Looking for dermatology position...frustrated!!

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Hi Everyone,

I am a new FNP grad in IL and I am having a hard time finding a position in dermatology/plastic surgery. The very few openings in dermatology ALL require experience and my background is ICU for many years. I heard a lot of NEW NPs have had the same problems (on this site). Does anyone know how I can start my career as a dermatology NP in IL? There is an opening as an RN:nurse: at a hospital for dermatology, but this would actually hold me back with starting my career as an NP. I have also applied to so many other fields, such as ortho and surgery, but no call yet. I am getting frustrated eventhough it has only been a few weeks of constant job hunting online!!

I was also thinking of relocating because there are openings in CA that will train a new NP in a derm/aesthetic clinic. BUT unfortunately, I cannot relocate! I have gone through each plastic surgeon's website to see if they are hiring, but no luck there either. I am really interested in trying this field and would like to know if there are no openings right now, where should I focus on to at least get some experience? It would not make sense to take a position as a palliative NP if what I desire is dermatology? There is also an ENT NP position, which I thought might correlate with the whole plastic surgery part, which I can use later for experience. What are your thoughts? I am an eager learner and would really like to start my new quest as an NP.

I know others feel the same frustration. :confused: I was hoping there would be a live job seminar that I could attend that will have sponsors for hospitals/clinics wanting to hire NPs. I know there are so many for nurses, such as Advance and Nursing Spectrum.

If anyone can help me with my search, I would appreciate it.

Thanks,

MsGoals, FNP-BC:idea:

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Specializes in Emergency, Cardiac, PAT/SPU, Urgent Care.

Did you do any clinical rotations at a dermatology practice? If you did, you could write a cover letter to the derm practices that are asking for prior experience and detailing what you learned while in clinical. It might not be true "work experience," but it can count for something if you truly sell yourself in your letter.

I just landed my first NP job and I graduated back in August 2009. Between waiting for the ANCC exam, waiting on my license, the holidays, etc., it seemed like forever! I, too, also found a lot of employers asked for previous experience - one was an occ med position which I applied for who wanted previous occ med experience. However, I sold myself by detailing my ER nursing background and how this experience would only help me in the occ med setting. It did land me an interview, however, it had to be rescheduled due to inclement weather so I wound up taking a much "better-fit" position and turning down the offer to reschedule the occ med interview.

Hang in there, you will find something! Just try to detail how your previous nursing/clinical experiences would make you an ideal candidate - you never know, sometimes they are willing to make exceptions.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Where do you live in IL??? I applied at a large derm practice in Peoria when I graduated (2006) and they are almost always looking for NPs. PM me for the name of the practice though it is a very large practice and has a good website too.

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Your line "I've gone through each derms website and none of them are hiring" really jumped out at me. NONE of my classmates (myself included) found jobs through any sort of online employment notice. In fact, quite a few of us landed jobs with physicians who didn't even really know themselves that they were hiring! A lot of them have been considering hiring an NP, but have been reluctant to start the search or have no experience working with an NP and just don't really know what they can bring to the practice. Additionally, a lot of them are interested in an NP but are reluctant to take on the costs of an additional full-time provider.

I would put together a glossy, professional looking marketing package with your picture, resume, info on nurse practitioners and your passion for dermatology and aesthetics and just take it around to all of the derm practices you are interested in. Go at a slow time of day or go on a slower day (i.e. Weds instead of Monday) and request to speak to the physician if at all possible. If you can at all start out part-time and agree to a move to full-time after such and such date when you have brought in X amount of providers, then you might be able to find something that works for both of you.

Also, I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but in my area of the country if you want to work in derm you have to totally LOOK the part. The NP in our program who took a derm position looks the part i.e. "barbie doll." I know that is shallow, but it's just the way things are in the aesthetic world in my opinion.

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Thank you for replying...these are all great ideas. I feel so lost in the world of really "marketing" yourself for that first job. I almost feel like it is a GREAT idea for these doctors to see me face to face and talk with me instead of just looking at my resume. That's why I love those Nursing Spectrum job fairs as an RN. I received a lot of job offerings doing that because a lot of them actually were able to speak to me and see how I carried myself professionally.

Thank you for the encouragement Softballmama. Unfortunately the university I went to did not approve my rotation for derm or plastic surgery when I actually had one lined up. They said that is not our focus...specializing that is. They told me to do this after I get out of NP school and pass my test. That was one of the many things I didn't like regarding NP school. You spend so much money and time, but do not really get to go to the clinicals you choose. Almost forced into a place you might not like.

