Career Advice Please!!

[mLPN79]

Hello All!

I don't even know where to begin....lets say I made one bad move to the next. I did my PN training in Calgary and shortly after graduation i moved out to the country where it took 6 months for me to land a job in which I worked in a small rural hospital. From there I decided to move bak to my home town believing things would be better in terms of my career and family. I always seen myself working in the surgical area and applied for some positions. I had landed a position on a short stay unit where I ended being "chewed up and spit out" so to speak. I had excellent reviews throughout my orientation and after my 2nd shift I was told I was not up to par due to my lack of experience from working In a rural hospital. Ok so I moved on, applying for whatever came available and since that time I had only landed a casual position on a psych unit. I only planned on continuing with psych until I could get something else and almost 2 years late guess where I am....still casual on psych. I am now trying to make my way back to Calgary and I hope to land something more enjoyable but I am now even more anxious than ever as I have only been doing psych. What can I do to make myself more sellable to a med/surg unit?? I have my IV cert and took a course on IV meds for refresher. I have taken diabetic and wound care in services. Any suggestions? I feel stuck and if I don't find something I am passionate about doing, I might end up abandoning this career. How am I to get experience when HR tosses my résumé?! Please, suggestions! Getting desperate here!

[jamd11]

Have you applied for other positions in the past two years while working casual? Also, did you get fired for the surgical unit or did you quit because you didnt feel you were up to par?

[jamd11]

I see from reading your previous posts that you worked LTC... why not start back there or find a LTC home with a step down unit- convalescent care? I guess I should ask if these units exist in Alberta as there are only 2 southern Ontario? You'd get the acute medical/post surgical patients with IV therapy, feeding tubes, caths, PICC lines, all that jazz. At least a way to build confidence and manage patient workloads...... I also had a mental health professor tell me that working psych was the best thing that she ever did. After working psych she was able to identify issues that other nurses necessarily couldn't. Don't get yourself down! Your experience is valuable. Psych is in ALL areas of nursing: OB-PPD, medical units you'll see a lot of psychogeriatic patients, ER you'll see alot of acutely mentally ill patients in crisis, and in surgical, especially ortho, you'll also see tons of psychogeriatric patients and lots of episodes of delirium. Don't sell yourself short. Be confident, show places that while you are possibly lacking in one area you have your invaluable psych experience and are eager and willing to learn the ropes. Also, do not be afraid to ask for more orientation if you are uncomfortable, start with short shifts if the facility has them! Best of luck !!!

[mLPN79]

Hi jamd11,

Thanks for the response :) yes I have been applying for other positions within the last 2 years. It is challenging times in Alberta to get a job, let alone in the health authority of where I work. I was "let-go" from the surgical position due to (as the manager described) lack of skill and time management.....whereas I actually felt it was due to bullying, but that's neither here nor there as this experience was 2 years ago now.

I believe what some of the issue here is that we have HR going through all the resumes and deciding who gets to go through. One can apply repeatedly for a position until finally being accepted for an interview. Many people are telling me to cold-call the units but, if I displease the wrong manager I may mess up my chance of having an opportunity. I guess I will just have to hope for the best and keep up with in services and courses to enhance knowledge.

[Fiona59]

There really is no point in cold calling. In AHS, HR goes through the applications and sends down the line the candidates who are experienced and have seniority for the position.

Grievances are being submitted over competitions all the time. Especially when nurses with seniority are passed over outside hires.

The only outside hires I've seen lately are for casual positions in float pools.

[mLPN79]

I'm just becoming more frustrated the longer I sit and do nothing. I am considering moving to a larger city or north in rural nursing but that does not mean I will land a different position. I think I'm just going to bridge over to RN via Athabasca and cest la vie to Alberta!! I feel I'm not going to get anywhere here. Maybe I could be of use in the maritimes.......