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Discussion

ACLS and PALS

I while ago I posted a thread about how I'm having trouble finding a job at a hosoital. I made the mistake in my younger years of leaving a night shift med-surg tele job before the year mark because I absolutely hated working nights. I got a home care job where I pretty much could make my own schedule at the same pay as the hospital and it sounded to me like a no brainer. Well long story short, I got stuck in home care for the following 5 years until a had a baby. After that I found a job at a psychiatric impatient clinic but we are moving out of state because my husband's job so I couldn't stay there even though I like it there. I want to go back to impatient hospital nursing but I'm having an awful time. I had applied for over 20 jobs with different hospitals in the area and getting NO calls. I'm thinking it's because they probably think I lost all my skills while working Home Care which some of it could be truth like IV skills for example. However I learned to work with extremely fragile children and I'm extremely comfortable working with ventilators and tracheostomies and I've known nurses that don't even know where to start when caring for patients on a vent.

Anyway, my question is, Will taking ACLS and PALS on my own help look more desirable for employment at a hospital?

I also took a nurse refresher course even though I wasn't required by the BON since I have kept my license active and thought this will help me but I guess I wasted $1300 :(

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    Difficulty getting an acute position shares 3 words with real estate ...Location, location, location .

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    I'm in Houston Texas. There's tons of hospitals here. Maybe I'm being impatient and need to wait a bit longer for them to call back? But anyways, back to my original question: would it help 8f I get these certs on my own or am I wasting my money because hospitals will put you through that training shortly after hiring you?

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    I am sure ACLS and PALS would help. Hospitals hire brand new nurses with zero experience, you have alot more experience. Houston may have tonnes of hospitals, they also have tonnes of nurses with recent acute experience . Location has a lot to do with competition with jobs. Good Luck

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    Both PALS and ACLS are expensive courses to take, but do add to a resume. If you have the cash to throw down on the classes, you could do so to make yourself more marketable.

    However, before spending money on such things, reassess how you're presenting yourself. Does your resume need polishing? How is your cover letter? Are you highlighting the items that would set you apart from other applicants, such experience with ventilators/trachs/fragile peds? Could you get some letters of recommendation to attach to online applications? Have you attempted to make any contact with nurse managers/HR/recruiters?

    I would exhaust these options first before paying money for certifications that a hospital could cover for you once you're hired.

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    • Author

    The ACLS is $230 and PALS something similar. I think I'll take the plunge and take at least the ACLS. Maybe my resume needs a little polishing but there's so much you can tweak without being untruthful.

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    BTW I went to an interview for an internship in the OR and they asked me if I had any certs or memberships and since I don't have any idea a swerved no and they kinds had this disappointed/disapproving look in their faces. I did not get that job of course.

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    If there's a local university around, you could take your resume and cover letter to their writing center to get assistance if you're so inclined.

    I think there's a stroke certification online that you can do that can add to your resume.

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