How do I get my foot in the door? (vent and question)

[bluesnurse]

After 17 years in cardiology, I've decided to follow my dream and transition into psych nursing. It's always interested me, and since turning 40 I've taken a hard look at my career direction. While I love cardiology, it's not something I see myself still wanting to do in ten years. I've looked at grad school, but I see the day-to-day routine of our NPs and frankly it's not a job I'd want. I would also like to teach nursing at some point, but I'm not sure I want to go the nursing education route, I'd prefer CNS or NP.

I know I could do it. I absolutely adored my psych clinicals, I'm introverted but very good in one-to-one and small group communication. Some of our cardiac patients in the clinic also have significant psych issues; after 3+ years they ask for me by name when they call and my co-workers are more than happy to let me take care of them. I've always maintained that *all* patients are psych patients, and if you get a feel for what's going on in their heads, it makes everything else make more sense.

Last summer, I decided to do some volunteer work to test my interest. I got involved with a crisis assistance ministry through my church; they were assembling teams to work with at-risk single parents transitioning from homelessness to subsidized housing. My team is supporting a lovely young lady who is taking pre-radiography classes and working full time at a minimum-wage service job. The challenges she wakes up to every morning make my disheveled life look like a picnic. But she is strong and articulate, and though I've been able to mentor her, it's nothing compared to what she's taught me.

Full disclosure: my affinity for psych also has a lot to do with my having bipolar 2. I was not fully diagnosed and treated until my mid-thirties, and finally being able to name and manage my illness has given me deep empathy for others who also struggle. Until I made peace with my disorder, I could not have made it in mental health nursing. But now I am ready. I've known cancer survivors in oncology, amputees in physiatry, diabetics in diabetes education -- all excellent, compassionate caregivers.

The problem is, I can't get my foot in the door. I'm trying to go the route of an internal transfer; I work in a very large health system. It's a good company with great benefits and my reviews have been consistently glowing. But the last resume I submitted for a psych opening was rejected within an hour. (It's an online system, which is impersonal and generally stinks.)

It's true that aside of school and the recent volunteer work, I have no psych experience on paper. But how do you convey "soft skills" on a resume? If you are in the position to hire people, what makes you want to call someone for an interview? Or am I kidding myself that one can transition from the world of pressures and velocities to a world of perception and feelings?

Thanks for indulging my vent. Any thoughts are welcome. :redbeathe

[rpw4031]

I have seen psych nurses have a hard time finding med-surg, ER, and ICU positions but not usually the other way around. I think if you just kept at it you would find someone who recognizes your "soft" skills and how valuable you'd be on a psych unit with your med-surg/cardiology experience. Most VA hospitals tend to have a large psych focus and they have been known to hire non-psych nurses for the psych units. Good luck!

[Jules A, MSN]

I'd get a hold of the nurse manager. We are often in need of nurses and imo HR often has so much going on that things fall through the cracks. FWIW I would do a share day on the unit because although it sounds wonderful to want to help people with a similar condition to yours it isn't always a good fit, imo.

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

I agree with Jules. Skip the HR department at first. Find out who the nursing managers are on psych units and go talk to them. They do the hiring. They can tell you if they have openings, and talking with them will open the door more than submitting an application they might never see would do. Tell them your experience and dreams. Tell them what you can bring to their area. Ask if you could shadow a nurse on their units (that helps get you noticed and also lets you know if you would really want to work there).

I would also, at this point, leave out information about your bipolar disorder and introversion. Surely those can come up later, but are not needed as you try to get your foot in the door. Neither should keep you out of psych nursing, btw, if you have overcome them and can be an appropriate (or even awesome!) nurse.