I have tried what you have said though. Pinpoint my strengths in my cover letter and resume. I started my resume by putting in all my schooling and degrees I received. Then went into the only hospital I have ALL my valuable experience with. I guess being an ICU/resource nurse for a hospital is not seen as big experience out there. Other nurses call me all the time for help and I feel that I am very knowledgeable. However, again...how can these employers know this without even speaking to me first. I think resumes are so brief and I don't want to rant on in a cover letter. Also, I was confused about a cover letter. The first one I wrote really sold me as an NP and I ended up revising it because what if they ask me if I have real NP experience. I just had to tell them that I am looking forward to starting my career as an NP in your facility. Was this the right thing to do?

Thanks,

MsGoals

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Hello Trauma RUs,

Thank you for your reply and helping me. Peoria would be 2-3 hours away from me and I think it would be impossible. Do you know of any other places near Schaumburg or even in Chicago (near the big hospitals, i.e. Rush??).

Please let me know.

Thank you,

MsGoals

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Hi Carachel,

Thank you for the helpful info. Someone else had told me that I really do need to just start calling numbers and inquiring about job positions. I started doing this back in Jan and made two phone calls. They both told me they are not looking for NPs and maybe you should focus on the clinical aspect. But I had to consider that these were plastic surgeons office that used both NPs and aesthetic workers only. Haha..I even inquired about precepting the doc and NP and they wanted thousands of dollars for this service. No Way...I want to practice, not get something done myself!!

So it IS OKAY to do this? Go into these offices and present myself with a picture and everything? I just don't want to look ridiculous and desperate, I guess....eventhough I am at this point!! It's kind of hard to negotiate pay when one is desperate for the job. But I never really expected any much more than I make now as an RN with my first job as an NP. I just want the ball rollin!!

I'm not in CA, but I think I do LOOK the part. Not to sound cocky, but I am intelligent and been told attractive. So hopefully this should get me in the derm world. Ughh..just not used to having to "sell" myself or even use looks in the nursing world. I know some girls at work that do that and really have min. intelligence..it's scary!! They call me for help and advice all the time.

I really would like to try this, but should I start calling first? Or should I just show up in their clinics downtown Chicago and speak with the HR rep?

Please let me know if anyone out there has done this? Give me some pointers please!

Thanks,

MsGoals

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Sorry don't know any Chicago practices. do want to emphasize the.

Barbie doll thing though. it's prevalent everywhere and the practice wants you to not only sell yourself but also their services. At the practice where I interviewed they just didn't see

ethical.

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Hi Carachel,

Thank you for the helpful info. Someone else had told me that I really do need to just start calling numbers and inquiring about job positions. I started doing this back in Jan and made two phone calls. They both told me they are not looking for NPs and maybe you should focus on the clinical aspect. But I had to consider that these were plastic surgeons office that used both NPs and aesthetic workers only. Haha..I even inquired about precepting the doc and NP and they wanted thousands of dollars for this service. No Way...I want to practice, not get something done myself!!

So it IS OKAY to do this? Go into these offices and present myself with a picture and everything? I just don't want to look ridiculous and desperate, I guess....eventhough I am at this point!! It's kind of hard to negotiate pay when one is desperate for the job. But I never really expected any much more than I make now as an RN with my first job as an NP. I just want the ball rollin!!

I'm not in CA, but I think I do LOOK the part. Not to sound cocky, but I am intelligent and been told attractive. So hopefully this should get me in the derm world. Ughh..just not used to having to "sell" myself or even use looks in the nursing world. I know some girls at work that do that and really have min. intelligence..it's scary!! They call me for help and advice all the time.

I really would like to try this, but should I start calling first? Or should I just show up in their clinics downtown Chicago and speak with the HR rep?

Please let me know if anyone out there has done this? Give me some pointers please!

Thanks,

MsGoals

I think it is more than ok to do this, especially considering the type of specialty...they NEED to see you face to face and hear how you are passionate for derm. I have two friends that dropped in on practices *just* before they opened for the day, had a glossy nice looking cover sheet (i.e. not just a cover letter but full color with picture, etc. and just totally professional looking), gave a brief introduction and both of them landed jobs within a few weeks. In both instances the providers had been considering adding an NP to the practice, but had not had the time to initiate with an online search job center, etc. I think you are going to have to ramp it up a bit if you really want to get your foot into the door. A phone call is too easy to ignore, I would show up in person, make nice nice with the front desk receptionist and ask to see one of the physicians by name.

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Thanks again for the advice carachel..I'll let you know how it goes!

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MsGoals, what ended up happening with finding a position as a NP in dermatology? Were you able to? I am interested in being an NP in dermatology as well, however, I am about to take my NCLEX so I still need to go through with NP school. I have a job waiting for me in the OR and I'm wondering if this would be good experience to transition to dermatology/plastic surgery. I'd appreciate any answers. Thank you!

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