I am seeing more and more threads about how nurses with acute care experience can't find work outside their specialty. Is this true-- that it is hard to find work, even with experience, unless you stay in your specialty?
what is happening to nursing?
one of my favorite things about nursing is knowing that if I get burned out, I can change to another branch/ specialty to learn more and to keep growing.
Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.
If you re read my post, you'll note that I disagreed that experienced nurses are too expensive. I'll gladly pay for that experience, but it has to be quality experience, and not just time on the job.
Ideally nurses continue to develop professionally throughout their careers. The example of a 10 year nurse at a 3 year level means they really haven't continue to develop their skills and knowledge, and don't demonstrate any advantage over hiring compared to a less experienced nurse.
It has nothing to do with fancy promotions, but has to do with training, certifications, QI projects, charge duties, precepting, etc.
Managers don't have time to interview each and every candidate that applies. What makes you special should be reflected in your resume and cover letter. It should make me want to bring you in for an interview.
If you re read my post, you'll note that I disagreed that experienced nurses are too expensive. I'll gladly pay for that experience, but it has to be quality experience, and not just time on the job.
Ideally nurses continue to develop professionally throughout their careers. The example of a 10 year nurse at a 3 year level means they really haven't continue to develop their skills and knowledge, and don't demonstrate any advantage over hiring compared to a less experienced nurse.
It has nothing to do with fancy promotions, but has to do with training, certifications, QI projects, charge duties, precepting, etc.
Managers don't have time to interview each and every candidate that applies. What makes you special should be reflected in your resume and cover letter. It should make me want to bring you in for an interview.
In a functional job market this all sounds great. Unfortunately, in my job market, half the nurses can't find a decent first job let alone have a varied experience to tout on a résumé and cover letter.
I have a good résumé, nice cover letter and I'm an incredibly hard worker. A self-starter. I ask questions, I find answers and overall, I'm a really great employee. Do I ever get call from the hospitals I apply to? Nope. I don't have experience and you can't get hired without it. It's a catch-22.
I would like to chime In again. I recently posted about applying for jobs after about 2.5 yrs in a hospital (variety of units). I have about three interviews lined up. In networking, I've heard that my seasoned nurse friends feel discriminated against for their age. They feel "trapped" because "Noone will hire them". I do recall at an interview I went to recently that I was hired because they thought they could still "mold" me.
On the other hand, before I've had this two plus yrs under my belt, it was TOUGH to land an interview. Id apply to several jobs daily and get no calls back.
Yes my experience seems to be working against me. Im trying to get into labor and delivery from mother baby nursing and keep being turned down because i dont have labor delivery experience. The one nurse recruiter said i need labor and delivery experience to even be considered and gave no feedback to how I do that if she wont even forward my info over. Also attempted to get in Nicu and was turned down. Decided to apply for and ICU job to gain experience to see if i can transition from that to NICU and nope. I think the one nurse recruiter currently hates me so i took a break from applying at that hospital system. I have two jobs im waiting to hear back from. The one I dont think i got because again lack of labor and delivery experience. But I did tell the manager I am eager and willing to learn. Sigh. I decided to branch out to other specialties and was turned down. It's becoming quite frustrating and im thinking about quitting nursing all together.
I think I have to become a travel nurse. That still is not a guartee. But there are a lot of children's hospitals in CA. I could work in my speciality (NICU) see if I like it then apply for a pediatric position out there.
This is EXACTLY the problem - this mentality! We are undervaluing ourselves because we are so desperate for a job and therefore are taking less money. We need to stop doing that!! Hospitals are the only ones benefitting from this - not us!
MrChicagoRN, RN
2,610 Posts
If you re read my post, you'll note that I disagreed that experienced nurses are too expensive. I'll gladly pay for that experience, but it has to be quality experience, and not just time on the job.
Ideally nurses continue to develop professionally throughout their careers. The example of a 10 year nurse at a 3 year level means they really haven't continue to develop their skills and knowledge, and don't demonstrate any advantage over hiring compared to a less experienced nurse.
It has nothing to do with fancy promotions, but has to do with training, certifications, QI projects, charge duties, precepting, etc.
Managers don't have time to interview each and every candidate that applies. What makes you special should be reflected in your resume and cover letter. It should make me want to bring you in for an interview.