Ideas for landing a hospital job in upstate New york? SNF/ LTC nurse

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Specializes in Neurosciences, stepdown, acute rehab, LTC.

Hello, I'm new to posting for allnurses, but have been following topics for a long time. I really love this site!

So, I guess I have a few questions.

I've been working as an RN on SNF/LTC for three and a half years, and have really enjoyed it. I did want the career advancement and hospital job, but liked my own job a lot so watched a lot of my friends apply at a lot of places trying to get into acute care and not making it. Not me, I was too happy and knew that I would make this move when the time was right.

Well now I'm trying to move closer to my boyfriend and applied (to a new job for the first time in a few years) at a hospital in Syracuse. (The time is now "right.")

I have become a very good nurse, and I don't like the idea of desperately putting my application out all over the place. I know that I only deserve a job that I'm prepared to do. (So I know I won't be offered a day shift in an ICU.) However, I am motivated as of late to advance my career (one step at a time.) So I got a decent cover letter together and applied to an ortho floor etc. (That was only 2 days ago.)

Any other tips for me? How's the job market in upstate NY right now? How can I sell myself to a good hospital? Coming from SNF and LTC, my skills need some work, but I do think like a nurse, get along with everyone, learn very fast etc. Is that what everyone in this situation writes on their cover letter? I'm in an RN to BSN program currently.

Because I have no social network up there I'm just a stranger sending and asking for a better job at a desirable company, and the place that I applied for does not want follow up phone calls. I'm in the dark as to how I'm going to appear! Anyway, I'm mostly venting right now. I need some comfort and answers and creative ideas of how to go about this. On my cover letter and resume, my selling points were: Fast learner, thinking on my feet, good communicator and not afraid to ask questions, and loyal to great companies. I also plan on going far with my education and am in school. I was honest about realizing the challenges of moving from long term to acute care.

I'm totally willing to work odd shifts and do grunt work and earn my reputation in a clinical setting, but I want to do so at a company that cares about me. I think I will need to stand out from lots of candidates.

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Apply both to new grad programs and experienced nurse programs, as some places will consider you a new grad and some will consider you an experienced nurse.

You sound intelligent-- let that shine through on your applications.

if you live within driving distance of a hospital with a job opening, visit the HR department and drop off your resume.

I agree that you should not be desperate. It sounds like you have a nice stable job at the nursing home, and you can stick around there for as long as you need to.

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Specializes in Neurosciences, stepdown, acute rehab, LTC.

Oh, thank you for the compliment. Actually, I do need to move out of my place shortly, and I'm not going to be starting a new job here, I actually don't live in NY yet. The position I applied for got taken down the day after I applied (along with many others) and today I got a letter from nursing recruitment that was personable enough...

I didn't get the interview, but they encourage me to apply for positions that open up in the hospital, they are always looking for good nurses etc. So, that was encouragingish at least. I'll just keep hoping, I think prospects up there are better than where I am now.

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No you cannot apply to new grad positions! Nowhere is a new BSN grad who has been an RN for 3 years considered a new grad!

I don't have any life changing advice for you, because I am in a similar situation. Except I am trying to get into a hospital after 4 years of home health. If anything works for me, I'll let you know! :) Good luck!

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No you cannot apply to new grad positions! Nowhere is a new BSN grad who has been an RN for 3 years considered a new grad!

I don't have any life changing advice for you, because I am in a similar situation. Except I am trying to get into a hospital after 4 years of home health. If anything works for me, I'll let you know! :) Good luck!

I spoke to a nurse manager, and she told me a nurse with 2 years of HH/ LTC experience still counts as a new grad in her unit.

It really honestly depends on where you are working and what their standards for "experience" are.

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Specializes in Neurosciences, stepdown, acute rehab, LTC.

Yes, it's a strange dynamic!! I would love to be considered a new grad honestly. I know I'd be happier to get the extra training. One of my friends from work with a bsn and a couple years in the ltc/snf got hired as a new grad in a hospital. I was going to simply follow her to where she went before the NY thing came up. A lot of the advice is similar I guess, add certifications like ACLS/IV therapy...

I don't know if the personality/smart/multitasker stuff works.

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