No acute experience. Need help find hospital job!

[Lynmad]

Hi. I have been an RN for 4 years. Graduated in Dec 2011. Passed nclex mar 2012. I am about to finish my BSN in 2-3 months. I have been working home health since 2012 and a sub-acute SNF since 2013. I have applied everywhere! Or so it seems. But i have not gotten any call backs for any of my applications! 99% of the applications i submitted were acute care experience "preferred." It only says preferred so im thinking i might have a chance. But no call backs. Im getting discouraged because i dont have that acute care experience. My last resort is to apply to a SNF that deals with acute care, but i really want to get into the hospital. Please help.

[xsnurse]

It took me a while to land a hospital job. I worked in an ALF and then a psych hospital before landing a job in a med-surge/ortho unit. They hospital I applied to had a "Transitions program" for RNs that were RNs for a while with no hospital experience. Do any near-by hospitals offer that sort of thing? Good luck!!

[Lynmad]

Hmmm, never heard of such a thing. I will find out. Thank u for that tip!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

You qualify to obtain orthopedic nurse certification (ONC) due to your three years of subacute/SNF experience. Once you have a professional nursing certification on your resume, the nurse managers at the hospital will be more likely to hire you.

There's something about professional certifications that hospitals like. Perhaps it shows that you have a specialized body of knowledge. Another certification for which you'd be eligible is the rehabilitation nurse certification (CRRN).

ONC® Certification >> Orthopaedic Nursing Certification Board Orthopaedic Nursing Certification Board

About CRRN | content

[NotYourMamasRN]

Hi,

Unfortunately, many of my coworkers in SNF have had the same troubles. Some of them have only worked in SNF because of the fact the local hospitals won't hire them. Which confuses me because they will hire new grads, but anyone with SNF or LTC on their resume has a really hard time. Recently one of my coworkers got lucky, in terms of our region, and she got hired on to the hospital. She has been a nurse for 2 years in SNF and they started her as a new grad with new grad pay. I am going back to the hospital, and have had a recruiter tell me on the phone that my "past 1.5 years don't count". I have worked floor, ER, and SNF. So I hope to one day bridge the divide between these settings. I wish I had any advice, in the least just know that you are not alone.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Another roundabout route into a hospital setting is via an LTAC - same sort of patients, including those with high-tech support; but they're hospitalized for a longer period of time.

Wishing you the best of luck on your career transition.

[guitarhero]

Hi everyone! I have the same problem too, i have 6plus years working in SNF and LTC with BSN-RN. I really want hopital job, all the jobs have "experience". I was thinking if i can go for a new grad training program, i don't fit in the criteria as a recent graduate. I went to job fairs. After seeing my resume, representative told me to go online and apply for certain floor as the floor is for "getiatrics",,, what does that mean? Very frustrated

[chacha82, ADN, BSN]

I "broke in" to the hospitals as a tech by starting at a small community hospital. This came after working in a LTACH, then doctor's office. After a tour of duty in the small rural hospital, I switched to a larger one. But that took almost a year. I agree with the others, you may have to take some steps to get where you want to be. It's worth it. And I agree with Commuter, enhance your application with a certification.

[aktucker]

Our facility has hired several nurses with your type of experience to the med/surg department. If your interested in our area (Texas) please let me know.

[pink2004]

Hi aktucker,

I am in the Texas area and I am interested

[aktucker]

contact me at [email protected]

I can help.