Technically not my first nursing job...

[410rn]

Hello Nurses!

I am looking for job hunting advice and this is my first time ever on any forum so please bear with me as I ramble.

Here is my background so far:

Graduated with Associate's Degree in Jan 2010, RN license April 2010. My classmates and I started applying to hospitals online and in person soon after, but with no luck - the facilities were looking for BSN and experience, none of which we had. Throughout nursing school, I worked as an administrative assistant for a nursing home/SNF in NYC, so I knew that if I wanted to, I could get a job a job there as an RN, but didn't really want to because you don't get your RN to end up working in a nursing home (that is what I thought at the time, I don't think so anymore).

The hospitals were still not calling me back for interviews, so I figured a nursing home wouldn't be so bad. I was able to get an RN job at a nursing home closer to home, but was a pain to get to (bus+train) and they wouldn't give me a definite answer about whether I would be part time or per diem only (I would think that was important, no?). Around the same time, one of the Medicare/MDS Coordinators that I worked with, retired and left an RN position open; my boss offered it to me. It was a permanent full-time RN position (9-5 M-F, off on holidays) and I would be working with pretty much the same people. I decided to take my boss' offer and decline the first one.

Anyway, I told myself that I would work here at the nursing home for 1 year (the facility requires that you work at least 1 year after you receive your tuition reimbursement), yet, here I am, still at the same facility FOUR years later!

These are my "excuses" for staying/not leaving:

-I went back to school (I completed an online RN-BSN program in 2012)

-My coworkers are super nice and we all work very well together

-I got engaged

-I bought a co-op

BUT -- I work in front of a computer all day. As Medicare Coordinator, I find myself bored and feel like I'm not making any difference in anyone's life. I feel like I need something more. My coworker, who is an RN with years of hospital experience, has always said that a new nurse like myself should be out there in a hospital taking care of patients, and I totally agree. Or at least I should give bedside nursing a shot.

I apologize for the ramble, but my point is, I NEED A NEW JOB! My goal for the year has been to start job hunting for some hands on nursing! I haven't even started wedding planning (that's another story!) but I'm not going to make that my excuse to stay another year.

Job hunt Progress so far:

-renewed my BCLS cert

Next step:

-revise resume

I know facilities definitely want RNs with BSN, and they prefer those with experience. Even though my job is an RN position, would that even count?? How would I explain the delay between getting my BSN and looking for a hospital job? What else (certifications?classes?) should I do to make my resume declare "You want to interview/hire me!" to potential employers? I wish I could take a refresher course on my nursing skills as I've forgotten much of what I've learned =(. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Think hard about making this switch. If you land that acute care job, how will your new work schedule affect your personal life. How will your fiance feel about you working nights, weekends and holidays with few opportunities for days off? Are you doing this because you need acute care experience to support a major career goal? Does your fiance support that goal? Make sure you have those discussions - including a realistic idea of the work schedule in a hospital.

Just don't want you to fall victim to "the grass is greener" phenomenon. Unfortunately, since nursing programs are still firmly focused on acute care practice settings, most new grads feel as though they are failures if they don't work in a hospital. The truth is that hospital jobs are becoming more scarce and acute care is becoming much less important overall. Nursing practice in non-acute environments (including your current role) is no less authentic and does not make you less of a nurse than your colleagues toiling away on a busy MedSurg unit wishing for an 'office job' with more reasonable hours and less physical exhaustion.

[Nonetheless]

I suggest looking outside the hospital for further employment. There's plenty of room for growth in non acute care settings...the pay is somewhat lower but you don't need to experience the pain of night shift, and get holidays off!

If I were you, I would apply to/ research everything outside the hospital such as school nursing, hospice, home health, community/public health, psych, and gero-psych.

in class we learned that the majority of Nursing Jobs will soon be outside the hospital. It kind if stinks for our generation of nurses because the hospital is a location where we paved the way for extensive growth and learning. Now it is up to our generation of nurses to transform the face of non-acute care nursing, as that is where healthcare is moving towards.

[410rn]

Thanks for your input, HouTx. Thanks for reminding me that being a nurse doesn't solely revolve around acute care - it totally doesn't. I don't have a specific career goal in mind. I don't know what I want exactly, but I know I wouldn't want to work in the ER. I'm not super set on working in the hospital - I just need a different setting, perhaps home care or outpatient clinics. I would like to explore various career paths and and I think now is a good time to do that. My fiance understands that I could possibly have to work odd hours and/or weekends/holidays, but he is also getting ready for a career change so I might have to deal with his new work schedule as well. We will have to find a balance.

[410rn]

obesity33 - I'll keep your suggestions in mind during my search. Thanks.

[410rn]

You are so right, HouTx. I certainly don't want to jump ship just because everything seems more interesting on the other side. I've had quite some time to think about it and I think the hospital setting is not for me. I think I want something more laid back, such as sub-acute where I am now, but not in front of the computer all day. I would like more interactions with patients. Thanks again for your input!