I'm going to apologize now for the rant I'm going to go on, but I need to vent! I cannot get a job!!!! Okay, let me back up here a bit...I have been working in a LTC Dementia unit for 5 years. I started out as an aide after having been a medical transcriptionist for 25 years. I've always wanted to be a nurse but I put my family first and put my education on hold until everyone had either passed on or moved on. After 3 mos of being an aide, I was offered to become a med tech. I started back to school, took all my prereqs, started nursing school, worked full time and graduated with my AD in May of this year and passed my boards in August of this year. I did it...I became an RN! Here's where the "disgusted" part comes in....I've applied to every hospital in the city. Don't get me wrong, I love my job, the residents, their families, my DON, my coworkers, etc but I'm not using my skills. I've been promoted to the 3 to 11 supervisor and yes, I have RN after my name but I'm doing the exact same job that I did when I was a med tech. Pay, you ask? Okay, I went from making $8/hr to $16/hr and quite honestly, it's not about the money for me. I want to utilize my skills! I want to hang blood, I want to start IVs, etc. I want to do what I've been trained to do! Here's where the really "disgusted, disgusted" comes in....every week I see ads in the local paper for one particular hospital that I've applied to multiple times since passing my boards but I hear nothing? Does anyone have any advice? Am I doing something wrong? Has the fact that I've worked in LTC hurting me? I just don't get it! I'm half tempted to go back to medical transcription! Please someone offer me something positive and thanks for listening!
I'm disgusted with my situation, too. I'm stuck at a job in a LTC facility and it's getting on my nerves. I've got a BSN and know I could go to a big hospital where the excitement is but it would be at the expense of doing what is best for my family; first of all I live in a little hick town and the big high tech hospitals are far away, my toddler loves his daycare, which is 2 minutes from my job, I work the 7-3 shift doing QA projects (office work, no patient care), I'm at home in my cozy bed every night. The problem is that I hate doing QA projects and administrative tasks, but they won't "let" me work the floor. So much for career advancement, I had more job satisfaction as an LPN! But I've got children depending on my steady predictable income and convenient hours but I'm in a rut with no way out and I hate it. Still, I make way more than $16/hr, that pay rate more than sucks, you need to do some serious negotiating.
This is along the lines of "The grass is always greener..." I know plenty of RNs (in fact, the great majority of practicing RNs I know) who get excitement and action all the time and would KILL for your job.
I am sorry you are having such a difficult time finding a job... Just continue to look and don't give up hope. I graduated this May also and passed my boards the beginning of July. I applied for every acute care job in the area that was accepting applications from new grads. I got three interviews and was denied the jobs. They wanted people with experience, which I can of course understand.
My self confidence pretty much went through the window and I felt humiliated every time I had to tell someone that I didnt get the job. There were a lot of tears shed because I never imagined that I would struggle to find a job after receiving my nursing degree.
Since the economy took a turn, hospitals are cutting back on many things including staffing. When a position opens up it is usually only because a nurse leaves that position. So, in my case, there were 30-50 applicants applying for ONE position and of course the hospitals are going to hire a person with experience over a new grad... not because new grads are incompetent, but because it is CHEAPER. new grads need a long orientation under a preceptor, so basically they have to pay two employees for one employees work.
I didn't give up though... I had to make adjustments. I got licensed in my home state and decided to apply at some rural hospitals. (My original plan was to land a job at one of the big urban hospitals in my neighboring state). I ended up landing a job as an ICU nurse. I have been training on med-surg for a month and I move over to ICU tomorrow, actually! I am very excited to be getting experience in acute care and I am so thankful to have a great-paying job in this economoy! This hospital was definitely not my 1st choice... or 2nd or 3rd for that matter. But I have been learning so much and the staff I work with makes me feel so comfortable and accepted. I will not mind being here for a year or two to get some experience before moving on to a bigger hospital. I think it is actually going to be a much better transition. So I think everything turned out for the best.
As far as pay goes... I CANNOT believe the wages they are paying you. What state are you in? I am making $20/hr as a brand new nurse with absolutely no experience. I also live in Wyoming which is one of the lowest paying states for RN wages. DO NOT SETTLE! We all know how hard nursing school is and you deserve much better pay than what you are getting for all of your hard work.
Keep your head up and do not give up on finding a job in acute care! Something will come up eventually and you will be a great nurse!
In California I started with $31/hr as a new grad and since I work for a union hospital i get a $1 increase every year! $16 is just too low, even for a small "hick" town as OP put it
Specializes in ICU, ER, RESEARCH, REHAB, HOME HEALTH, QUALITY.
have you gone to take to talk to the nurse manager at the unit you want to work at..
I would and tell her you have put in a application but don't have your disgust hat on when you go and see her.. maybe that will get you in the door, and she'll follow up and find the application..
I hate to tell you this but with the economy being what it is and the scarcity of jobs, you probably should be thankful for what little that you do have. I have gone for months on end with no job at all. It really hurts not to be able to take care of yourself or your family. When I worked in one LTC facility, the RN made $17/hr as opposed to $16/hr for the LVNs. But that was 15 years ago! Continue with your job search while you are making do with your current job. There will have to come a time when you are able to get a better position. Good luck.
I don't believe in that settle for anything mentality as long as there are postings for better paying jobs. What the oP has to do is make certain she is as viable a candidate as any for new RN openings. I can't find any reason why she wouldn't be. The very least helpful thing for her (anyone) to do is start comparing and identifying with those who can't find jobs, or who are working for less than they're worth.
I'm disgusted with my situation, too. I'm stuck at a job in a LTC facility and it's getting on my nerves. I've got a BSN and know I could go to a big hospital where the excitement is but it would be at the expense of doing what is best for my family; first of all I live in a little hick town and the big high tech hospitals are far away, my toddler loves his daycare, which is 2 minutes from my job, I work the 7-3 shift doing QA projects (office work, no patient care), I'm at home in my cozy bed every night. The problem is that I hate doing QA projects and administrative tasks, but they won't "let" me work the floor. So much for career advancement, I had more job satisfaction as an LPN! But I've got children depending on my steady predictable income and convenient hours but I'm in a rut with no way out and I hate it. Still, I make way more than $16/hr, that pay rate more than sucks, you need to do some serious negotiating.
I would love to trade jobs with you! You can have the excitement and action, and I will gladly take the QA projects and 7-3 schedule!!! :) The grass is always greener in someone else's yard eh?!
I can understand wanting to utilize your skills, but realize that the experience you're getting now is also important. ALL nursing experience is important, and it all contributes to your knowledge. You're making a living wage, which is not great for an RN, but you won't starve on it. I too would like to move on from my Med-Surg job soon, but I've realized in this economy it's just not realistic. I guess what I'm saying is be patient (no pun intended). There are no magic cures these days, unfortunately, but I'm one of those people who believe the job market will pick up within 2-3 years. Also, no one has mentioned that you may be an older new grad(?) Could that have something to do with it? At any rate, good luck and hang in there!
where do you live? is it a small town? the reason i am asking is because i am an RN with 32 years experience and i have encountered the same problem with a small town hospital located about 20 miles from here. i have applied on line several times and have not received a phone call one. this has been going on for almost a year now. a friend told me recently that she had encountered the same problem in the past. she thought the problem might be that they are waiting for someone they know to apply for the position. i don't think your experience in LTC is hurting you because most hospitals give you an orientation period in which to learn. let meknow what happens.
Batman24
1,975 Posts
$16/hour is horrible for a RN. I made almost $35/hour as a new grad a few years back. I live in an expensive area.
I like the idea of finding out a direct contact and sending a nice letter. Don't get discouraged. A job will come.