Need off the floor

Nurses Job Hunt

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Specializes in Transplant, LVAD, cardiac.

I have been a floor nurse for 2.5 years. I've hated it all along. I never wanted to be a floor nurse, and will always hate it. My most recent position was described to me as intermediate care and a 4:1 ratio. It's a 5:1 ratio, and no one thinks of it as anything more than a floor. I've applied to multiple ICU positions, the OR, and now the cath lab. I can't seem to get hired because floor nursing is worse than no experience at all. I work with transplant and LVAD patients, so that should count for something. I can't do it anymore. I can't take five patients. I am sick of constantly treated like an idiot all the time. I used to think of myself as smart, and I had goals. Now I just want to quit and become a stripper. I work in the Texas Medical Center...surely there would be a job somewhere, but there is nothing. I keep getting shot down. What's a girl to do?

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Is there someone you can talk to who knows the culture well enough to tell you why you are not getting the jobs you are applying for? I think you need some honest feedback/information on "how you look" as a job candidate to the people doing the hiring. Is it your credentials? the way you are presenting yourself? What is your reputation within the hospital? etc. Only then will you be able to know what needs fixing.

If other nurses are being hired -- and you are not -- you need to find out why. Then you can work on making yourself a more attractive candidate and improve your chances. For example, if you are missing some educational credentials, get them. If you have been having some attendance problems or "write ups" for clinical issues ... clean up your record. If it is a cultural expectation that staff nurses serve on unit committees, etc. ... get involved. etc. etc. etc.

But it all starts with assessment. Assess yourself and figure out what type of job you really want as well as your own strengths and weaknesses. Also get some good, trustworthy people to give you high-quality feedback -- people who know you and also the culture in which you are seeking a job. Then work on your interventions to improve your chances of being hired. ... the basic nursing process applied to your career.

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Specializes in Transplant, LVAD, cardiac.

I have no write-ups, and my manager described me as a "good clinician." I have even knocked a few of these interviews out of the park...at least in my opinion. I have a great suit and shoes. At my hospital, the recruiters seem to be stonewalling me. They won't pass my resume onto other managers because I "work in a great area."

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I wouldn't go the stripper route; next thing you know, you'll be turning tricks & catch an STD. :eek:

Are your options limited to the hospital where you work now? You could apply somewhere else if need be.

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Specializes in Transplant, LVAD, cardiac.

I've been looking. I have a passion for CV, but can't find any openings. All I seem to find are neuro (not my cup of tea, but about to just go for it). It baffles me that recruiters and managers will spout off about being "ready" for the ICU when they hire new grads. One nurse I know had to cheat on her EKG exam and is not even mildly bright, but works in my hospital's highest acuity ICU! I am just frustrated. I felt this same way when I left my last hospital...like I was at a dead end. I am in my 30s, so don't feel like I want to waste more time on dead end floor jobs.

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Specializes in Transplant, LVAD, cardiac.

Thanks for the advice. I'm was very upset today because a recruiter at my hospital keeps stonewalling me, and I totally blew an interview at another hospital a couple of weeks ago. I didn't like the manager or educator who interviewed me, so not that big a loss...but still frustrating. I have a super long post in interview advice if anyone has expertise there. ;)

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Specializes in Hematology/Oncology.
I totally blew an interview at another hospital a couple of weeks ago.. ;)

good thing there are like 100 other hospitals in houston :).

Apply outside the med center?

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Specializes in Transplant, LVAD, cardiac.

I've been looking outside the med center. I live inside the loop, but I'm not being too picky.

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Specializes in cardiac/education.

Well, look at the bright side, at least you have your rockin' body. Some of us aren't that lucky!!! ROTFLMAO!! But seriously, I hear ya.

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Specializes in cardiac/education.

oh yeah, also.....they need you where you are so therefore won't encourage you to leave....plain and simple sometimes

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Specializes in Transplant, LVAD, cardiac.

I found out I'm being paid less than my coworkers with the same amount of experience, so I'm leaving for sure. They certainly have no interest in offering raises to keep people.

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Specializes in L&D.

If you're willing to move to Omaha, Nebraska, I know the hospital for you! They'd love to have someone with experience.

P.S. the CVICU *really* needs people, and your LVAD and tx experience is awesome. I worked on a stepdown unit that did LVAD and tx patients after they got back from the CVICU. It's worth a shot, right?

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