Well I committed the forbidden sin. I graduated from my BSN program and then worked 6 months in med-surge and left the hospital. I left in good standing but went to work at a health department thinking the grass was greener. It's just different grass. I do love my job but I've realized I'm not learning everything I need to learn in this setting plus I've started a FNP program and I need the flexibility of shift work instead of 5 days a week work. I've been at my new job 6 months and I am trying to get back into a hospital and I am not having any luck. It is so depressing no one wants to talk to me. They would rather take a new nurse with zero experience than me with 6 months hospital (1 yr total experience). I don't know what to do. I am thinking I may just have to quit my current job and have no work during my next two years of school so that I can get through it. But I hate not gaining knowledge and skills in that time frame. And I always wanted to try ICU and ER and I feel like if I don't do it now as an RN I probably won't do it as an FNP. I just feel like I made a big mistake in changing jobs and no one will forgive me for this one mistake. I'm throwing it out to the universe! Put me in a good job where I will learn and grow! Where I will succeed! And one I will enjoy! LOL. But seriously, any suggestions? Or am I just screwed?

So sorry you're experiencing this. But you are not alone. I have encountered a lot of nurses who are dealing with exactly the same thing. That is one reason that I am strongly advising people (who are early in their career or aiming for eventual ANP education) to consider all of the ramifications of bailing out of acute care for 'easier' settings. This is also an emerging problem for ADN grads who are unable to find work in an acute care setting - but want to pursue NP education.

FNP practice focuses on ambulatory care, not acute care, so it should be easier to find a program that does not require the same level of acute care experience as other (acute care oriented) NP programs. Dealing with an inflexible work schedule is more likely to be a deal-breaker for grad school. Sorry I don't have any sage advice for you... just wanted you to know that you've been heard.

Do consider that the hospitals may not want you back not because you only have 6 months' experience, but because you bailed after only 6 months. They probably see you as a flight risk.

And yes, you put yourself in the new grad black hole: you're not new enough but you're not experienced enough.

Unfortunately, you can't undo what happened.

You can keep trying to get in. Try different hospitals to see if one will take a chance on you. Try different specialties. Try to get into a hospital through the side door by accepting PRN or outpatient work and then transferring down the road. Also try long-term acute care: those patients are just as sick as your acute care patients, and from what I've seen in the job postings, they will take nurses with 6 months' experience.

And wherever you get into, stick it our for a year or longer. Leaving two jobs after only a few months will really do you no favors.

Best of luck.

Do consider that the hospitals may not want you back not because you only have 6 months' experience, but because you bailed after only 6 months. They probably see you as a flight risk.

And yes, you put yourself in the new grad black hole: you're not new enough but you're not experienced enough.

Unfortunately, you can't undo what happened.

You can keep trying to get in. Try different hospitals to see if one will take a chance on you. Try different specialties. Try to get into a hospital through the side door by accepting PRN or outpatient work and then transferring down the road. Also try long-term acute care: those patients are just as sick as your acute care patients, and from what I've seen in the job postings, they will take nurses with 6 months' experience.

And wherever you get into, stick it our for a year or longer. Leaving two jobs after only a few months will really do you no favors.

Best of luck.

I'd clarify that to say, "Whatever you do, don't leave your present job for at least a year, so you won't have TWO black marks." And FNP does focus more on outpatient (you're not going to find a lot of FNP work in critical care!) so where you are is actually a much better entree. And what's this about not learning what you need"? Don't you think you'll be learning quite a bit in those hundreds and hundreds of clinical hours in the FNP program? Trust me on that one.

You sound a bit unfocused. FNP? ICU? ER? Settle down now and see where it's most likely to work from here. From the sounds of things, that's community health and FNP. After you have good experience in that, you might try for an ER job in a smaller community ER, but it's not going to be anything like staff nursing in ER.

Ok so today brings change- I have a Peds ER interview. I'm trying to decide if I should take it if I get an offer. I feel the experience would be invaluable and lead to possibly being able to move to part time next fall for clinicals. I could always explain my FNP résumé by saying I worked to get experience in adult, women's, and Peds.

If I can get in should I take it? I know my current job will not work with me at all on hours and I don't feel I can continue school and work here. But I don't want to give up my FNP dreams. I feel like school should be my priority.

I'm just trying to figure out what makes the most sense. The other option is to stay where I am for six more months (take a semester off school) and then quit in the spring and just go to school and not work at all for the last year and a half of the program.

I am going through a similar situation and have been through multiple interviews without an offer yet. If you get an offer, TAKE IT! Any experience can benefit you....and help get that new grad "label" off. Good luck!

The new grad black hole, great term. Should be a news article.

Discuss this with a school counselor. You need some one on one direction.

Putting in one year in your current position will not matter , if you then take a year and half off for school.

Future employers will see you as a new grad, without current clinical experience.

Discuss this with a school counselor. You need some one on one direction. Putting in one year in your current position will not matter , if you then take a year and half off for school. Future employers will see you as a new grad, without current clinical experience.

Many NP's are direct entry with no relevant work experience outside of clinicals. I already have one full year of RN experience.

So sorry you're experiencing this. But you are not alone. I have encountered a lot of nurses who are dealing with exactly the same thing. That is one reason that I am strongly advising people (who are early in their career or aiming for eventual ANP education) to consider all of the ramifications of bailing out of acute care for 'easier' settings. This is also an emerging problem for ADN grads who are unable to find work in an acute care setting - but want to pursue NP education. FNP practice focuses on ambulatory care not acute care, so it should be easier to find a program that does not require the same level of acute care experience as other (acute care oriented) NP programs. Dealing with an inflexible work schedule is more likely to be a deal-breaker for grad school. Sorry I don't have any sage advice for you... just wanted you to know that you've been heard.[/quote']

I'm already in an FNP program.

I do appreciate the encouragement though.

I'd clarify that to say "Whatever you do, don't leave your present job for at least a year, so you won't have TWO black marks." And FNP does focus more on outpatient (you're not going to find a lot of FNP work in critical care!) so where you are is actually a much better entree. And what's this about not learning what you need"? Don't you think you'll be learning quite a bit in those hundreds and hundreds of clinical hours in the FNP program? Trust me on that one. You sound a bit unfocused. FNP? ICU? ER? Settle down now and see where it's most likely to work from here. From the sounds of things, that's community health and FNP. After you have good experience in that, you might try for an ER job in a smaller community ER, but it's not going to be anything like staff nursing in ER.[/quote']

I wanted to try er and icu as an RN. Not as an FNP. As an FNP I want to work primary care. I don't think it is unusual to have varied interests. I know those places are not long term for me, I know I want primary care long term. I just want the experience of these places for the skill set and knowledge acquired there.

I can't stay at my current job any longer as it is getting increasingly difficult to work five days a week while doing my FNP program plus I have two kids. I can either quit and not work or I can change jobs.

What does it mean to you to 'try' ER and ICU? I think that if you take a job 'for the experience' you need to commit to at least a couple years. Unless they already have a lot of experience and skills, nurses who take these jobs for a year as a 'stepping stone' aren't worth training. Don't make the same mistake twice!

What does it mean to you to 'try' ER and ICU? I think that if you take a job 'for the experience' you need to commit to at least a couple years. Unless they already have a lot of experience and skills nurses who take these jobs for a year as a 'stepping stone' aren't worth training. Don't make the same mistake twice![/quote']

What would you recommend then for me at this point and time? I'm open to suggestions.