Question about preceptorships

[Beeks]

So, I am currently an RRT in nursing school to get my RN. I was laid off in December from the hospital I worked at, and have been having a rough time finding work since. I'd really LOVE to get into hyperbaric wound care (most of the wound care centers in my area, FL, are Healogics, and in the job descriptions it says that they offer the HBO Tech positions to RRT's). I have applied to probably 10 different jobs in the last couple of months with no call backs.

Obviously, I am not a desireable candidate at this time.

So, I was wondering about just going ahead and getting my CHT certification on my own. There is a class certified by the NBDHMT in my area at the end of April that I'm willing to pay to take...but then I read that before I can sit for the exam I need 40 hours of clinical preceptorship.

My problem is that I don't currently have any job offers; I was hoping to get certified on my own to look more attractive as a potential employee but how would I go about getting my 40 hours of preceptorship? Should I just call around to each hyperbaric center asking if they'd sponsor me for a week or is this a hopeless cause? I'm not sure I'd be allowed access to medical records or patient care if I'm not an employee of the facility. I don't know how this works.

My only other option is to just wait to get my RN license and hope that being dually licensed is enough to pique an employer's interest because I am not having any luck at the moment.

ANY advice or thoughts are greatly appreciated!

[CaliBoy760]

If you are intent on working in Hyperbaric Medicine I would contact Healogics directly, explain your intentions, and see if they will allow you to precept at one of their clinics. Although they are not as accomodating as they once were, I can't see why they wouldn't want to train a potential employee, especially if you choose to work for them once you get your RN. I would definitely consider taking the UHMS approved course, if for nothing else, it will give you a taste of what working in an HBOT clinic is really like. Keep in mind though, that the CHT certification means absolutely nothing. There are no laws mandating that you be certified in any state. It's nothing but a revenue stream for the NBDHMT. Unfortunately, many employers believe that it is a requirement, and, therefore, ask that you be "certified" within one year of employment.