Fed up with being denied an ICU position

[Flexx]

I was one of the lucky ADN graduates. I got a job two weeks after obtaining my RN license, on a medical surgical floor. My classmates struggled to find employment. For some it would be over a year before landing a job, even then, some were only employed in long term care despite wanting hospital positions.

I've been on med-surg for just about two years now. I've always wanted to work in critical care. I attempted to get a critical care position as a new grad and my attempts were laughable. Job fair after job fair, open houses, meeting managers, emailing, and even walking into HR's time after time. When I mentioned I wanted critical care, I was looked at as if I had 3 heads. All of my efforts to get even a med surg position were denied. I finally landed a hospital job after meeting a guy that was really well known at a local hospital. he submitted my resume FOR ME, and I literally had an interview within a week. My countless hours of job fairs and applications were worth nothing compared to a solid reference (no surprise).

I would say I did exceptionally well on med surg. Nurses who are my senior ask me for assistance at times. I manage time well, and i'm good at skills iv insertion etc...

I've decided I would make another attempt at getting a critical care position. My first try would be at my own facility's ICU. I've approached HR several times and I've been told that they are currently don't need any ICU nurses. I've applied at other facilities with no luck. It seems as if all the ICU's are looking for someone with critical care experience...

I'm Just frustrated, it very hard to get a "desirable" position nowadays. For most it seems they applied at an extremely lucky time or had "connections"

[RN403, BSN, RN]

Sorry to hear about your struggle. Do you feel that obtaining your BSN might assist you? Are you ACLS certified? What do the requirements for these ICU positions specifically state and do you meet them? Just some things to think about. Best wishes.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

How are you 'being denied' if there are no positions? Could you offer to cross-train in the interim?

[SionainnRN]

You are not being "denied" anything as no one "deserves" any nursing position let alone one in critical care. As someone mentioned are you getting your BSN? Are you on any committees? Have you tried going to tele first? What are you doing to make yourself stand out as a candidate other than stating you deserve it? There are nurses out there with years of critical care experience who have no luck getting an ICU job. You need to make the effort, do more than just apply.

[Flexx]

I'm 12 credits away from BSN. I should be done in two more semesters. I'm scheduled to take ACLS next month. I am on one committee, I've precept newly hired nurses, and I apart of the new nurse mentorship program. I'm active in my organization. I am lacking any professional memberships, i'll look into that

By saying "denied" i'm not implying that I deserve anything. However on more than one occasion I've been told I don't have the credentials for ICU. many facilities make it seem as if to work in ICU you must first have, tele experience, step down experience, a bsn, acls, ekg certs, etc....

Yet there are new grads that get employed in ICU's at other places, sans any certs. Many of them do just fine.

Complaining aside, I have no choice but to rack up enough credentials until an ICU somewhere decides to give me a chance.

[jema1990]

Hey there. I work on a cardiac ICU floor after about six months on progressive care/tele. I do have my BSN, which many hospitals (including my employer) require these days for ICU and even the floor. I became ACLS certified before I applied and I also contacted the manager and expressed interest in the posted position but wondered if I could shadow the unit to see if I really thought it was a good fit. I ended up getting an interview and the position. I wouldn't get frustrated. Just market your strengths and think of good points for improvement (as that question will always get asked in an interview). Good luck :)

[SionainnRN]

By saying "denied" i'm not implying that I deserve anything. However on more than one occasion I've been told I don't have the credentials for ICU. many facilities make it seem as if to work in ICU you must first have, tele experience, step down experience, a bsn, acls, ekg certs, etc.... .

So you've been told specifically what you need to help get you into ICU and are complaining that you aren't getting hired when you still don't have those requirements? Obviously your first step is getting a job in tele or stepdown, getting a year of experience there while finishing your BSN. Those things will help you in getting into ICU. But don't complain about not getting a job when you've been told what the requirements are and you don't have them.

[anon456, BSN, RN]

Try applying to an ED in hospital that has a strong trauma unit. I think that might the foot in the door you need to get into critical care eventually. Another route is to try getting on a pulmonology unit that has patients with trachs and vents. They are usually very sick and you get good critical care experience.

