New RN Job Search... Help!

[NurseK15]

Hi everyone! I'm new to allnurses as a member, although I've been an avid reader for some time :)

I'm just looking for some advice here... I graduated in May 15 with a BSN and got my license the following September. In the beginning of my job search, I sent out about 80 applications over a months time and only heard back from 4.

My first interview was my current job. I work as an RN in a mental health hospital working with adolescents and I've been there for 4 months now. It's awesome, I love this job and everyone there loves me and says I'm doing great. However, I've realized that mental health really isn't my passion. I thought it may be, but after working there I just realized that I really do crave the fast paced, acute medical aspect of nursing. I just don't feel in my current position that I'm really using my nursing skills like I want to. I also know that my current position isn't the type of experience I need to get myself to the unit I want to be on.

I interviewed at one which was a great hospital on a med surg unit, was offered the position, but turned it down because it was a 1.5 hour commute from home and I wasn't planning to move. It was also a huge pay cut from my current job and what I would make at any other hospital in my area and I figured it would be more stressful due to the commute on top of not being able to save much money due to the pay cut.

Another interview I had was at a LTC facility, but also did not take it because of the pay cut and a cut in hours. My student loan bills are so crazy on top of my other bills, I pretty much need to keep the current salary I'm at or only slightly less in order to afford it.

I recently started subbing as a school nurse as well for the extra income and also for a little more experience to add to my resume. It's fun, but I also know it's not the proper experience to land me a job on a unit I want.

My real dream is to be in the ER, NICU/PICU, or L&D. I'd also LOVE to do travel nursing because I'm a huge adventurer and love going new places. I know I need a certain type of experience for these positions, but it seems nobody wants to give me the chance to get that experience.

In the beginning of my search, I would apply to jobs daily, but it got to be exhausting, so now I search and apply every week to two weeks or so. I try calling/emailing recruiters, but nobody ever calls me back and all my apps come back as "Sorry but..."! It's so discouraging because it just seems that all of my classmates have been able to find amazing jobs in ERs, NICU, PICU, CCU, ICU, med surg, etc and I'm having such trouble. I've tried using personal contacts as well at hospitals and the hiring mangers will respond saying "I loved reading your resume and cover letter, but you don't have the right experience."

Does anybody have any advice at all for me? I'm getting very worried that I'm always going to be looked at as not having the right experience and nobody will ever take a chance and train me

[Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN]

You might have to sacrifice some things on your want list to get the experience you need to move forward. That could mean a longer commute, moving, taking a pay cut, etc. If you're not willing to "suffer" a bit, just keep doing what you're doing and hope that you get lucky. There is no magical solution.

[OlivetheRN, ADN, BSN, RN]

Like Pangea said, you may have to take a cut in pay or move in order to get the job that you want. You may have to beef up your resume to make it more attractive. If you're wanting to end up in the ER it wouldn't hurt to go ahead and get certified in ACLS to show potential employers that you're serious about wanting these positions. Sometimes you have to put the extra work in, more than just submitting your resume.