Getting a new job- HELP

[AllAngelsRN]

Hello all,

I need an advice on getting a new job in another hospital. I currently work in a community hospital for the last yr in the SICU. We don't do any transplants, no ICP's, no advance hemodynamic monitoring (I worked with ONLY 3 A-lines and one CVP since I worked in the facility), never seen a Swan or balloon pump.

I have interviewed in several hospitals but I am always let down because I don't have any exposure to the advance hemodynamic monitoring. I am so bored with the regular stuff that I see in my facility (septic shock, strokes, Craniotomies, DKA, MIs, CHF, AAA repairs, Exp Labs, Carotid endarterectomy, colostomies, hip replacements.....). I want to take my career to the next level. I never lie on my resume so the person interviewing me knows I have one year of experience and I don't have advance hemodynamic monitoring. They still interview me, hopping against hope that I work in a big facility and that I have experience with advance hemodynamic monitoring. But by the middle of the interview I am told that they fear that I don't have enough experience with the cases they get since I work in a small community hospital 8 beds of SICU with no hemodynamic experience.

Now I am really worried that I won't be able to go higher because of my first experience. I am very focused on my career. I love to work hard and do my best in any field I go to. ICUs are my chosen career and I want to be skilled in it where I can work in any level one trauma hospital with no problems. What should I do to get a job in those facilities? I am studying for my CCRN and should be able to take it sometime in April. What else can I do? How can I convince those managers that I am worth the investment?

Furthermore, I present well. I am professional in my appearance and skillful in my communication. My GPA is 3.8 and I have another BS in computer science with a GPA of 3.5.....So I got the brains but not the experience. I am willing to relocate to any place in world to get where I want :) Any advice?

[Spiderella]

I was in the same situation last year. I applied to several ICU positions and kept getting rejected because of my small community hospital experience. I finally stopped applying for jobs that required experience, and just applied for new grad ICU positions. I got into a hardcore ICU by telling the manager during that interview that although I didn't have advanced ICU knowledge, I needed to grow and learn beyond what my current position offered me. I told her that i wanted to be the best ICU nurse I could be, and the only way I could do that is if she accepted me into the ranks. She eventually agreed to hire me on as a novice nurse, which means I get a portion of the new grad training program and lengthier orientation than an experienced nurse would get. I think you just have to persevere and keep trying until you find the right ICU/manager that will train you. Show enthusiasm, sincerity and honesty in your interview, and don't come off like a know-it-all.

[Zookeeper3]

Our facility takes brand new grads and puts them through a critical care program with didactic and clinical exp. for 12 weeks then 8 weeks with a preceptor. The instructor designed the program herself, has a PHd and is a true specialist. Someone with your exp. would need about 8 weeks on the floor and fit into just the classes.

Our program runs twice a year, one just started, the next in the fall, like sept. I think. We generally take 6-8 new grads, or those with floor type exp.

That's not to say that we don't hire people with real expierence like you, just wanted to say that there still are facilities, that are eager to higher the newest nurses, provide extensive training to get skilled team members.. any would LOVE having an experienced new team mate.

I understand that yearning, I drove 90 minutes each way, when I lived elsewhere to do heart transplant, the highlight of my career, but I gave up a personal life to have a professional one with such a drive time commitment.

Lastly, wanted to have you pat yourself on the back. Here is what you don't realize, we have the same patients, only I have the bells and whistles so I never have to second guess, or take a first guess, I have all the numbers infront of me. You have to have extensive assessment skills, really know what your doing to provide care and do drip titration and care decisions without the easy answer. So if you're not killing off patients each shift... I'd guess you really already know more than you give yourself credit for. Those toys, just give you more to document each hour, more for the patient to pull at and more for the family to think they can have a two minute inservice on and understand.

PM me if you'd like more information about what I do, least I be accused of recruiting... but you have options... you need to aggresively persue them and know you may have competition, but being persistant, including stopping in HR each week in person of prospective hospitals will pay off. It's about networking and bringing the HR receptionist bagels or donuts after a few BRIEF meetings won't harm a thing:D