhere. I volunteered in pediatric homecare and long term care (still do). However, as soon as I mention that I work as a VOLUNTEER it doesn't count as nursing experience. I applied to the NP program as a last resort because my nursing job search wasn't going anywhere.

Working while in school -- I don't know how it will be possible for me. It's one thing if you already have a job and ask to cut back hours. But to start out with so many restrictions already on my schedule... I don't know how I could do it. As you know I'm also a mother of a large family and need to be there for them. If I had no dependents I'd go out there and work and go to school, but I know myself and my energy level.

What I could do is take a break after a semester or two of school and then re-enter the program after getting some experience. Hopefully the contacts I make during school will help me through the process. I have a meeting with the program director next week when we discuss the program plan and what I hope to get out of school, so I will bring up this subject. I don't want to make myself sound like a loser who couldnt' get a job though... I think I'll tell her that I didn't want to lose any time from my schooling, but that I am still on the lookout for nursing jobs.

[bobbie613]

I know this is incredibly frustrating for you and I am sure you have made every single effort. What strikes me the most is that you did not give up and pursued every avenue.

You might consider doing a mock interview using a videotape to see how delivery goes and question answering, etc. just in case there is something you need to fine tune. The job market is incredibly tight, that is true, but it doesn't hurt to leave any loose stones unturned.

Your idea to speak with the director is an excellent one.