Cant get a job in a hospital

Editorial Team / Admin · Apr 16, 2021

Do you have your BSN? That may be part of the issue with getting a hospital job. Have you had your resume reviewed professionally? That may be another thing holding you back.

Cisum · May 1, 2021

On 4/16/2021 at 5:32 AM, penny186 said:

Hello I've been a nurse for 2 years. I started out as a charge/ supervisor in the LTC at which I was a CNA for 7 years prior. I left after 1 year due to company buyout, poor management, and poor work ethics. I thought I found the perfect opportunities when I applied to a hospital for a psych position. However they coaxed me into the dreaded LTC again. As my family member works there, I was told experience does not matter and I would surely be able to advance soon. Well one year later and 10 applications resulted in 1 interview basically to shut me up and another one that was for a job that was cancelled. I cant get anywhere due to lack of experience but they won't give me a chance. Yet they have LPNs in med surg. I hate my job in LTC. I learn nothing and the managers have no nursing abilities. Every time I make a suggestion for the residents im shot down by the people who are just there for the benefits. The managers and staff sit around and could not care less about the residents yet worry about stupid things. I am sick of being the only patient advocate and it goes nowhere. And I basically just do paperwork and have little patient contact for 8 hours. I feel like just leaving in a few months after my tuition is paid there and going somewhere where im valued. I feel like I've wasted so much time.

I empathize with you, hang in there. You do have experience. A competitive job market will cause you to undervalue your experience. I have experienced that, and had to be reminded otherwise. You have gained transferrable skills such as time management, delegation and the ability interact with diverse patient population. So you were in management, then you have experience in interacting with staff in various areas. This is necessary since acute care nurses must communicate with members from the multidisciplinary team (can be exhausting-nurses are called for everything). Even if you were employed only in a management capacity, you still have clinical skills since you often assist your staff with functions such as med pass, treatments- e.g. wound care, lab draw, IV start. You have a 8 year work history at a facility, where you started as CNA, advanced to RN; so you have retention/ growth potential- just saying.

Could geography be largely responsible for you not landing a hospital position? By relocating 4 hours from home, I was able to get my first acute care job. If this is possible for you, it could also be a good opportunity for self growth/ development, getting a break from the constant 'noise' from family and friends. Resume revamp? Reach out to your former classmates or colleagues who made the transition. Don't give up.

pinkdoves, BSN · May 19, 2021

try adult med-surg units. they are always hiring.

aok7, NP · Jun 2, 2021

I was in LTC about 12 years ago as a LPN then ADN. I had ambition to become a NP eventually, and knew I needed to get in the hospital with my particular goals. The trouble with LTC (and gift individually) is it does not take much to stand out in particular with providers and management related to your quality and professionalism. I really hate to say this, but the truth is a lot of hospital nurses/managers are well-aware of the training/habits/professional culture which may be picked up in LTC. That's the hard part. Anyway, I had super references from MDs and NPs who visited my facility as well as management. I worked as though I WAS in the hospital, learned all I could, and left there completely 120% given my best. I checked my own vitals on vulnerable patients prior to giving high risk meds, KNEW my patients so I could collaborate with providers, and was prepared to be an advocate and give report just as if I were in the hospital. It sounds like you are a great advocate with quality as your priority. Perhaps a change of LTC setting, give it a year or so, and work clinically so you can focus on your own patients and set and exit plan might be helpful? When I got my BSN (another common unspoken requirement for hospital nursing), I got a job in a hospital and worked up in acuity through NP school. I am so grateful for my LTC years, know in my heart I would not be the nurse or NP I am without those years of grit and common-sense care.

SmilingBluEyes · Jun 3, 2021

22 hours ago, aok7 said:

I was in LTC about 12 years ago as a LPN then ADN. I had ambition to become a NP eventually, and knew I needed to get in the hospital with my particular goals. The trouble with LTC (and gift individually) is it does not take much to stand out in particular with providers and management related to your quality and professionalism. I really hate to say this, but the truth is a lot of hospital nurses/managers are well-aware of the training/habits/professional culture which may be picked up in LTC. That's the hard part. Anyway, I had super references from MDs and NPs who visited my facility as well as management. I worked as though I WAS in the hospital, learned all I could, and left there completely 120% given my best. I checked my own vitals on vulnerable patients prior to giving high risk meds, KNEW my patients so I could collaborate with providers, and was prepared to be an advocate and give report just as if I were in the hospital. It sounds like you are a great advocate with quality as your priority. Perhaps a change of LTC setting, give it a year or so, and work clinically so you can focus on your own patients and set and exit plan might be helpful? When I got my BSN (another common unspoken requirement for hospital nursing), I got a job in a hospital and worked up in acuity through NP school. I am so grateful for my LTC years, know in my heart I would not be the nurse or NP I am without those years of grit and common-sense care.

THIS IS SO REFRESHING to read in times when people direct-enter nursing as NPs and think this is enough. I just don't agree. I know the practice is very different; I get that. But I respect experience and would not want an NP caring for my family or me who had none prior unless they were an NP for many years. My PA is excellent fortunately. He's been doing this since the 1980s and is very thorough.

aok7, NP · Sep 5, 2021

On 6/2/2021 at 9:27 PM, SmilingBluEyes said:

THIS IS SO REFRESHING to read in times when people direct-enter nursing as NPs and think this is enough. I just don't agree. I know the practice is very different; I get that. But I respect experience and would not want an NP caring for my family or me who had none prior unless they were an NP for many years. My PA is excellent fortunately. He's been doing this since the 1980s and is very thorough.

Thank you. I agree, "NP" no longer confers what "PA" or "MD" does to the medical community at large. We are in the process of hiring providers within our group, and it is incredible the sense of my group's understanding of risk with hiring a NP. In fact, consensus is we will only consider experienced NPs AND with background nursing experience. At the same time we have given offers to two MD new grads and a new grad PA with no consideration. This shakes me but not at all a surprise. The truth comes out...you can't pass up experience or knowledge with putting on a white coat and acting confident for too long. I still see NP schools advertising, shudder.

Dani_Mila, BSN, RN · Jan 14, 2022

Have you tried applying to community hospitals? I'm seeing a lot of "At least Associates degree" requirement and most says you have to get your BSN in 3 years after hire. Maybe you need to update and revamp your resume. I got an interview without issues.

Dani_Mila, BSN, RN · Jan 15, 2022

On top of that I am seeing magnet hospitals opening jobs to LPNs. This can mean only one thing that they are desperate for nurses.