Is It Just Me or...?

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Med surge/ tele.

So I’ve been in med surge/ telemetry for a little over year now. And I’ve been having THE HARDEST time getting in to both labor & delivery nursing & post part in nursing. I’ve always Felt like I’ve belonged in maternity nursing. I’d Gotten into med-surge because by the time I was able to move back home after graduation all the maternity nursing jobs seemed to be taken.

Now I've gotten a good amount of experience on my telemetry floor but I feel like the fact that I’ve gotten some nursing experience, it has done absolutely nothing for me as far as benefiting me in getting the job I want. Which is not what I was expecting.. so I guess I set myself for that let-down.

I’ve had many recruiters call me but that’s always as far as it will go. I’ve seen in job postings and even had interviewers tell me within 0.5 seconds of the interview that they wanted someone with more experience or experience in the field.

Obviously I’m starting to really question is it me after being on so many interviews and being told the same thing. I’m honestly contemplating volunteer work or shadowing.

So I'm wondering is this often a problem when looking for a job in this specialty? Or is it just me?

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If they are telling you that quickly in the interview, it’s a no go for other reasons. They wouldn’t take the time to set up the interview knowing your experience level already if that was the reason.

I think you need to evaluate your interview skills. You are not connecting somehow.

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Specializes in school nurse.

Also, a little over a year is not usually considered a "good amount of experience" - if it's your first job. Is it?

Unfortunately (as well) sometimes people are brought in for interviews to show that a good faith effort was made in the search while all along someone was earmarked for the position, usually an internal candidate or someone with connections. I'm not saying that that is usually the case, but...

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

Coming from a hiring manager in OB/L&D - if you're being invited to interview, and then they're telling you you don't have enough experience, then the problem is how you're coming across in your interview and/or you don't present well or are not well-spoken. I would recommend finding an employment coach or someone who can give you pointers on how to best present yourself.

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Specializes in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology RN.

@Sheika34 I dont know how much preparation you have done but if you get all the way to the interview it means you ARE qualified, you just have to be prepared for the interview part...

As a new grad RN, I researched common interview questions and also practiced how and what I would say. I reminded myself to be humble and most importantly speak from the heart. Maybe speaking to a career coach would be a good option. Keep your head up, and learn from your previous interviews so that you can be better for the next one.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

All of the above is absolutely true. Add to that knowledge, you have the best chance of changing specialties if you can get hired in the organization you are already working in. Start visiting that floor. Get to know the nurses there and speak to the charge nurses and the manager. Let them know about your interest and ask for opportunities to shadow on your days off.

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You are what is referred to as an "advanced beginner".

While some specialty departments hire minimally experienced nurses, the places you are applying can apparently afford to hold out for what is referred to as "competent" nurses.

https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/nursing/projects/Documents/novice-expert-benner.pdf

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Specializes in Mother Baby & pre-hospital EMS.

I wanted to let you know you're not alone. The only hospital jobs I've had were in stroke, PCU, and 23-hr observation units. Nearly the entire time I was trying to transfer into Mother-Baby or L&D. The first time I got an interview but no offer. The second time, I kept being told that they were waiting for openings, and I was so, so burned out from hospital nursing that I left the hospital entirely.

I eventually found a full-time RN job out of the hospital that I am enjoying, but I feel a little drawn towards OB. I've been volunteering on a Mother-Baby floor and the NICU once a week at our local women and babies hospital (non-clinical duties). Some of the staff have discovered I'm a nurse and told me to apply, and I have, but I did not get called for an interview (I think it's because I applied for a PRN job, and I have no experience, so of course I wasn't expecting to get called). This is fulfilling my desire for now. I'm happy where I am. Not super interested in getting back to the hospital. Maybe a clinic someday?

All that to say - keep trying. Don't give up. And sometimes it helps to volunteer and get your foot in the door that way. ?

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Specializes in Med surge/ tele.
On 10/2/2019 at 5:41 PM, Journey_On said:

I wanted to let you know you're not alone. The only hospital jobs I've had were in stroke, PCU, and 23-hr observation units. Nearly the entire time I was trying to transfer into Mother-Baby or L&D. The first time I got an interview but no offer. The second time, I kept being told that they were waiting for openings, and I was so, so burned out from hospital nursing that I left the hospital entirely.

I eventually found a full-time RN job out of the hospital that I am enjoying, but I feel a little drawn towards OB. I've been volunteering on a Mother-Baby floor and the NICU once a week at our local women and babies hospital (non-clinical duties). Some of the staff have discovered I'm a nurse and told me to apply, and I have, but I did not get called for an interview (I think it's because I applied for a PRN job, and I have no experience, so of course I wasn't expecting to get called). This is fulfilling my desire for now. I'm happy where I am. Not super interested in getting back to the hospital. Maybe a clinic someday?

All that to say - keep trying. Don't give up. And sometimes it helps to volunteer and get your foot in the door that way. ?

Thanks for the advice. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one having a hard time getting into this specialty. & I think some shadowing and volunteering would be my best bet at this point. I do feel like like how you felt working in the hospital. I would like to get into my specialty before the burn out from being in the hospital is complete.

Thanks again

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Specializes in Med surge/ tele.
On 9/28/2019 at 10:52 AM, klone said:

Coming from a hiring manager in OB/L&D - if you're being invited to interview, and then they're telling you you don't have enough experience, then the problem is how you're coming across in your interview and/or you don't present well or are not well-spoken. I would recommend finding an employment coach or someone who can give you pointers on how to best present yourself.

& that’s also what I was thinking. I could work on connecting better. But I also am good on picking up on the tone and vibes people put out as well. When I say I am told by the interviewer that they are looking for someone one with more experience in 0.5 seconds into the interview, I mean that quite literally. I will sit down, say hi, & then bam! I get this spiel about how they need someone with more experience or something of that nature. I went to one interview and none of the managers asked me a single question. It was the weirdest interview ever. I had another one where the interviewer was surprised by the fact that I only was a nurse for a year... when it’s clearly stated on my resume. I could honestly say I’ve only had one interview where the people seemed genuinely interested.

But I will definitely buff up interview skills. I get the feeling this a specialty that has no problem waiting for a more experienced nurse.

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Specializes in Med surge/ tele.
On 9/30/2019 at 9:43 PM, hherrn said:

You are what is referred to as an "advanced beginner".

While some specialty departments hire minimally experienced nurses, the places you are applying can apparently afford to hold out for what is referred to as "competent" nurses.

https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/nursing/projects/Documents/novice-expert-benner.pdf

Yes I think this also the case. During the interview process it was pretty easy to pick up on the fact that L&D and mother/baby have an abundance of applicants. I also hear that they don’t get many openings and that when ppl work there they tend to stay.

On 9/28/2019 at 11:13 AM, Nurse.Kelsey said:

@Sheika34 I dont know how much preparation you have done but if you get all the way to the interview it means you ARE qualified, you just have to be prepared for the interview part...

As a new grad RN, I researched common interview questions and also practiced how and what I would say. I reminded myself to be humble and most importantly speak from the heart. Maybe speaking to a career coach would be a good option. Keep your head up, and learn from your previous interviews so that you can be better for the next one.

Thanks. I that’s what I’m doing now. I could definitely enhance my interview skills. I’m gonna need it.

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