Not enough experience - Has anyone been in this situation?

[Aracelis Williams]

I am going to an interview for HH Hospice, something that is totally out of my interest zone. I am a2024 graduate, was a tech for 2 years in the ER, which I loved, but as a RN is totally different. Basically after orientation it was clear that I would not have support needed to succeed. I was constantly told by mentors that I was spending too much time getting patients ready to see the provider, too much time starting IVs ( I am not the best but then had had no training in nursing school and did a few during preceptorship, too long preparing meds) I was due to transfer to PACU, which I shadowed with , and really liked. I expressed interest, helped the nurses while I was there, and according to my manager "would be an easy transfer". Long story short, after 2 months of back and forth, she told me that the job had been offered to someone else.   I have not been able to find a job since February.  I want to be in PACU, OR, or IR. It is the same ordeal: Not enough experience. I can no longer go without an income!  I have had my resume reworked several times.  Has anyone been in this situation?

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

You are looking at jobs that generally hire experienced and older nurses.  If you need the paycheck, take the hospice job.  How do you even know you'll dislike it in advance?  You will have  more latitude in your nursing judgements than you will get in the other tightly controlled situations you are looking for so don't underestimate the skills you need to survive there.  

 

[toomuchbaloney]

If you want nursing jobs that require expertise in technical skills and assessment, you're going to have to develop those skill sets.

[Patricia Ordnung]

Med surg is a really good way to get some skills developed, because you get exposed to IVs, wound care, med passes, assessments.  

[Ricca89]

Sorry to disappoint you but PACU & IR require more experience in critical care, I know it can be personally disappointing but patient safety should not take backseat. You can call me a hater but there is a reason that most are staffed with older critical care nurses. If interested in the procedural end of nursing GI & ambulatory surgery centers tend to be less acute. Good luck

 

[SnickRN BSN RN CCRN]

I wanted to be in the ED so bad.  I had EMT experience,  capstone there too. I applied to hundreds of jobs & got only a few interviews.  If you want a hospital position, keep applying to a hospital to develop your skills and try for a transfer in a year or two. MedSurg, though busy, is a great place to start.  I did 4 years in a cardiac/neuro MS unit before I applied for the ICU. I got my basics under me: assessment, communication, techincal skills. I had a better understanding of the medical ICU going in to the job. I love my job doing MICU with a CTS component. 

For your nursing goals, I'd recommend you start jn a MedSurg area in which you do telemetry and work with cardiac medication such as a Progressive Care or Heart Care unit. If you want OR, find a Surgical or Ortho floor..

But don't give up. Keep applying. And sometimes, you'll find that the job you never thought about may be the fulfillment you've been looking for.