[SionainnRN]

Try applying to an ED in hospital that has a strong trauma unit. I think that might the foot in the door you need to get into critical care eventually. Another route is to try getting on a pulmonology unit that has patients with trachs and vents. They are usually very sick and you get good critical care experience.

Usually ER is harder to get into than ICU. Either place will want tele experience. I went from trauma ICU to ER and even that was hard. I know med/surg nurses seem to have a harder time due to lack of critical care experience.

[Flexx]

So you've been told specifically what you need to help get you into ICU and are complaining that you aren't getting hired when you still don't have those requirements? Obviously your first step is getting a job in tele or stepdown, getting a year of experience there while finishing your BSN. Those things will help you in getting into ICU. But don't complain about not getting a job when you've been told what the requirements are and you don't have them.

its just frustrating someone can spend 5 years to prove they are worthy of an ICU position. (2-3 years med surg, 2yrs stepdown). Meanwhile new grads all across the country land ICU positions fresh out of nursing school due to location, connections, or luck.. That's all

anyhow like I said, i'lll keep trying

[SionainnRN]

its just frustrating someone can spend 5 years to prove they are worthy of an ICU position. (2-3 years med surg, 2yrs stepdown). Meanwhile new grads all across the country land ICU positions fresh out of nursing school due to location, connections, or luck.. That's all

anyhow like I said, i'lll keep trying

Well sadly that's part of life. Most things aren't fair. Have you tried moving to a rural place that is hiring ICU? If you spend your time looking at what others have and how they got them, you'll wind up bitter very quickly.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

I'm 12 credits away from BSN. I should be done in two more semesters. I'm scheduled to take ACLS next month. I am on one committee, I've precept newly hired nurses, and I apart of the new nurse mentorship program. I'm active in my organization. I am lacking any professional memberships, i'll look into that

By saying "denied" i'm not implying that I deserve anything. However on more than one occasion I've been told I don't have the credentials for ICU. many facilities make it seem as if to work in ICU you must first have, tele experience, step down experience, a bsn, acls, ekg certs, etc....

Yet there are new grads that get employed in ICU's at other places, sans any certs. Many of them do just fine.

Complaining aside, I have no choice but to rack up enough credentials until an ICU somewhere decides to give me a chance.

Once you get your BSN, ACLS, PALS or whatever else you would need to move to a critical care position, then would be where I would start applying. I also believe that many facilities require some work in an ER before one can move on to critical care. With that in mind, could you ask to float to the ER? Is there a community smaller hospital in your area where you can take some per diem shifts in an ER?

I am an LPN that as little as 3-4 years ago did a whole lot, worked in any number of capacities...was very fortunate. Stellar reviews, lots of support, I knew what I knew from a LOT of hard work and learning. Could get an IV in anyone. Was respected in my opinions...the whole nine. Then I was woken up from that dream pretty quickly after the big guys came and took over our little facility.

Point is that facilities don't give a rats behind on what you can do, what you know, how you function. Just don't screw up and cost them more.

They see money. And profit. And the fact that a nurse with experience in a critical care setting can get a bare orientation and be up to par.(as in don't kill anyone) A nurse with no critical care experience needs orientation a lot longer by a preceptor. Which means an extra nurse on a shift that wouldn't need to be there otherwise for a longer period of time. And that costs them money.

Even if the powers that be said to me today "Jade, we want YOU for the ICU" I would absolutely decline. Why? Because (well truth be told, not my thing) however I know I do NOT have the experience to take care of such complex patients with a Med/Surg and ER experience alone. I would need not only a BSN, but a certification specific to critical care. There is not a whole load of new grads landing ICU positions. It is a complex specialty that one needs to know what the heck they are doing. And until you do, do you really want that responsibility? Seriously, think on that. Do you want to be responsible for the complexity of care at this point without more experience? Yes, I know you love the IDEA--and that is not a bad thing. But the reality can be profound.

So look into certifications, an ER position to close that gap in your experience, and best wishes!