Need some help here guys....

What does your contract with the hospital say exactly?

Unfortunately, if you signed a contract that did not specify an advanced practice position, then you will probably have to make the best of the positions that are available or buy yourself out of the contract (if that is possible -- which it usually is). Perhaps an advanced practice position will open up in the near future. Just because there is not one available today does not mean one will not open up soon. Keep your eyes open for an opportunity to create one if one does not appear spontaneously.

When I graduated with my PhD, I could not find the type of job I wanted right away -- but made the best of what I could find. After a miserable year of teaching, I went back to being a CNS -- the same type of job I had worked in before the 5 full time years of school my PhD had required. Many people would have considered that a terrible "step backward" for me, but it was the best I could do at the time and I needed a paycheck. I made friends at that institution and made a positive impression on the people I worked with. 4 years later, the VP for nursing created a job that is a near-perfect fit for me, which I have been in for 4.5 years now.

Sometimes our careers take unexpected and undesired twists and turns. Sometimes we take 2 steps forward followed by 1 step back. That's life. Make that best of it and there is a good chance that something positive will come your way shortly -- perhaps not today, but sometime soon.

If your contract specifies an advanced practice position -- then ask to be released from it as they are not living up to their end of the deal.

If there is any question as to what it says, talk to a lawyer and get a proper legal opinion as to your rights and obligations.

Good luck,

llg

Thanks everyone...I truly appreciate the good thoughts and solid advice. I spoke to my clinical advisor today and she is going to put me in for a part time faculty position at the college of nursing where I go to school so then I can work part-time at both the college and the ER - they are both at the same hospital.

Unfortunately the tuition waiver only states that I have to repay the time in a direct patient care area, so there is no guarantee of an APN position - darn it. I can buy myself out or have someone else buy me out for about $9,100. However, since my student loans are maxed I hate to spend another $9100. For now, I will stay put. I've been at this hospital for 10 years and overall, they have been absolutely fantastic.

Thanks again.

Wow - thanks to both of the last posters - never considered getting a grant - how cool is that? Will float this around in and see where it goes.

Okay - here goes...I graduated in May and worked as a staff nurse until July. I got an APN position in a nephrology practice and ended up paying $8600 to the hospital to get out of the contract.

I still miss the ER much and still keep my certs and teaching (BLS, ACLS, ENPC) current. However, I am committed to giving this job a chance. It is much different than the ER. The practice and other APN's are absolutely wonderful and make going to work a joy.

So...the moral of the story is that sometimes you have to look outside what you want initially.

ERNP - thanks so much. I am now three months into the new job and do find that I really like caring for "my" patients. Huge learning curve though. The dialysis machines look like big Level One blood infusers! lol

Pie 123 - I don't know anything about the grants. Would you like to start another thread because I think you would then get more germaine input. Good luck.