Changing specialties-need advice/long post

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in ob, med surg.

I need some opinions please. I graduated nursing school in 2005. I wanted to specialize and secured an entry level position in L & D. I LOVED IT!! But at the end of a shift, after about 6 or 7 weeks, I was pulled aside and told that I was being sent to the Med/Surg/ Peds floor for additional training. To say that I never saw it coming would be an understatement. I was told that after 3-6 months, that I would be able to return to L & D. I was gutted, but I sucked it up and did med surg. I found while I was there that my preceptor took her role seriously and wanted me to succeed. I had constant feedback and encouragement. It was a big change from MY experience in L & D was where my so called preceptor sat on her *** and watched me do the work and shouted out occasionally "What is taking you so long?" (I guess that was her idea of feedback!) You get the gist. So after a couple of months, I decided that I appreciated the support I got in Med/Surg/Peds and that as much as I wanted to go to L & D, I no longer wanted to deal with the people on that floor, in that department. Besides-and this is kinda the kicker here, all through nursing school, we were told "Do Med/Surg first and you can go on to do any specialty that you want." I spent 3 1/2 years in Med/ Surg and ended up being one of the 3 nurses (out of 15) with the most seniority, the one the others looked to for advice and help.

We have recently moved to the West Coast with my husband's job. I am job hunting and looking to go back into L & D. I am having no luck in that ALL positions that I have seen want previous experience and I was told by one recruiter that they are not having any trouble filling those positions with trained nurses. Other areas that I have expressed interest in do not want Med/Surg nurses either. They want previous experience or ED nurses. If I go into a related area-say post surgery like maybe Bariatrics, then I feel that I should stay probably longer than a year. If I go out of the hospital, then won't I have to take an RN renewal course to go back to the hospital? Won't a recruiter then wonder why if my goal is L & D, why did I go into a related med/surg specialty or leave the hospital to do for instance, same day surgery?-(I applied for a position) One other puzzle-I cannot be considered for the limited internships available because I am no longer a new nurse. What is going on here??

At this point, I'm seriously considering watressing through the holidays then trying again in January. I could go back to school I guess. Then would I qualify for internships? Something seems messed up here but maybe its me? :crying2:

I am 47, have a 15 and 18 year old (no child care issues) and have the following: BS (management),AS, RN, BLS, ACLS,PALS, Chemo course, Preceptor course. I have excellent references and an exceptional job review. I would be rehired at my old job-which is 3000 miles away. The commute would be a bit long. Thanks for reading all this and any helpful advice.

First, is your DH likely to be transferred again soon? It is hard to build a career when the spouse is constantly transferred. Your recruiters may see this. Second, if you know you will be in an area for a significan time(over a year) you can focus more on getting in the door and after 6 months requesting a transfer to the area you really want. If you are able to build some skills in you chosen specialty, you can take them wherever you go. giving you a slight edge. If your spouses career eclipses your own, you may try travel nursing. A stong MS nurse should not have too much trouble finding work. They may even consider you maternal background when finding assignments.

Specializes in ER.

Have you thought about doing agency work? You could do med-surg until you landed an L&D job. You wouldn't be stuck and agency nursing pays well. Good luck.

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