My name is Dave and I am a BSN, RN who has been a licensed RN for nearly two years. My goal after graduating was to place myself in an environment where I could gain the most well-rounded experience so I could then drill down into the area I would like to be in for the rest of my career or at least for the next several years prior to returning to school for my masters.
My career as an RN began in TN working on a cardiac tele unit but after a few months, I saw 9 nurses leave and I had 7 preceptors in a matter of just a few months. Nurses just kept leaving and I realized that I wasn't getting anywhere with regard to training, certifications, etc. I began applying for additional positions in the area and even some with the government that appeared to be exotic and exciting.
In the winter of 2012, I was offered an opportunity to live with the Navajo Indians and work at a level 3 trauma center in Gallup, NM with a 17K raise. I felt this was an opportunity of a lifetime. I mean really, who gets this kinds of opportunity after being out of school for less than a year? I felt very honored especially since I had surpassed applications sent by Native Americans who always have preference with these kind of positions. My experience in Gallup, NM was one I will never forget. There I received my ACLS, TNCC and ENPC. I made some wonderful friends and had an adventure of a lifetime.
The only downside was that Gallup was an extremely violent place where it is NOT illegal to be publicly drunk(Alcoholism is 550% above average) and the town itself is very violent, hence the need for a level 3 trauma center basically on the reservation. Gallup, NM is not a place to settle down and raise a family which always has been a goal of mine. In December of 2013, I decided to look elsewhere and began applying for ER positions in the Dallas, TX area.
Soon thereafter, I received an offer from one of the major hospital systems in Dallas with a signing bonus and relocation paid with an 18 month commitment. I also received another 15k raise. Needless to say, I jumped at the chance and moved to Dallas. Unfortunately, after only 6 days on the job, my contract was breached and a few months later, I felt it was a prudent decision to leave the position I was in due to poor work conditions, no breaks and no support. I have learned the hard way that signing bonuses and paid relocation are signs of a troubled department which this certainly was. I am still a rehire but I feel that it is now time to choose my focus for my MSN as I have had enough clinical experience to truly work on any med/surg, tele, or cardiac unit which are areas I have chosen for my focus in my MSN.
Currently, I am having extreme difficulty with hospital recruiters who state that I do not qualify for any med/surg, tele or cardiac positions because I have only worked in an ER yet each application I have sent meets minimum requirements listed. I even had one recruiter tell me that I meet the minimum but not the preferred and I will not have an interview because of that. I have yet to be able to get a single interview outside the ER. I am also finding out that some of these recruiters aren't nurses that are making these judgements. The fact of the matter is that I could work circles around most med/surg and tele nurses and my skill sets are, in some cases, far beyond the average nurse on these types of floors.
So my question is, "Am I being discriminated against?" and if so, who can I speak to about this? The latest claim of not being qualified has come from a hospital system with central recruiting. They have refused to provide me with specifics on how I am not qualified and will not let me speak to the recruiter who is making the claim. This is also a hospital system with more than 500 nursing positions to fill just in the Dallas, TX area alone. I feel the way I have been treated is discriminatory and I would like to hear other nurses opinions on this subject. I am absolutely qualified for the positions I have applied for. Is this just simply poor bad recruiters or am I being discriminated against?
Seems like there are some really vindictive nurses commenting on this post. If you're just going to laugh at me, there's no need to post. Nurses are supposed to be compassionate, not laughing at others expense or trying to tear someone down.
Vindictive, no. Amazed at Dave's naïveté and lack of research, as well as his willingness to immediately assume discrimination and discuss legal remedies to solve his hiring issue, Yes.
Let's look at facts posted.
Job one. Was there a few months as a new grad and among the complaints, he was not being certified fast enough or progressing through training as he would like. For the OPs information, in many if not most facilities, the focus for your first year out of nursing is learning to be a strong and safe nurse. It is not focusing on that nurse's desire to work up the ladder and become specialty certified, until they have reliably demonstrated significant base knowledge and ability in care of that patient population. In many specialties, one cannot qualify to take an specialty certification test without a 1000 or more hours in that specialty, or up to several years of experience.
Second job. I have to wonder how diligent he was in his research about the position that he pursued. Many (if not most) prudent professionals when pursuing planned goals, would have researched and known the issues that led him to leave that position. That he did not take the environment into account, when taking the position says a certain amount about his planning.
Third job. A rudimentary review of BBs by experienced working nurses would have netted the OP plenty of data about the trap of overpaid contract positions in this economy. Not to mention the nonexistent nursing shortage. Or the fact that less than 2 years in one specific specialty is worth very little in this nursing world, where nurses with good and proven records and 3-5 years stable employment in a specialty are easy to come by.. Or the fact that we are judged on performance and not by what we say about ourselves. And a performance like the OPs, does not instill confidence in an employer, when there hundreds of applicants with much better records out there.
Another issue, is the idea that the OP with his extremely limited history feels that he can work rings around experienced people in certain specialties. This is a red flag in and of itself.
And as an additional note, whenever an applicant starts assuming that some form of discrimination is at issue, without reviewing errors that they have made, there is a problem.
I can understand your frustration but simply because somebody does not agree with you does not mean that you should not post on this site. I have learned so much information from other nurses on AN.
