Can’t Find A New Job!

[newmom17]

I have over 3 years of medsurg/telemetry experience at the #1 level 1 trauma center in my city. Over the last year several things have happened: I graduated from a BSN program and am in the throws of applying to several NP programs which has me considering where’d I’d like to end up at a NP, the conditions on the unit I currently work on have progressively worsened I.e there’s no support staff, management that is not supportive of staff and showing favoritism, an alarming increase in staff injuries at the hands of patients, etc, and last but not least I’ve rediscovered my desire to be in the OR. For all these reasons and to maintain my sanity I have been applying to every OR job/internship in my area and have either not been gifted an interview or just rejected post-interview. I started loosening my standards (still with the hopes of entering the OR at some point) and have been applying to jobs such as pacu, same-day surgery units and have even applied to independent practices. 
Needless to say I am becoming really disheartened and feel ill forever be stuck in this horrible work situation ??I cant quit outright right now bc I have a family to support otherwise I would. Any advice is much appreciated. 

[speedynurse, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

I have never done OR but I have a lot of OR nurse friends and they love it. I am in pre-op/PACU now and it’s so great. One of the least stressful nursing jobs in my opinion. In all honesty, since covid, I feel like the “lower stress” nursing jobs are being taken ASAP. Try applying to pre-op too. Do you have any connections with friends in these departments? Get them to mention you to the director! I know partly the reason I got in my current job is I have a lot of old ER nurse friends that talked to the director about me coming over.

[Chickenlady]

You can try GI lab--they do intra procedure monitoring/circulating and often sedation.  My lab also does inpatient cases in the OR which can give you an opportunity to become familiar with the OR staff who may be your allies when a position opens up in OR proper.