How does a newer nurse with 1+ years of exp. non-acute care apply to hospitals?

[tenderfootjoe]

Hi everyone,

I want to first say thanks to everyone for all of the support and wisdom on this site. I am so relieved and thrilled that there is a place that I can ask fellow nurses for career advice! :)

I am a nurse with 1.5 years of experience, 6 months in LTC/Rehab and am now 1 year in as a RN in a very busy peds clinic.

I am going back to school for my BSN now, and I am interested in transitioning to acute care within the next year. I am thinking that my ultimate goal is surgical nursing, but I would like to try floor nursing first to learn some valuable skills that would help transition me to that field.

The problem is, I have seen that most residency programs require less than 6 months of experience as a nurse. How does a nurse with no acute care experience, but with professional nursing experience, apply to hospitals? Do we apply to normal non-residency positions in the hospital? Some do not specify experience, but how would the training be in non-residency positions? Thanks everyone!

[PacoUSA, BSN, RN]

Networking is probably the best way for you to get onto these units. Do you have friends or colleagues that can introduce you to their managers for interviews? Your peds clinic experience will be valuable to transition to the peds floor. Oftentimes, jobs are filled by people who know people, not by blind resumes received through the internet. If you come highly recommended by a staff member, the manager is more likely to be interested (assuming of course your staff member friend is a good employee and is likely to know other good potential RNs).

Sent from my iPad using allnurses

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Honestly, new grad residency programs are so expensive that organizations are very selective about their stated requirements. If you apply despite the fact that you do not meet those specific criteria, the best case scenario would be that your app is discarded; worst case? you are perceived as unable to read and understand the directions... and that would definitely not be a good thing.

As you progress through your BSN program, take advantage of any acute care networking opportunities. If you're in a 100% online (paper shuffling) program, this may not be possible but if you're in a program that includes clinical practicums you can leverage these to get your foot in the door. If you are pursuing a peri-operative job, I would advise you to focus on finding a place in PACU, an interventional clinic (GI, Endo, Cath Lab) or Day Surgery. These areas are usually closely aligned with the OR.

Best of luck to you!

[RN1789]

I am in a similar boat. I do not know ANYONE where I live. I applied online to several hospitals. I quickly found out only med/surg floors will hire you. Other floors like L&D or perioperative require experience in those fields... well duh I wish I would have thought that through a little better.

So the first month I got declined from everywhere. I revised my resume 4 times over the next month. I put keywords in my resume. Look at the job description of the job you want...put those key words in your resume: leadership qualities, teamwork, education, etc. That is how I started getting interviews and job offers. I was told that a computer system screens all applications for key words.

And be sure to include your BSN (in progress) ___ University (expected graduation date ___)

good luck !