Nurses are not in high demand!

[VAMPRISS1973]

I need a job, want a career that I can work until I retire or die which ever comes first. I worked in detox for a year and 3 months, and felt my skills dwindling. I have no idea how to get a job with training and such without med/surg experience, I worked in a nursing home for a brief period and found that it was way too stressful with wound care, accu checks ,neb tx, medications, tube feedings and ivs with anywhere from 20 to 40 patients in your care. Any advice please. I am more than willing to work 12 hour night shifts!

Around here it is said that for every position there is over 200 applicants, how does one compete?

[Asystole RN]

When I graduated in 2009 it took 6 months to find a job...a job in a nursing home like what you described. I toughed it out and developed organizational skills. I went on to another SNF but this time a larger facility as an IV nurse. Then into a hospital. Then into the vascular access team.

I found my path by grasping on to the first place that would take me, took it as a challenge and learned as much as I could, then moved on to the next place and the next place until I found home.

[floridaRN38]

What state are u all in where it is hard to find a nursing career. Just Curious? :)

[VAMPRISS1973]

Illinois

[pinksnowflakes]

Illinois

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

You have the golden one year of experience. What "skills" are dwindling? Starting IV's and inserting Foleys are tasks.

You have licensure to teach, monitor and observe patients. Think outside the box.

[NOADLS]

What is wrong with working in a nursing home or a detox center?

The reason your perception is that nurses are not in high demand is because you are eliminating certain fields from your search. I'll admit that I think nurses are not in too big of a demand, but I believe that if you put yourself out there, you should be able to find something. It might not be your first choice or even your fifth choice, but you should be able to make a decent living out of this profession.

If you can't find something "easy enough," then tough it out and actually put in the work in a harder setting. Your bills don't get paid by sitting around doing nothing. And you gain zero experience by sitting around doing nothing. I see the same snobby new grads who think that they are above earning their living working at a LTC facility.

[Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN]

If you find SNF too stressful, you probably won't be happy in med/surg, either. My hospital hired some SNF nurses into their first med/surg jobs and they transitioned well ....they didn't find it easy or less stressful, though.

[dishes, BSN, RN]

Understanding the nursing surplus/shortage job market and how the cycles impact career choices, is important to longevity in nursing. Asystole's example of taking it as a challenge and learning as much as they could before moving on, is a good example of career resilience.

[nursel56]

I agree with the others on all points. Realistically speaking, your experience so far job-wise looks better than average to me.

[VTsquach]

I worked in a nursing home for a brief period and found that it was way too stressful with wound care, accu checks ,neb tx, medications, tube feedings and ivs with anywhere from 20 to 40 patients in your care.

If that is too stressful you don't want to go anywhere near a hospital/acute care setting where you can add TPN, Peritoneal dialysis, lab draws, PCAs, Epidurals, pain assessments, narc wastes when you can't find a second nurse, no break for a 12 hrs shift which ends up being a 15 hr shift by the time you get your charting caught up. Plus MDs calling you , family members wanting you to call the MD....... Discharges, admissions etc...

[VAMPRISS1973]

Thank you, I just feel that 20 to 46 patients in a SNF is too much for one nurse. I really want to try behavioral health, I feel that might be a good fit, I have yet to find my match. I really want to help people,and work in my community.