Help! Want to be Staff developer?

[BrookeeLou_RN]

I am RN with 23 yrs exp, took off the last year to care for terminal parents. I have done majority of home health, ADON of LTC for 2 yrs, 1 yr infection control/employee health and some L&D years ago. I have done staff development inside supervisor and LTC jobs.

I need help reinventing myself. Right now I do not think doing hands on patient care will be good for me.. I am still mourning my losses. My favorite part of every job was always teaching, precepting, orientating. Because I quit 2 good jobs in last year.. and yes, I am very sad. I am finding some resistance to the point one interviewer called me "Irresponsible", I did not even leave positions without proper notice! I think it is cruel when a nurse/daughter can not take time off to care for dying parents/spouse/child. I mean what is the point of being a nurse if you can not care for your own. But, what's done is done.

I have a ADN with 128 college credits. Was in BSN online program and stopped when parents crashed. Right now do not want to be in school. I truly feel I need MSN but am almost 55 and not sure about the $$$$ involved.

Any suggestions would be very welcomed! I would love to get Staff development job especially if it was the sole job but am flexible enough to wear more than one hat. I live in SE TN so therefore Chattanooga is closest populated area. There are lots of jobs advertised but I do not seem to fit most. Please help!

Thanks in advance!

[llg, PhD, RN]

While you may not want to hear this ... I think you need to give yourself a reality check. The job market is not what you want it to be -- it is what is it is. You are probably not going to be able to change the job market. The only think you can change is yourself.

You say that you are not a fit for most of the jobs you see advertised. What do you need to do to become a "good fit?" You need to consider doing those things. If more education is required, then that is what you will need to do. If certain types of experience are necessary to qualify for the job you want, then you will need to get a job that will offer that type of experience and work at the job for a while even if you don't like it.

If you are not willing to change yourself to get qualified for the jobs you want, then you may need to see what jobs are available that you ARE qualified for and be satisfied with one of them. Do a thorough assessment of your skills, experience, etc. and do an honest assessment of how you look through the eyes of an employer comparing you to other job applicants. What jobs would they hire you for? Are you content with the types of jobs that they would offer you? If so, seek that type of job. If not, get the qualifications you need for the jobs that will.

Good luck to you, whatever you decide to do next in your career development.

[BrookeeLou_RN]

No I appreciate your honesty...I am not a good fit for bedside hospital jobs, I am almost 55, have not been in hsopital nursing for many years and then it was L&D. I am not physically able to do 12 hrs shifts consistently. I can not reinvent myself to meet those qualifications. Those are the ads I am finding.

Education has never been the issue..but there does come a break even point..yrs/dollars spent vs yrs/dollars potentially earned. That is reality.

What do employers see..an nurse who resigned from 2 jobs in one year... can not change that..that is reality.

Trying to change area of practice is very tough once you have been in an area for a long time.

I asked for suggestions..what qualifications would make me a better pick? I am well aware I have to change or not be a nurse... And maybe that will be the best solution of all.

Thank you for your input.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

My facility requires that a nurse in staff development have a minimum of BSN degree with education experience or a MSN in nursing education.

[indigonurse]

Is this a LTC facility or a hospital you are talking about that requires a BSN or MSN to be a staff developer?

[indigonurse]

From what I know it is very important that a nurse has recent experience in long term care for a minimum of one or two years to qualify for a position as a staff developer in LTC.

[litbitblack, ASN, RN]

maybe try to place yourself in a facility that doesn't have one then you can encourage the making of the position. Or at least get experience while looking for your wanted position