Frustrated RN returning to the field

Syncand RN · Nov 6, 2009

My dear friend, the best way in sending resumes is giving it to the NursingOffice of hospitals personally.

pbirdy · Nov 6, 2009

Hey Syncand RN, Thanks for your reply. I have brought my resumes to the hospitals..........right to the office!!!!!!! They have all told me to go online. I was out of my mind. I'M HERE...NOW...WITH A RESUME..IN PERSON. OH man. Nope, they wouldn't even take my paper resume. Who would of thought it would come to this????

Lacie, BSN, RN · Nov 6, 2009

I understand how you feel. I recently left a chronic dialysis job and since I have been away from hospital nursing for 3 years I cant find another job!!! Even with 28 years experience in just about anything you can think of lol. It's a real pain. Same thing also - apply on line!! what about people who dont have computers or cant afford the internet now with todays economy. You can also check with Davita if in your area. Chronic units will train in dialysis and also take nurses that have been out abit.

OldnurseRN · Nov 6, 2009

I know how you feel. I left for 7 years before going back. I went first to a state mental facility and then (I believe because I already had a job) I got a staff position on a med-surg floor in a hospital.

Good luck in your search. I found it really difficult because I think when they see you graduated nursing school over 20 years ago you are "silently" discriminated against. Seems no one wants an old nurse or one that, through years of experience, will command a higher wage.

pbirdy · Nov 6, 2009

Hey guys..thanks for replying. Yep, I agree, what about the people who don't have computers??? And as for dialysis.........I have a friend who was in that field for 18 years. Now she is looking for something eles but they don't recognize dialysis as a specialty. ARE THEY OUT OF THEIR MINDS????????????? They don't recognize her as a nurse. What am I missing here???? I thought I had it bad but.......... this is getting more insane as time goes bye. I really have a hard time explaining to my non nursing friends that there really is no nursing shortage. They are all out there picking and choosing. I'm so sick of telling them that I have applied for 3 months and still have not found a job. They think I'm doing something wrong or that I'm retarded. Not so folks. The president of my hospital asked me personally to take care of him and his family when they were sick.........inhouse and at their home. My immediate supervisor asked me to take care of her as well as my fellow nurses. I'm not a retard. I think there is something wrong with this country where they hire foreign nurses and we can't even get a job within our own turf. Oh dear, I'm on a roll. Bottom line. I NEED A JOB!!! NOW

JenniferSews · Nov 7, 2009

The days of hiring foreign nurses is over. Look around here and you'll find plenty of nurses, new and experienced, looking for jobs with no luck. Hopefully someone will have advice for you, all I have is a pile of decline letters.

Willow Moonsidhe · Nov 7, 2009

I feel your pain. Took me almost a year to get a job after being out. I am on a vascular CHF PCU floor and I have 2 New Grads from May 2009 orienting me that had me do everything today lol They are scared of IV's the works!

Lacie, BSN, RN · Nov 7, 2009

Hey guys..thanks for replying. Yep, I agree, what about the people who don't have computers??? And as for dialysis.........I have a friend who was in that field for 18 years. Now she is looking for something eles but they don't recognize dialysis as a specialty. ARE THEY OUT OF THEIR MINDS????????????? They don't recognize her as a nurse. What am I missing here???? I thought I had it bad but.......... this is getting more insane as time goes bye. I really have a hard time explaining to my non nursing friends that there really is no nursing shortage. They are all out there picking and choosing. I'm so sick of telling them that I have applied for 3 months and still have not found a job. They think I'm doing something wrong or that I'm retarded. Not so folks. The president of my hospital asked me personally to take care of him and his family when they were sick.........inhouse and at their home. My immediate supervisor asked me to take care of her as well as my fellow nurses. I'm not a retard. I think there is something wrong with this country where they hire foreign nurses and we can't even get a job within our own turf. Oh dear, I'm on a roll. Bottom line. I NEED A JOB!!! NOW

You are so right!! Places dont see dialysis as a specialty! I was even told that we dont do venipuncture or use needles in dialysis that everyone has a cvc in one interview for rehab unit LOL!! Considering I did Medical case management in Rehab in the past. I find most places dont even know there are such a thing as outpt dialysis clinics much less know what we do. I also have extensive CC background. I'm getting calls but all out of state and I dont want to move. Have an interview Monday as a Research Coordinator so wish me luck.

Rose Martha · Nov 16, 2009

It is very frustrating when you know you can do the job however no one will give you a chance.

As an RN with 30 years experience in a number of fields, it has been very difficult to get to the

second interview. I keep plugging away as I do like being a nurse. However I may just give it up

and be a census taker:D!

tokmom, BSN, RN · Nov 16, 2009

Hang in there. I was out for almost 5 yrs and had to go back do to my husbands health. I'm now the breadwinner. :crying2: I thought with 16 yrs of heavy med/surg experience it would be a cake walk to find a job. Boy, was I mistaken. It took me 3 months to find a job on a med/surg/tele unit in a very small hospital.

Recruiters didn't like the fact I had been out, but they really didnt' like my not having ACLS. They also told me the economy was a recruiters dream, as nurses were coming out of retirement to work.

If you do land a job, beware. Every place I interviewed for told me that I was going to be starting on a 8 yr pay scale. Never mind the full 16 I worked. They factored in my previous PT position (3 days a week) and my time away. I couldn't live off of that, so told this rural hospital another hospital offered me a position and were going to honor my 16 yrs of experience. They called back with a counter offer that I took.

You might have to go the LTC route to get some experience under your belt.

I don't think that these recruiters realize you don't lose your nursing touch and common sense. Yeah, the charting is computerized and you don't even want to get me started on the Pyxis for meds, but my assessment skills are as sharp now as they were 4 yrs ago.

pbirdy · Nov 17, 2009

Oh man! I'm more frustrated than I was before. I live in Florida and now they are saying that the Treasure Coast is going to be busier because of all the snow birds coming back. They need more experienced nurses~~~~ OMG!!! What do you think Orientation is all about then????? This whole thing is smelling like a scam. They want to pay less for nurses. I think that if I even had a chance, they would start me out on a salary like a new graduate!!!! You've got to be kidding me!!! I feel that I would probably be considered as a new grad because of my absence!! So.........they're saving money but I would be working like a dog because I know all of my experiences would be flooding back to me!! I know that I would be doing more than my minimal pay, more than a new grad would be capable of................I'm more frustrated than ever. I can't get a foot in!! Geezzz, all I'm asking is for another chance again. These people who decide who gets in with an absence in the field have never been there. They just don't understand. Forget it then. I could be making good money as a dish washer getting tips from the servers!!!! What a waste.