Need some suggestions from nurses.

[shakeRN]

I just want some suggestions on what to do in getting a job back in nursing. I passed my RN license in California around June 2009. I applied to different nursing homes and hospitals near my home to get started in my career. Then I had a oral examination in one of the hospitals that was near my home, since it was under the county, they required the applicants to take the oral exam so that the applicants can be rank by their score and to give the top performers for an hiring interview. I was surprise because it was a ICU position and I thought that I wouldn't get the position since I had no experience.

I was able to pass my examination and was just waiting for an interview. Long story short, I was able to get the position.

So I was working in the ICU department and I was assigned to a preceptor, and it was one heck of a day:eek:! My very first patient was unstable and in critical condition, but my preceptor was able to teach and at the same time took care of the patient. There are some things that she taught me pretty well and there are sometimes that she expected me to know the procedure (even though I don't know) . Days goes by and my preceptor expected me to know everything. Since I took my nursing school in a foreign country, I needed more time to work things out like procedures, meds, IV pump, etc. There are times that I would say to myself "what am I doing?" since she expected me to know because she always tells me that I learned this in nursing school. She always tells me that I need to do better, and at the same time I would give my 100%.

Then one day, she told me that she doesn't want to work with me anymore because she feels that I am not getting her teachings. Then I told her that I needed more time because that I was just starting out, but to no avail:mad:. She wanted not to work with me. Then I was passed to another preceptor. The problem is that preceptor was assigned to a nursing student at that time. I was able to work with with this preceptor but most of the time I was passed around by others. Make this short I had mixed remarks on my work (positive/ negative remarks). Then I just felt the passion of being a ICU nurse fade away. Then I went to my department manager and told that ICU is not for me and I wanted to transfer to med/surg. Then she was able to contact the department manager of the med/surg but the problem is that there was no opening. Since they need my slot in the ICU, I had to resign, but since I told my department manager the truth that I felt in the ICU, she gave me a clean record so that I can apply again in the hospital if ever there is a opening. Sadly I just work in the hospital for 2 months.

Now, I should have complained to the department manager of the ICU that the preceptor that I had was pressuring me. She wanted me to learn everything within months. I never wanted to complain because I was just starting out and wanted to be in the good side of other nurses. I wanted to make friends, not enemies. I believed that my complaint might make me a target in the nursing politics in the ward, but I learned my lesson. I should have stood up and said something. I also learned that nursing is not only a healthcare but politics too.

Now, I am unemployed. I tried to apply for those residency program in other hospitals but they said that I don't qualify since my RN license is a year old. They want a new, fresh, straight out of nursing school people. I applied in psychiatric hospitals and correctional facilities to try my luck. I took their respective examination to have a ranking in their selection so that I can have a chance to get a interview. Good thing I passed, but still I am waiting for an hiring interview. I also applied in other nursing homes but they are not hiring. Their reasons is that they don't have funds to hire new people or they already hired new nurses.

Now I need some suggestions on what to do now. I am feeling helpless and discourage:crying2:. I want to still work as a nurse but since the economy is down, it is hard to get one. I know that you would tell me that I should have absorbed the blows that was given to me in ICU, but by the way they precepted me, I was not confident and afraid on my actions in the ward. I left the ICU so that I can protect the patient and myself from future accidents. Thanks for hearing my story and hope you give some suggestions on what to do if you are in my position.

ShakesRN

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

I am sorry you have had such a difficult time getting your career started. However, your previous preceptor assumed that your competency as a new graduate was equivalent to that of US graduates. Hospitals do not have the resources to re-teach nursing school curriculum. If English is not your native language, you need more time to process information so a fast-paced environment is probably not the best one for you at this point.

I want you to think about this statement you made: "Now, I should have complained to the department manager of the ICU that the preceptor that I had was pressuring me. She wanted me to learn everything within months." Hospital orientation- even for the ICU - cannot last "months". This is unrealistic in today's economy - even for new grads, the orientation is generally limited to 12 weeks.

Perhaps you should focus your Job Search on a LTC or similar environment in which there are fewer new procedures to learn and more emphasis on basic nursing care.

[shakeRN]

Thanks for the suggestion. Well English is my native language. I just went out of the US to study nursing to save money and go back to my roots. The mode of instruction is English.

As for the statement that I made. Probably I should have told the preceptor and the department manager to cut me some slack. Another thing I like to add is that they should have encourage me rather than discourage during orientation. I understand that I have to be ready to work on my own when the orientation is finish.

I have been looking at LTC and skilled nursing facilities. They are not hiring because they have no budget or you need know from the inside to get a job, but still, I am passing applications to LTC and skilled nursing facilities. Is going to psych nursing or correctional also a good workplace for me?

How about going out of state to look for a job? I know that California is in a rut and I was thinking that I might have better opportunities if I go to a state that is not popular like Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, etc.