Should I say in my hospital applications that I work at a SNF?

Nurses New Nurse

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Hi all! After I got my RN a little less than a year ago, I started working at a SNF due to the really tough job market here in the Bay Area. I, of course, would like to work at a hospital and am still applying everywhere.

I think I have gotten some good experience at the SNF as both a charge nurse and a treatment nurse, but do hospital recruiters look down at SNF RNs so much that I should omit this experience from my resume? If not, does anyone have advice for how to "spin" it so that recruiters will like my SNF experience?

Thanks in advance :)

I think most places require applicants to put all their recent experiences; no matter where it was ...

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An experience is an experience. There's no point to lying because they will all come up with your background check. I would suggest to try applying to the really small community acute care hospitals. They are better at giving you a chance to work. However, they will certainly will pay way less academic hospitals do but it's your ticket in!

Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

PLEASE don't be apologetic for working in a SNF! I really don't know why there is such a pervasive myth that acute care (hospital) jobs are the only ones that matter. The US healthcare environment is changing. One of the effects of the ACA is that hospital jobs are shrinking at the same time other environments are growing. We (nurses) need to adapt to this new reality.

SNF nursing may not include as many interventions as acute care, but those technical skills can easily be learned. OP undoubtedly has valuable skills in the overall management/coordination of nursing care -- delegation, collaboration with ancillary services, communication with physician & family members, documentation requirements, etc. These should be highlighted in OP's resume.

And - once more - any job for which you are paid a salary & have FICA deductions WILL show up on the background check required for healthcare jobs. If you omit it, you could be accused of attempting to falsify your application which is usually grounds for termination. Not a good idea.

Why would any hospital look down on a SNF? You were working there as a nurse, and I'm sure you had your fair share of patients with varying medical diagnosis so, why not add it to your resume?

The only jobs I don't add to my resume are those that I worked for 6 months or less, or the "get by" jobs (movie theater/grocery clerk) that I used to make some extra money and don't relate to nursing or healthcare.

I was working in a ~4* restaurant while I was applying for jobs as a new grad and I had been working there for only 1.5 months .... I was still asked to report that on my application since it came up in my background check documents.

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Specializes in CVOR, CVICU/CTICU, CCRN.

You work at a SNF - so what? Experience in acute care is definitely something recruiters consider, but don't forget about certifications! If you don't have them already, try and get your TNCC/ACLS/PALS (especially if your facility will pay for them). Dysrhythmia certs are helpful, and getting your CEN is helpful too (no experience required to be eligible to take the CEN, although 2 years of ER is recommended). Make yourself look good on paper, establish some good networking ties with the hospitals in your area (maybe do some of their cert classes and/or attend their symposiums), and make sure you have some references that can give you rave reviews.

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