Well with the supposed nursing shortage, I really thought it would be easier to find a job. I live in a large city, and could reasonably drive to 6 hospitals. I am finding that online postings are confusing. You don't really know what unit/type of job you are applying to. I have put in several applications, but haven't heard anything yet. Now, I will admit that I am trying to avoid med/surg at all costs, but none of the other options are working out. I'm just getting a little discouraged. I really need to get a job before too much longer. The money we saved for me to finish NS is running out!
I was going to look into a med-surg "residency" that a local hospital just started if I hadn't gotten another job. I think part of the reason I don't like med-surg is for the same reasons you listed. I do, however, think you would get good experience in that area, and if you wanted to transfer after a year or two, it would be much easier to get a position in an area you're more interested in. Good luck in whatever area you work!
I truly don't believe the time will be wasted and do believe that sometimes there's a hand in the direction our lives take that sometimes leads us to places we need to be over the places we want to be.
WDWpixie,
Thank you so much for your words of encouragement. Your words gave me goosebumps. I need to learn to let go sometimes and let things work out the way they were meant to be.
Thank you so much for your words of encouragement. Your words gave me goosebumps. I need to learn to let go sometimes and let things work out the way they were meant to be.
Definately easier said than internalized sometimes, lol....now that I know I have to go in the med/surg direction myself, I am so torn between 3 or 4 hospitals in this area -- big teaching hospital; or a smaller hospital where I have been doing clinicals and an internship and seen more backbiting than I care to deal with but have been encouraged by some of the best folks there to apply?; the hospital with a sign-on bonus that is anywhere from 2 - 5 times that of other local hospitals (and why is that?); or another smaller hospital very close to home where 2 very good friends from NS will be working (on another floor); etc., etc.....
I'm waiting for that great hand of fate to point me in the right direction myself, lol....but I know in the end it will work out for the best...
This whole thing of ppl saying there is a nursing shortage- i dont get it, cuz i know that i can work anywhere, anytime, any shift, which some reasonable demands from my end.
if you need to start on a med/surg- you may need to, but that is at least a foot in the door. but if you really are so opposed to doing it- keep trying. keep in mind you may need to up and reloacate- things could be worse right?
Specializes in Med surg, cardiac, case management.
We're seeing more and more threads here lately about new grads in urban areas who can't find jobs;
I'm not sure I'd consider that to be a reliable source of info...it may be that these threads represent the exception rather than the rule.
In addition there is a phenomena I've observed where you ask 3 nurses a question and you get 4 opinions.
What I've heard is that there is a nursing glut centered around Boston, with vacancy rates of only about 3%. To a lesser extent this holds true for the rest of the northeast. However, as you move to the west and south there is a shortage and vacancy rates are 10% or more.
Have you inquired about job fairs for new grads? Most hospitals who are receptive to graduate nurses seem to do all their hiring at once, at least for the specialty areas. Ours were back in February and the only people who got med-surg jobs were the ones who specifically wanted those spots. I would also make sure you're following up your online applications with a call to HR or even the nursing manager if you can obtain their contact info. Sometimes it's easy to get "lost" in the computer system and personal contact shows extra effort and interest.
I'm not sure I'd consider that to be a reliable source of info...it may be that these threads represent the exception rather than the rule.
In addition there is a phenomena I've observed where you ask 3 nurses a question and you get 4 opinions.
What I've heard is that there is a nursing glut centered around Boston, with vacancy rates of only about 3%. To a lesser extent this holds true for the rest of the northeast. However, as you move to the west and south there is a shortage and vacancy rates are 10% or more.
I'm not suggesting that it's a reliable source of info, or that the threads prove anything. I only mentioned it because even those few anecdotal reports of such difficulty would have been unheard of several years ago.
Specializes in Med surg, cardiac, case management.
I'm not suggesting that it's a reliable source of info, or that the threads prove anything. I only mentioned it because even those few anecdotal reports of such difficulty would have been unheard of several years ago.
That's true...with the increased number of second-career adults entering nursing there are more new grads than a few years ago.
I thoroughly understand your frustration. I just graduated (RN) and started applying for positions at the end of Feb. I have 14 years of experience as a LPN (3 years in a small ER) and 6 years at the same facility. I was given the impression that it would be easy for me to transfer to another department(I work in a large facility). I only placed 2 transfer requests. One in the ER in March(after trying for a month to reach the magr) and the second on April10th in the ICU. It took 3 weeks (for each request) and multiple calls on my part to get an answer. I decided to look at other facilities because like you, I knew what area I wanted to work in and dreaded the thought of Med/SUrg. From doing clinicals and where I currently work, I see how frustrating and stressed out and the poor job sastisfaction in this area. But, I worked Med/Surg for 3 years after LPN school and it is the basic fundamentals of nursing and I am always able to recall much needed knowledge and skills from this experience. Fortunately, I no sooner had applied online for another facility (literally 10-15 minutes) than I got a YES from the ICU. Everybody has been telling me that everything happens for a reason, so keep that in mind. Follow your heart, but listen to advice from others that have been there. Keep trying, don't give up. Good luck!
Yeah you have to play ultimate stalker. I put in 10+ applications before finding a suitable job. And it just seems hard at the beginning, but know that even after your interview, you need to make sure it is a good hospital, don't just settle for anything just because you think it's hard to find a job. You don't want to end up in a bad work environment that could endanger your license (and as much as we'd like to think positive, there are some hospitals that are less nice to their nurses than others) So be careful in choosing! And good luck!
"amen" on the "everything happens for a reason" idea. i have had my heart set on or since i started nursing school. i told myself at the beginning of my last semester that i was only going to apply for or positions until later in the semester. (i wanted to make sure i was concentrating on graduating). my clinicals were in the icu that last semester. about half way through i decided that i liked the critical care area and maybe the or was not the best choice right now. i began to panic and apply for every critical care internship i could find. i was so discouraged that i was not finding a job. but finally, last week, i accepted a ccu position at a hospital that i have wanted to work at for a long time (and it is close to my house).
i feel i am headed right to where i belong. maybe in a few years i can try or.
I too am part of the minority that loves med/surg, I've been recently offered positions on both ICU and ER, my practicum is the ICU and my preceptor and I floated to the ER for a weekend lol but I've already been offered and all but signed the dotted line for med/surg with the same hospital system but at the facility closer to home and nights (which I really need until hubby finishes police academy in Sept lol)
NFB2008
134 Posts
I was going to look into a med-surg "residency" that a local hospital just started if I hadn't gotten another job. I think part of the reason I don't like med-surg is for the same reasons you listed. I do, however, think you would get good experience in that area, and if you wanted to transfer after a year or two, it would be much easier to get a position in an area you're more interested in. Good luck in whatever area you work!