Back to the bedside

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Hi, I'm hoping that I can get some advice on how I can return to bedside nursing. My long term goal is to become AGACNP. I've worked as a M/S nurse from 2015 to 2017. I return from 2019 for four months. I have not worked since then. I am not sure what to do in order to get back to the bedside. All the job postings require at least one year experience or new grad for residency program. I know I'm not the only one in this situation, and would love some advice. I sincerely appreciate it. Thank you:)

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Specializes in Dialysis.

Just apply, and reach out to previous managers and coworkers. If you've moved, reach out for a letter of recommendation, if you're in the area, reach out for job leads. Good luck on your search!

Try corrections, dialysis, LTACH and LTC, as those are sometimes more forgiving of job history

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Hi, thanks for the advice. I wish I could use my manager & coworker as a reference but I left a toxic work environment and was bullied my coworkers and the manager played along. Manager that I worked with works as case manager & most of coworkers are gone. The turnover rate at hospital was bad. I would be great  to work in sub acute care if it gave me the stepping stone for bedside nursing. My goal is AGAC NP. I need two years of Acute care & not sure if sub Acute care would qualify. Frustrating. I guess all I can do is apply & hope for the best?‍♀️

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Treat job postings like unrealistic dating profiles were everyone is looking for someone out of their league. Unless you have a real deal-breaker, you stand a chance. 

Go ahead and apply. Apply many places and be flexible about shifts if possible. You do have fairly recent experience after all.

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Specializes in school nurse.
6 minutes ago, RNperdiem said:

Treat job postings like unrealistic dating profiles were everyone is looking for someone out of their league. Unless you have a real deal-breaker, you stand a chance.

This is a very interesting and cool way of looking at it!

Just now, Jedrnurse said:

This is a very interesting and cool way of looking at it!

...although I always prided myself on using recent photos on Match.com (back in the day)

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thank you for the advice! I'm going to apply to several jobs, and see what happens!

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On 11/30/2021 at 8:30 AM, Hoosier_RN said:

Just apply, and reach out to previous managers and coworkers. If you've moved, reach out for a letter of recommendation, if you're in the area, reach out for job leads. Good luck on your search!

Try corrections, dialysis, LTACH and LTC, as those are sometimes more forgiving of job history

I thought about working in corrections but I do not know what to expect and it sounds a bit scary. I have already had experience with nurse violence and don't want to put myself in a situation where I am at higher risk. Correct me if I am wrong about the correction position. As far as LTACH and LTC, I swore I would never work in this area again. Not because I don't like working with the elderly, it was because of the nurse to patient ratio. It was awful. I hated leaving the residents everyday wishing I had done more. The guilt of not being able to do more killed me. One nurse to 30 residents is just way too much and it puts my license at risk. I don't want to take that chance. 

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On 11/30/2021 at 8:30 AM, Hoosier_RN said:

Just apply, and reach out to previous managers and coworkers. If you've moved, reach out for a letter of recommendation, if you're in the area, reach out for job leads. Good luck on your search!

Try corrections, dialysis, LTACH and LTC, as those are sometimes more forgiving of job history

 

On 11/30/2021 at 8:30 AM, Hoosier_RN said:

Just apply, and reach out to previous managers and coworkers. If you've moved, reach out for a letter of recommendation, if you're in the area, reach out for job leads. Good luck on your search!

Try corrections, dialysis, LTACH and LTC, as those are sometimes more forgiving of job history

 I swore I would never work in LTACH or LTC again, because I don't like working with the elderly, it was because of the nurse to patient ratio. It was awful. I hated leaving the residents everyday wishing I had done more. The guilt of not being able to do more killed me. One nurse to 30 residents is just way too much and it puts my license at risk. I don't want to take that chance. 

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On 11/30/2021 at 10:16 AM, RNperdiem said:

Treat job postings like unrealistic dating profiles were everyone is looking for someone out of their league. Unless you have a real deal-breaker, you stand a chance. 

Go ahead and apply. Apply many places and be flexible about shifts if possible. You do have fairly recent experience after all.

I'm going to start applying for acute care position in May (2022) and see what happens. I really don't count the four months I spent in PCU (2020). Technically, I've been off the floor since 2017.  I worked in the Medical Surgical unit for 2 years (2015-2017). That is 5 years being away from solid work experience. Argh. Do you think employers will count my 4 months as good enough recent experience. I guess there is only one way to find out. I'm still not sure what to do about not being able to use previous employers as reference. I honestly don't know what do say about it because I don't want to talk bad about the hospital. I got bullied so bad and this nurse lied to the manager about me. I don't think they will have anything nice to say. It is sad but it happens. Not sure if RN refresher course will even help. I need to make an income and feeling stuck and frustrated that I basically committed nurse suicide....LOL.

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Specializes in Dialysis.
1 hour ago, CinLeo42 said:

I thought about working in corrections but I do not know what to expect and it sounds a bit scary. I have already had experience with nurse violence and don't want to put myself in a situation where I am at higher risk. Correct me if I am wrong about the correction position. As far as LTACH and LTC, I swore I would never work in this area again. Not because I don't like working with the elderly, it was because of the nurse to patient ratio. It was awful. I hated leaving the residents everyday wishing I had done more. The guilt of not being able to do more killed me. One nurse to 30 residents is just way too much and it puts my license at risk. I don't want to take that chance. 

I've never worked corrections, so don't know. Try incenter (clinic) dialysis or psych. 

I'm just going to put this out here, and please take it in the  spirit that I offer it: you need to start somewhere. If an acute position won't hire you, you may need to take a less desirable (to you) position to get your feet wet again, so to speak. There are so many new grads out there looking,  and they are competing for the coveted new grad residencies. Without recent experience,  you are kinda at the mercy of employers whims. I'm not trying to be mean, I am being very realistic. I wish you well in your job search. As another said, apply for everything, it can't hurt to try

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Specializes in Public Health, TB.

Are there any nurse refresher courses you can take? 

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Yes, but I was told that employers don't really look at that. I will take it if helps.  I might just do it while looking for a job. 

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