I love what I am doing but I can't find another job!

Kymmi · May 5, 2007

Im not sure that Im understanding this totally right. Are you looking to go back to floor nursing and expecting it to be 9-5 without weekends? Can you find another GI job working different hours/weekends? I'd say as long as you have a valid nursing license that any hospital would be willing to hire you and orient you to the floor that you are training for. As far as being paid what you are paid now that might be another issue. If you've been in your current job for any lenght of time then you've had your pay increases however going to a new job most hospitals base their starting rate of pay on experience. I'd say to fill out applications at hospitals you'd like to work at and see what responses you get, go for the interview and discuss wages with them to find out where you stand before you give up your current job. You might decide the few issues you have with your current job are something you want to work at fixing once you've found out what rate of pay you'd make at a new job and find out that hospital jobs arent 9-5 and you will be working weekends.

Good Luck to you in whatever you decide to do but I'd not be so concerned with relearning your nursing skills. They are something that you knew once and all it will take is being refreshed.

mom and nurse · May 5, 2007

I have been working in GI nursing for a while. I have a pretty stable job but I just have a few issues with the place that I work at. I have tried to find another GI job but it is just so hard to find a 9-5 GI job with no working on weekends.
I am sick of looking for jobs. Does anyone has experience changing specialty. LIke from GI back to Med-surg floor? It just sounds so ridiculous but I feel that all that I learned in the nursing school is gone. I know nothing but GI. If you ask me anything about GI, I will know the answer. If I want to go back to the real world, the "floor nursing", do you think any hospital will be willing to train me and still pay me what i am being paid now? Please tell me your experience. Thanks!

9 - 5 and no weekends? Were you working in a doctor's office? If not, and you were working 9 - 5 and no weekends, can you tell us where you were working.....

As for nursing jobs. You might try a hospital's PRN staff or an agency. But even then, it might be hard to find a 9 - 5 med/surg job...

Bluehair · May 5, 2007

I agree with the other posters here. Sounds like there are 2 separate issues involved.

Most nursing jobs that are 9-5, no weekends/holidays usually are limited to Dr's offices, outpatient surgery clinics, possibly a dialysis center, etc. If you are hoping to find a job in nursing with those sort of hours specifically, you might consider something along those lines instead of going back to the floor. You could work on a PRN basis in a med-surg unit and only schedule yourself for the days you specifically want to work, but most med surg areas work 12 hour shifts.

Pay is usually based on years of experience, so it can be negotiable. I agree with the OP, many places are willing to train you for their area. I bet you have more skills than you know, relating to conscious sedation/assessment skills, recovery skillos, etc. Some Same Day Surgery areas may be happy to have you come on board. Some of those require you to be on call for recovery room if they are part of the OR staff and help cover PACU. Others do not, so you will have to see what is available for your area.

It's always scary changing 'careers' like this. Good luck!

GeminiTwinRN, BSN · May 5, 2007

In the hospital where I work (level 1 trauma center), we have an outpatient endoscopy suite where the RN's work 9-5, M-F. You might try that sort of area, it sounds like that would be right in line with your experience and requested hours/days.

The only downfall to the area from what I hear is that if the schedule isn't full, you have to take flex time and leave.

Good luck in your job hunting! :)

RNperdiem, RN · May 5, 2007

Are you sure these issues at your current job are so bad that you need to leave? The job sounds fabulous. Will time take care of these issues? Can they be resolved with a little work?

P_RN, ADN, RN · May 5, 2007

I understand part of what you are saying. I did my specialty for over 20 years. I could tell you anything you wanted to know about it. BUT eyes? ears? hearts? endocrine? Those are somewhere in my school memories but I am certainly not fresh on them. Yes a Med Surg floor may be happy to train you. Find out if they have a preceptorship program and how long the orientation is. Agency nursing you are expected to hit the floor running and ask few questions. Hospital nursing there is usually a cap on what they pay experienced nurses-my place- 6 years experience max.

If you are unhappy with your office is it the work or is it the environment-hostile maybe? I loved office work, didn't make enough to support a mouse on. Lay out your options, talk with nurses in other practices-there's an underground there if you can get in on it you will find out the new positions before they go public.