I am an ER nurse and before this, I was a medsurg nurse. I have always wanted to do ER nursing but nobody would hire me because I had no ER experience.
As a new grad, I went to a new grad open house and there were 800 new grads that showed up for 40 positions. This was in the L.A. area. I believe that you were one of the lucky ones because you have had 3 jobs already. I work with ER techs that graduated nursing school one year ago and have already passed their NCLEX, but are still working as ER techs.
I wasn't looking for a specific answer. I was looking for kindness and understanding but instead of receiving that I got loads of passive aggressive behavior, condescending messages and unprofessional attitudes. Allnurses is a mud puddle where bottom dwellers feed. This has become quite clear. Energy Vampires.
I wasn't looking for a specific answer. I was looking for kindness and understanding but instead of receiving that I got loads of passive aggressive behavior, condescending messages and unprofessional attitudes. Allnurses is a mud puddle where bottom dwellers feed. This has become quite clear. Energy Vampires.
So my question is, "Am I being discriminated against?" and if so, who can I speak to about this?
Most posters gave you their opinions that you're not being discriminated against. Nothing "passive-aggressive" about it.
If you don't want an answer, why ask this question?
Seems to me that the energy suck is posters who have a hidden agenda and get enraged when it's not met.
Again, I'm sorry you didn't get the answers you wanted.
I wasn't looking for a specific answer. I was looking for kindness and understanding but instead of receiving that I got loads of passive aggressive behavior, condescending messages and unprofessional attitudes. Allnurses is a mud puddle where bottom dwellers feed. This has become quite clear. Energy Vampires.
I have had great luck with all of the regular posters here. You have to think about the fact you been over 3 jobs and not able to hold onto any of them for more than a few months. You seem to have a problem taking personal responsibility and have a feeling that everyone is out to get you. I am sorry you feel this way, but if everyone is being rude to you, maybe you should look at yourself and wonder if you are just taking it the wrong way.
You folks are missing the point completely but I realize this click isn't going to recognize that. You don't have the depth.
We dont have depth because you cannot apply for a floor position when your ER experiences is so limited. You have a high and mighty attitude about ER, you think there is a nursing shortage and there isnt. You ask for opinions and have problems taking it. Cry me a river. The contract was breached after 6 days but you decided to leave after a few months. LOL and you are blaming it on the breach. ok
1 year of exp and you think you have alot of experience and can run circles around a floor nurse in their own setting? go away.
Specializes in Cath/EP lab, CCU, Cardiac stepdown.
I wasn't looking for a specific answer. I was looking for kindness and understanding but instead of receiving that I got loads of passive aggressive behavior, condescending messages and unprofessional attitudes. Allnurses is a mud puddle where bottom dwellers feed. This has become quite clear. Energy Vampires.
Please read my previous post in regards to the bottom line of all nurses being a public forum for debate and ideas to be shared.
If you are looking for unconditional kindness or understanding, seek that out with a friend, partner, or family member. Do not post in a public forum and then claim victim when people disagree with you.
Honestly the most offensive things on this thread has been said by you. And do not proclaim to even begin to know about professional attitude when you are being a hypocrite. "Do as I say not as I do" eh?
Some of the comments can be construed as snarky but you are by large the biggest offender with your outright disrespect and insult to an entire community just because they didn't agree with you and you didn't get what you were looking for. I try to be patient but I do not have it in me to coddle petulant behavior.
All nurses is a great place to get feedback and information but I can see how an egocentric person can be confused about it. If you choose to continue to behave in such a manner then good riddance.
caroladybelle, BSN, RN
5,486 Posts
Vindictive, no. Amazed at Dave's naïveté and lack of research, as well as his willingness to immediately assume discrimination and discuss legal remedies to solve his hiring issue, Yes.
Let's look at facts posted.
Job one. Was there a few months as a new grad and among the complaints, he was not being certified fast enough or progressing through training as he would like. For the OPs information, in many if not most facilities, the focus for your first year out of nursing is learning to be a strong and safe nurse. It is not focusing on that nurse's desire to work up the ladder and become specialty certified, until they have reliably demonstrated significant base knowledge and ability in care of that patient population. In many specialties, one cannot qualify to take an specialty certification test without a 1000 or more hours in that specialty, or up to several years of experience.
Second job. I have to wonder how diligent he was in his research about the position that he pursued. Many (if not most) prudent professionals when pursuing planned goals, would have researched and known the issues that led him to leave that position. That he did not take the environment into account, when taking the position says a certain amount about his planning.
Third job. A rudimentary review of BBs by experienced working nurses would have netted the OP plenty of data about the trap of overpaid contract positions in this economy. Not to mention the nonexistent nursing shortage. Or the fact that less than 2 years in one specific specialty is worth very little in this nursing world, where nurses with good and proven records and 3-5 years stable employment in a specialty are easy to come by.. Or the fact that we are judged on performance and not by what we say about ourselves. And a performance like the OPs, does not instill confidence in an employer, when there hundreds of applicants with much better records out there.
Another issue, is the idea that the OP with his extremely limited history feels that he can work rings around experienced people in certain specialties. This is a red flag in and of itself.
And as an additional note, whenever an applicant starts assuming that some form of discrimination is at issue, without reviewing errors that they have made, there is a problem.
Third job. If the OP ha