New or Experienced: Am I acute care qualified?

[SMUgrad]

Help allnurses.com members! I am reaching out to all of you hoping that I can get some advice on how to move my career forward. I feel, at this moment, that I am stuck in purgatory because I have nursing experience but not acute care experience. I have been working at a SNF for 2 years now and am looking to expand and move onto an acute care hospital particularly med/surge or the PACU. BUT . . . job descriptions state that I must have experience in an acute care setting. New grad programs require that I not have worked before as a nurse and must be in the last year of my program, I am 2 years out of nursing school. AM I DOOMED?:hdvwl::vlin: It seems like now the only way you can get in is through someone you know.

This begs the question, how am I suppose to gain experience if no one will give me a job? ARRRGGHHH!

Please, if anyone can help fill me in to some resources that I can try or some advice/tips I can try I am open. I would greatly appreciate any help. Thanks!

-SMUgrad

[AKav8trix]

Some hospitals used to have (5-6 years ago) residency/internship programs that weren't restricted to just new grads. It's likely changed with the current economic climate, but perhaps there's still a few around? Sounds like in your area the requirements are pretty narrow.

I don't remember exactly what the entrance requirements were, but it was a way that experienced nurses could move from a general area into a specialty (ICU, ED, OR, L&D) even after being out of school for a while. New grads could also apply, but wouldn't necessarily be given preference. Acute care exp was a plus, but not required.

I know things have changed drastically since then, but maybe somewhere in the US something like that might still be available. I hope you find something soon! :)

[JenniferSews]

It's like that here too. I'm stuck right along with you. One of the new (2 yr) nurses I work with just got a job at an LTAC though. I know the hospitals here consider that acute experience so she'll eventually be able to move up from there to a hospital. Good luck, I know it's frustrating not to have any options!

[MegRyanGirl]

I am in a very similar position. I got my BSN and worked on a vent unit in a long-term acute care hospital as an RN for 3 years. Had to leave the job because I had to take care of a family issue. 4 months later, I started looking for a job again, since the facility where I worked already filled the position. Have been looking for a Med/Surge type position at an acute care hospital. I get interviews every so often, but almost always get the answer that I need acute care hospital experience, and that my long-term acute care hospital experience is not good enough. I don't know what to do!!:uhoh21: For example today, I had an interview at an "experienced RN open house" where they knew my background, and invited me anyway. The younger recruiter was positive about me starting and that my vent background was good for the respiratory unit, while the older recruiter was saying that my long-term acute care experience was "just not the same" and didn't feel I would be able to jump in and do the work right away.

What can I do to get some acute care experience and make myself more marketable? I just need a little umph to my resume to make me desirable. I asked about volunteering as an RN, but was told it's not possile due to liability issues. Is taking classes helpful? If yes, what type of classes? I am already in graduate school for NP. How about certifications? Internships/externships sound good but those are for nursing students and people like myself who are already licensed are not accepted. Any suggestions please???