How to not give up on your dream RN career

[Lizzie21]

To anyone who will listen and offer maybe some advice,

I have been in med-surg for 3 years now. Out of nursing school I wanted to do maternal/newborn care. These past few months I've had two interviews for a NICU position and a mother/baby position. Both said that they really liked me, but I didn't have experience and that's why they didn't hire me. After I got this I was balling my eyes out. I was told in nursing school that med-surg would be good for me to have when I did apply for this specialty area. I feel like that is so untrue.

Now do I just give up on my dream of being a maternal/newborn nurse? Or do I keep looking and applying, hoping that someone will want to give me a shot? I've never been so sad or upset about not getting my dream job.

[Lizzie21]

SE_BSN_RN,

Good news. I finally got a job on a mother/baby unit. I was lucky, because it's at one of the sister hospitals and I think what made me stand out was that I was an internal applicant. I'm so happy that I got this job and will not take it for granted since this is a very popular position.

[Satori77, ADN]

That's wonderful! Congrats and good luck.

[evieinco]

Congrats on the job!! I'm still waiting for my turn! Someday I hope!

[klone, MSN, RN]

Congratulations!

[SC_RNDude]

I don't want to do M/S...I don't like it. I need more of a challenge.

You need more of a challenge...lol! Like I said...only med/surg nurses understand what med/surg nursing is.

[NurseJDawn]

For those of you trying to get into a specific specialty, have you thought about volunteering in that unit? Even if it's for a few hours here and there, you would get to know the nurses there and if something comes up they could keep you in their minds... It wouldn't look bad on your resume either.

[JRich]

Lizzie21 Don't give up on your dream job. I started out in a cardiac telemetry unit. I hated it there. L&D or something like that was always my dream. After 6 months experience I started looking elsewhere. I had a L&D interview and didn't get it because they wanted a brand new nurse (I didn't think 6 months would have counted against me there), but then I applied for NICU and was given the job. I LOVE what I do now and wouldn't change it for the world. Keep applying. You will get there. Good Luck!