I worked in Med-surg for almost 2 years ending in December 2018. I also worked as a CNA in an SNF for 3.5 years and a nurse there as well for 8 months. My dad received a diagnosis for HCC and was immediately put on the liver transplant list. I am his only surviving family member, daughter and best friend. So it was a no-brainer to me that I had to quit my job at the hospital (one that I was sure I would be working at for a long time) and move a state away to care for him. I thought it would only be a couple of months off work but he ended up having serious complications that continue to this day. I think he is at a place now where he will be OK with me moving out of his home (to protect him from COVID) and working again. I can still swing by and take his garbage out, mow his lawn, clean his house while wearing a mask and opening windows. I'm just really bummed right now because it seems like all the hospitals in my area aren't hiring. Even if they would, why on earth would they want me when I have less than 2 years med-surg experience and have been off the job for a year and a half?
I applied to some travel nursing jobs because I live near Bellingham WA and could easily hop around all the major hospitals in the NW area of WA. The recruiter basically told me that I didn't have a shot in hell at travel nursing because of the lapse in nursing. Believe me, I have been flexing my nursing muscles during that time off. I have a HUGE list of continuing education, I finish my BSN in 2 weeks, and I have been a patient advocate for my father (which came with a TON of research, keeping track of his meds, labs, and asking the doctors sooo many questions). I feel so hopeless right now. All the postings that I am seeing are for travel nurses.
Can someone offer me some insight and/or advice?
I don't know how to network with COVID happening and I have no friends in the medical field in this area. Any help appreciated. There is NO way that I am going to start from scratch at an SNF. I'm 36 years old and have a toddler so it's time for me to get rocking on my career!
Not all SNFs are equal; If you do work at a SNF do your research! Talk to current or former employees if possible, and ask about retention. Are there any covid testing centers looking for temporary employees? That could lead to a full time later. Are you open to non hospital jobs like clinic, hospice, home health, insurance? M-F regular hours might be good for your situation. I really hope your dad's health improves and that you can find a job that works for the situation. Wishing you and your family the best ❤️
Hi LibraNurse27,
I believe that to be true. The SNF I worked in was spectacular. I just don't want to back-peddle in my career. Plus, I've spent so much time doing that work and I'm worn out by it. I love an environment where I can focus on the whole patient in a precise way. This is why I am lusting for medsurg. I think the reality is that I may have to take a non-hospital jub right now and I accept that. You bring up some great ideas. I am totally willing to branch out to clinic work or covid related contact tracing possibly just for a short time (because a job with the least exposure risk is the best for my immunosuppressed dad and even if I move out, I want him to be able to see his granddaughter regularly). Because of my toddler, working 3 12hr shifts would be the best (she's SUCH a mommas girl). Or 4 10hr shifts. Thank you for your kind words. You helped me shake off the fear a bit about re-entering the workforce after 1.5 years during this pandemic. Lots of ppl bashing me for this post, saying things like I am whining and I just need to get real and work at a SNF but I have a complex family situation to think about too (my daughter has VSD). It's also so frustrating not to be able to get to know all of your patients on a deep level. I thrive with psychosocial engagement so home health would be great. I just hope I can find someone to take me on. Thanks again! You are very kind. Lifted my spirits when I needed it the most. ?
You want to be near your dad and have a little one so I am confused as to why you want to travel. I could not get into travel nursing after a lapse of 2 years. In the travel biz, recent experience is within one year. I did 6 months of agency work to get myself current. That opened the door to travel and hospital work.
Good luck, best wishes to dad.
I have talked to recruiters that can float me in travel nursing just throughout Bellingham (where I live), surrounding cities, and Seattle. She is not in school yet so I thought it would be a viable option considering what the job posts are telling me.
What type of agency did you work for, if I can ask? That's really helpful information!
Sometimes we just have to suck it up and do things we don’t like. If working for 6 months in SNF put me in a better place to find work, that’s what I would I do. Not sit around for 6 months complaining about not being able to find work.
seems like a small sacrifice to me.
I'm just burned out on working SNF. I want to explore every other possible option. Also, the risk for infection can be way too high and I want to be able to visit my dad to help him out and allow him to see his granddaughter regularly.
You may just have to keep banging on doors. Talk to a few more recruiters. One recruiter's negative outlook may not actually be the real story. Even if it is, you miss 100% of the shots you don't take, so go ahead and fling some at the net and see what happens.
Here in Dallas we are hiring like crazy and can't get them on-boarded fast enough. Your gap is going to slow this down for you and unfortunately caring for your dad and earning your BSN aren't really seen as contributory. What every hospital is wanting just now is real, provable experience. You are in a funny spot - not really all that experienced to begin with, now with a gap almost as long as you were working and not a new grad. Long and short of it...you're a gamble during a pandemic when there isn't a lot of ability to do the kind of hand-holding they fear you may need. On paper, you look 50/50 and that feels risky.
You may have to look in some places others aren't willing to in order to get your foot in the door somewhere. If you are dead set against SNF nursing, so be it. Apply for night shift at the worst hospital in town and stay long enough to look recent again on your resume. But don't slam that door on SNF too hard. It's a valid specialty, it isn't bad everywhere and its a bit insulting to those who do it to act as if it is beneath you. Be kind.
Good luck with your search and all my best to you and your father.
Thanks NurseSMS!
That was some solid, hard truth, real advice that was also kind and understanding of my situation. I really appreciate you. I am thinking of completing a masterclass for the medsurg certification which is a huge CNE. I think that might help (maybe a lot). Thanks for telling me about not shooting for my dream workplace and going for the lower end hospital. I know a few in the area. I will definitely try that first.
