Giving up

Nurses Career Support

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I am an experienced RN of 12+ years. I am working right now, but not in a specialty I love. I have been trying to switch specialties for 5+ years with no luck. It seems all of my experience is worth nothing. For now I am giving up, taking a break. I will keep my per diem job but will stop applying for FT and PTin my preferred specialties. I will just be a stay at home mom for now. Maybe I will start job hunting again next year. I just can not handle the rejection anymore. I don't understand why my experience is worth nothing. I think new grads are getting hired before me.

Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.

Persistence, persistence, persistence.

It took me 36 applications and a year to get a promotion from sitter to PCA/SNA, and that was for an unlicensed position. Had I given up on the thirty-fifth application, I would still be working as a sitter. It was a hard lesson to learn, but those who give up will most certainly fail. Keep applying, perhaps volunteer at a Children's Hospital, but if you give up now, then you will NEVER get into that specialty you are hoping to get into.

Specializes in ICU, OR.

Thanks for the words of encouragement. I am still working as an RN, don't get me wrong. I'm just working pool and okay with that. Spending more time at home for a while. Not going to settle for anything new or permanent FT unless it's what I really want to be doing. Too many times I accepted a job then realized it's more of the same, and not what I WANT to be doing.

As far as Education or a Masters... I was accepted and didn't go. I have plenty of adult experience, that's not a problem at all. I get calls back for certain adult jobs but it's not what I want. That's okay. Like I said, I am going to chill out and wait for the right fit.

Specializes in MS, ED.

I think it's good to know what you want and keep that in mind as you're applying. I did med-surg for a few years and really wanted out; I had solid references and IV/ACLS/PALS etc but kept hearing 'you need two years in this (any) specialty to apply.' I decided to focus on the ED and spent seven months applying regularly to departments throughout my area. I joined ENA, attended the meetings and CE and volunteered. I kept in touch with other nurses I knew who were float pool to trade leads on jobs at different facilities.

It took seven months but I did end up getting a job. Granted, the orientation was too short and it's a difficult department, but it's a good first job in the specialty and I wouldn't trade it back.

Maybe OB office? Public health doing patient teaching? Peds home health? PICU? Something more to do with moms and babies, so you can network and get closer to what you want?

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