I just moved to Tennessee and am having problems finding a job. Any suggestions?
Tuesday December 16, 2008
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I am an LPN who recently moved to the Memphis area from Virginia. I am having trouble finding a job. I have applied for quite a few. I have a Tennessee permit while I am waiting for my license; the background check needs to be completed. Virginia is a nurse licensure compact state, as is Tennessee. When I was applying for my license, I was told I had to wait to apply because you cannot have two active compact state licenses. I declared Tennessee my primary state shortly after moving here. Under Tennessee state law, I could work up to 30 days in Tennessee under my Virginia license. The two interviews I did go on, they seemed to know nothing of Virginia being a nurse licensure compact state. And I never heard anything from them. Do you have any advice for me? I really need a job, and I am lost. I am filling out applications every day with no results.
Krystal
Please read “Job Hunting Challenges Take Some Trouble Shooting” at http://www.dcardillo.com/articles/job-hunt.html.
Because you are relocating, it is important that you establish a network in your new home state. For starters, I suggest that you get out to local chapter meetings of your state nurses association. Go to http://www.ana.org and click on “Constituent Member Association.” While many state nurses associations offer membership to RNs only, some have sub-groups for LPNs. Either way, you can get out to local meetings as a guest. Networking is a great way to find and get a job.
You should also be attending Nusing Spectrum/NurseWeek Career Fairs <http://events.nursingspectrum.com/expo> and facility recruitment events/open houses that you see advertised.
When what you’re doing is not working, it’s time to try a new approach. Use more networking, volunteer while looking for paid employment (read “The Value of Volunteering” at http://www.dcardillo.com/articles/volunteer.html) and look in other directions for employment, such as assisted living and rehab facilities.
My best wishes,
Donna
Donna Cardillo, RN, MA, well-known career guru, is Nursing Spectrum/NurseWeek’s “Dear Donna” and author of Your First Year as a Nurse: Making the Transition from Total Novice to Successful Professional and The ULTIMATE Career Guide for Nurses: Practical Advice for Thriving at Every Stage of Your Career. Information about the books is available at www.nurse.com/CE/7010 and www.nurse.com/CE/7250, respectively. To ask Donna your question, go to www.nurse.com/asktheexperts/deardonna. Find a “Dear Donna” seminar near you: Call (800) 866-0919 or visit http://events.nursingspectrum.com/Seminar.
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