One thought I had though is that I'm basically a new grad but with experience, so they can pay me the lowest wage... that might look desirable to them with all the budgetary problems right now.
I don't think SNF's are beneath me. I just LOVE to be able to connect with patients on a deeper level and utilize my critical thinking skills when caring for them and being able to look at all the interdisciplinary team's notes, engage with the interdisciplinary team, advocate for the patients, and aid people with psychosocial issues. An SNF is so busy and not at that level of care. Also, I am just burned out from working at an SNF. Then there is a high risk of infection and I want to be able to see my dad frequently and have him see his granddaughter.
To be honest many nurses are struggling to find or keep consistent work due to the Covid 19 pandemic. I am actually struggling myself without a lapse in employment. I would recommend trying home health, training is usually offered for at least a week. And it only requires a year of experience.
Also, family is always a priority. A job is replaceable. A life is not.
Yes! Thank you!! I think we all have to make some hard decisions right now, but family always comes first.
The home health frightens me a little because of complete autonomy. However, I see the benefits of reducing risk of becoming ill or getting my family ill. Also, the listings that I have found usually say they want to experience in HH. How does one get to experience when there is none offered? Have you done HH? If so, what was it like for you?
Sometimes we just have to suck it up and do things we don’t like. If working for 6 months in SNF put me in a better place to find work, that’s what I would I do. Not sit around for 6 months complaining about not being able to find work.
seems like a small sacrifice to me.
As I've told others, the risk of infection and bringing that back to my immunosuppressed dad is terrifying. I am also really burned out on working at a SNF. I thrive on more personal and in-depth care. If medsurg wasn't an option than home health may be. I want to connect with my patients holistically through the details of their health and through the compassion and psychosocial aspect of nursing.
Try a dialysis clinic; it's a good place to get some experience built back up and get back into the work game. And dialysis patients always need treatments, so no layoffs or furloughs
That's an interesting thought. I have seen consistent posts for dialysis clinics. I think that would be a good position for me because I thrive on building therapeutic relationships. Thanks for the tip! Do you work in one or have you? What was your experience like? Do you feel like you were adequately paid?
That's an interesting thought. I have seen consistent posts for dialysis clinics. I think that would be a good position for me because I thrive on building therapeutic relationships. Thanks for the tip! Do you work in one or have you? What was your experience like? Do you feel like you were adequately paid?
I'm currently a clinic manager with Fresenius. When I started as a floor nurse, it started out paying more than other jobs because of unconventional hours and many just think lowly of dialysis. I have no clue why. I love it!
Before you ask a lot of details about hours and pay, I would encourage you to apply and ask because it will vary by clinic, even in the same town and company.
I was going to respond... had a toddler using me as a personal jungle gym. Sorry to offend you. I appreciate the message!
I'm not whining and complaining. I am trying to understand what the job market is like right now and how I should approach it.
The job market in WA is getting desperate. At the locale I mentioned they are offering a $250 incentive pay to pick up night shifts. I'm still on orientation, so am refraining.
The job market in WA is getting desperate. At the locale I mentioned they are offering a $250 incentive pay to pick up night shifts. I'm still on orientation, so am refraining.
That's awesome! I'm a night owl so I love love love night shift. Better culture usually too...
Im not sure that home health will be as safe as you imagine. You can't control who or how many people and animals are in a patient's home. When you walk in, there can be ten family members with unknown infection status, or there can be just the patient, who is unknowingly transmitting COVID from recent exposure.
I also found that there wasn't much time for a therapeutic relationship in home health, as there was a daily quota to be met and you had to figure in travel time between patients.
I have never done it, but dialysis seems like the clinic would need to be ultra safe due to patients being particularly vulnerable to infection. Maybe that would be a good area for you as suggested by a previous poster.
Its going to be a gamble in any specialty unless you work from home.
Good luck on your job search. I wonder if you may need to share a little why you have the gap in your resume. I am a pessimist and would just assume the worst on why you have a gap.
Try to steer clear from travel nursing. your experience was pretty limited to start with and you have been out of the field for a few years. being expected to hit the floor running sounds like a recipe from disaster.
Unfortunately a nurse with a gap in their resume can be less desirable than a new grad to a hiring manager........ but you just need one person to give you the chance. good luck!
ThatBLURN, BSN, RN
60 Posts
Hi LibraNurse27,
I believe that to be true. The SNF I worked in was spectacular. I just don't want to back-peddle in my career. Plus, I've spent so much time doing that work and I'm worn out by it. I love an environment where I can focus on the whole patient in a precise way. This is why I am lusting for medsurg. I think the reality is that I may have to take a non-hospital jub right now and I accept that. You bring up some great ideas. I am totally willing to branch out to clinic work or covid related contact tracing possibly just for a short time (because a job with the least exposure risk is the best for my immunosuppressed dad and even if I move out, I want him to be able to see his granddaughter regularly). Because of my toddler, working 3 12hr shifts would be the best (she's SUCH a mommas girl). Or 4 10hr shifts. Thank you for your kind words. You helped me shake off the fear a bit about re-entering the workforce after 1.5 years during this pandemic. Lots of ppl bashing me for this post, saying things like I am whining and I just need to get real and work at a SNF but I have a complex family situation to think about too (my daughter has VSD). It's also so frustrating not to be able to get to know all of your patients on a deep level. I thrive with psychosocial engagement so home health would be great. I just hope I can find someone to take me on. Thanks again! You are very kind. Lifted my spirits when I needed it the most. ?
Jennifer