job questions

[onewaybaja]

I am an experienced ICU nurse that has decided to try something new. I worked at a Level 1 trauma center for 10 years. Now I thought about working at a smaller facility to try to get a bigger picture of health care and also develop some management skills. I have applied Boy have I applied and have been turned down for jobs for the following reasons:

I would be bored and leave in a few months

We( the Nurse recruiter ) feels that I would do better in a larger unit

I cost to much----actually words from the managers mouth

SO....I applied for management positions and was told that I did not have enough management experience. and I needed my MSN.

I love teaching so i applied for a CC educator at a large downtown hospital and got the same response. Not enough teaching experience and no MSN

I have 12 years of ICU and I can not get a job in the Dallas area!!!!! Can anyone give advice or suggest a course of action. I contacted my friends at my previous employer and they are shocked and have offered me my old job back.

Any wisdom would be welcome

Jobless in Texas :confused:

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Sorry you're having such a hard time with your career switch. My background is in ICU also but I have been a nurse educator for a long time.

Could it be that your salary expectations are too high? You're an expert clinician in ICU, but if you're essentially 'starting over' in another area, you are not in the same realm as before.

As an educator, I can tell you that (for my organization) in Houston, an MSN is pretty much required and our hospitals in San Antonio have the same standard. We dont' have any D-FW facilities, so I don't have an info in that area.

My advice? If you're making a 'new start', expect to take a salary cut. You might also want to look outside acute care. A lot of ICU nurses have made the switch to Home Care and really love it - lots of independence & patient contact. On the other hand, you may want to explore opportunities with Medical Equipment & pharmaceutical companies - they hire expert nurses as educators and usually don't have stipulations about degree requirements. Insurance companies that have active "care management" programs are also good places to work.

I wish you loads of luck.

[onewaybaja]

Thanks for the advice. The funny thing is that I do not give salary requirements. I have been told that I cost to much and that they could get a newer RN for less money!

Yes I am in a new geographical area but still trying to work in an ICU. The attempted movement to an educator or middle manager role is hampered by no MSN. But I still should be able to get a job. I interviewed on Monday and soon realized that I had more ICU experience than the manager but i did not say anything. She may be a great manager. The next day the NC called and said that they feel I would do better in a bigger facility. Well all the big facilities are an hour away and maybe I do not want the intensity anymore.

I have done a preliminary look at pharmaceutical and insurance companies but do not think I am looking at the right places.

Still looking in Dallas

Scott

Sorry you're having such a hard time with your career switch. My background is in ICU also but I have been a nurse educator for a long time.

Could it be that your salary expectations are too high? You're an expert clinician in ICU, but if you're essentially 'starting over' in another area, you are not in the same realm as before.

As an educator, I can tell you that (for my organization) in Houston, an MSN is pretty much required and our hospitals in San Antonio have the same standard. We dont' have any D-FW facilities, so I don't have an info in that area.

My advice? If you're making a 'new start', expect to take a salary cut. You might also want to look outside acute care. A lot of ICU nurses have made the switch to Home Care and really love it - lots of independence & patient contact. On the other hand, you may want to explore opportunities with Medical Equipment & pharmaceutical companies - they hire expert nurses as educators and usually don't have stipulations about degree requirements. Insurance companies that have active "care management" programs are also good places to work.

I wish you loads of luck.

[ctspargo]

I am an RN at ETMC in Tyler, TX. I'm not sure of the opportunities in the arenas you are looking at, but I do know that East Texas Medical Center is having a job fair in their Pavilion this Friday (October 3, 2008) from 1:00 - 5:00 PM. It might be worth coming and networking with some of our managers, directors, staff nurses, and HR. Get yourself out there. Good luck!