Discouraged, downtroddened and ready to find something other than nursing...

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I have been an RN since 1990. Nursing has changed so much over the past 10 yrs that I hardly recognize it anymore..I have diligently applying for and interviewing for positions I KNOW I am either qualified or OVER qualified for..and yet..it's the first interview, the 2nd interview..meeting with people you won't work with..the "we will be in touch" speech only for it to be weeks later with no response. Online applications that seem to go into resume outer space. I'm done and yet, I know nothing else but nursing. Having an advanced degree and applying for a non-medical position won't work because who is going to hire someone for $9/hr when they were working making $29? I can't afford NOT to work and go back to school for something else..so I feel trapped, overwhelmed by things piling up, angry that many of us on here have worked hard for our degrees and experience only to be placed..where? In a pile of a hundred plus applicants. I was down about this but now, the stress, disappointment and disbelief at how "the system" is done now is becoming, seriously, low grade depression fast turning into more. I have no motivation, all I want to do is sleep and the thought of filing out one more application or going through one more not to pan out interview makes me nauseated. I know this post is a downer..but never, ever, in the 20 plus years as an RN and the 5 before that working in health care as I went to school, have I ever felt this way about nursing nor have I ever wanted to leave the profession. I use to encourage people around me to become nurses. Not anymore. :crying2:

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Specializes in Dialysis. OR, cardiac tell, homecare case managem.

I understand what you are saying. I have been applying for ICU jobs for over a year and a half and all I get is NO! Hang in there!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

Try nursing agencies. Maybe you can get even a couple of shifts in the areas you want, but you might have to accept whatever hours are going and travel a bit further perhaps.

What country are you in?

I'm going through nursing agencies, trying to get something more permanent. I even applied for jobs at Woolworths and Coles, and I was told I was OVERqualified! And I've worked in customer service, supermarkets, hospitality, etc b4 doing nursing. All I wanted was a job, didn't care re the hours or pay so much, but I often wonder how people gets jobs at the supermarkets when they obviously don't have much training, and don't speak English that well.

Makes you just wonder doesn't it.

I too feel the same. All those years of study and no-one gives a s**t. They want nurses in different areas but won't pay for our accommodation and/or travel expenses.

But nurses from overseas with more experience are given jobs here in Oz!

Makes me sooooo angry!

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Hello mashall1, I. Just passed my nclex and have begun the search. My mother just recently had the same thing happen to her when her hospital closed. She is a nurse of over 35 years all in maternal/child. She was out of work for half a year and it was very hard for her. She did end up finding a job but had to take a significant pay cut. Her new job has many technological advancements that the old one did not, and it was quite a shock for her. She would have to take the computer course multiple 5imes (she didn't even know how to turn on a computer prior). In the begining she had to spend a large amount of time charting. But now she is more comfortable working this way and thinks its a lot quicker.vhe worked hard, went on lots of interviews, and called friens in other hospitals for help with finding job openings. I hope your search ends in success soon, best of luck...don't give up

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Specializes in ER.

I feel your pain. I got out of school in 1992 and it is such a different world out there now as hospitals focus so much on being compliant with this rule or that rule that somewhere along the way the forgot about taking care of the patient and the people taking care of the patient. After almost 20yrs of ER nursing I've moved on, I'm in PA school now and even though it will be a pay cut for me moving from RN to PA (I've been a travel nurse for 8yrs now) it will move me away from all the bureaucratic nonsense in the hospitals. I know I'm trading one headache for another but at least this headache will be a new one and not the same old crap I've had to deal with for the past 19yrs. It's funny how all hospitals are essentially the same, I've worked in over 30 different ER's during my career and they are all the same. Patients are the same, nurses are the same, doc's/pa's/np's all the same, nothing ever changed but the paperwork.

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I feel your pain. I got out of school in 1992 and it is such a different world out there now as hospitals focus so much on being compliant with this rule or that rule that somewhere along the way the forgot about taking care of the patient and the people taking care of the patient. After almost 20yrs of ER nursing I've moved on, I'm in PA school now and even though it will be a pay cut for me moving from RN to PA (I've been a travel nurse for 8yrs now) it will move me away from all the bureaucratic nonsense in the hospitals. I know I'm trading one headache for another but at least this headache will be a new one and not the same old crap I've had to deal with for the past 19yrs. It's funny how all hospitals are essentially the same, I've worked in over 30 different ER's during my career and they are all the same. Patients are the same, nurses are the same, doc's/pa's/np's all the same, nothing ever changed but the paperwork.

Good luck with your PA program? Are you thinking of specializing?

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Marshall1,

I am so sorry to hear of your situation. Your story points out the reality

of how nursing and nursing education has changed. Your education

and experience should allow you many solid opportunities to grow and have a good job.

Many health care systems play games now when

hiring which a heartbreak when you need a job. From my point of view, they need to notify applicants if

they are not interested in them. It just takes an email, and at least you know what the status is.

What type of nursing experience do you have? Its possible you might

like a setting outside of the hospital environment. If you are an NP,

feel free to PM me as I have a few ideas...

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Specializes in ER.

not right now, just looking to survive finals next week, 6 finals in 5 days. Most likely will end up back in the last ER I worked in. The ER chief already offered me a job before I started school. We start clinical rotations this summer so I'll get a better feel for other areas of medicine. Top 3 ER, Surgery (CV, Ortho, Trauma) or critical care. I'm afraid I'd get too bored in family practice/primary care.

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not right now, just looking to survive finals next week, 6 finals in 5 days. Most likely will end up back in the last ER I worked in. The ER chief already offered me a job before I started school. We start clinical rotations this summer so I'll get a better feel for other areas of medicine. Top 3 ER, Surgery (CV, Ortho, Trauma) or critical care. I'm afraid I'd get too bored in family practice/primary care.

Sounds like a great plan! Good luck with finals and keep us posted...

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Specializes in LPN.

I am sorry your are in a position that seems hopeless. It's not a nice world to be in at times anymore. I know what you mean about the changes in nursing, it's difficult to do your job correctly anymore. Sometimes I wonder if management keeps placing more and more responsibility on our shoulders, the good nurses will all finally leave, and that will leave the ones who cut cornors, or say they did something but didn't, and what a fine kettle of fish will all will be in.

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You are not alone.

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Marshall1,

First off-I can so relate to what you are saying about your resume going into the online "abyss" and then never getting a call or followup. The hiring of nurses has become so impersonalized that it feels like an act of congress just to get your foot in the door! I have been an RN since 85 and remember the days where you went in, dropped off your application, and an actual person let you know what positions they were hiring for and maybe even took the time to see if you would be interested in cross training to a new area. Now, if they see your sterile, online application and if you don't have experience in "X", they won't even consider you! Never mind that it might actually be possible for an RN with many years of training to actually learn a new speciality if they are willing (uh..duh!)....it's extremely frustrating! I have gone from ICU to NICU to Cardiac Rehab and now maybe to Oncology--I have found that sites like Craigslist or Careerbuilder have sometimes been more fruitful in getting noticed. I wish you all the best--don't give up--there is the right job out there for you and those patients need your expertise, knowledge and personal touch! For all the hospitals that overlooked your resume, it's their loss! If hospital CEO's and Chief Nursing Officers don't start paying more attention to the poor hiring practices in HR, they will continue to overlook amazing nurses! And please--if they continue along this road, they should never whine about a nursing shortage...ever! Good luck and keep the faith!

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