Left horrific SNF job; struggling to find another job. HELP!

Nurses Nurse Beth

Published

  • Career Columnist / Author
    Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

Dear Quit Horrific Job,

Fortunately many employers understand leaving a bad job and it's no longer the stigma it once was. It is always better to have another job lined up before you leave, but your situation sounds extreme.

You can absolutely talk about it without casting yourself in a bad light. You have to be able to explain that it was reasonable to leave and that you are a terrific candidate.

It's important to leave the interviewer with the impression that they do not have to be concerned with your leaving them, and that you are a competent professional who takes the high road.

Never talk badly about your old employer- they will assume you will also talk badly about them given the chance.

Be Honest Be Brief

I was really excited to get my first nursing job right out of school. Probably because of that, I neglected to learn more about the organization. It wasn't long before it was clear that I wasn't a good fit. Since then I've been looking to work for an organization that promotes evidence-based care and is strongly committed to patient safety.”

To be honest, it wasn't a good fit and I came to that realization pretty quickly. I made a decision to resign and refocus my career path.”

Refocus and Move the Interview Forward

This position seems like an excellent match for my skills and values that I wasn't able to fully use in my previous job.”

I believe my personal competencies are a good match for your company because (x,y,z).”

Don't give up. Just by reframing and practicing your responses, you can portray yourself as the professional, positive nurse you are and that they want.

Remember that you are an RN with integrity who left an unsafe situation, and who is moving forward. Good luck!

Best wishes,

Nurse Beth

Forgettable

2 Posts

Thank you. These example answers are honest, yet tactful.

Unfortunately, it seems like this new grad's story is becoming more common, especially for people who can't/won't move out of a saturated area. When someone is cornered by family and friends (who may or may not be nurses) telling her to "think outside the box" and that "any RN experience is better than no experience," even a two-star facility with inadequate resources will start to look like a decent stepping stone.

Satsun

21 Posts

great examples! thank you :) i'm currently in exact same position, applying EVERYWHERE. now only trouble is getting through to someone to give me an interview, considering all i've had since 2 yrs of graduation is SNF experience, not good. i'm out of the New Grad program range, so that sucks. But since i'm applying everywhere , how do you follow up when you've applied for a Float Pool position? and if i try to follow up with someone in a specialty floor, they rerout me to HR, who dont want to be bothered by anything you have to say... conundrum. advice?

JuliaRNMSN

88 Posts

I liked this article in response to an RN who left a setting unsuitable for her. Advising RN's that leaving a position holds less stigma now than in the past, and re-framing the experience for future interviews was for me brilliant. Thank-you

Career Columnist / Author

Nurse Beth, MSN

146 Articles; 3,468 Posts

Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.
great examples! thank you :) i'm currently in exact same position, applying EVERYWHERE. now only trouble is getting through to someone to give me an interview, considering all i've had since 2 yrs of graduation is SNF experience, not good. i'm out of the New Grad program range, so that sucks. But since i'm applying everywhere , how do you follow up when you've applied for a Float Pool position? and if i try to follow up with someone in a specialty floor, they rerout me to HR, who dont want to be bothered by anything you have to say... conundrum. advice?

In short, you have to network, be persistent, and make sure your resume sets you apart. You can transition from SNF to acute, but it takes strategy.

Best wishes

BrendaH84, BSN

148 Posts

great post :) I think it's also ok, to say the truth, "as a relatively new nurse I ended up feeling pretty uncomfortable with 28 patients each shift. Someday that could be do-able, but I don't have enough years under my belt for that right now"

Career Columnist / Author

Nurse Beth, MSN

146 Articles; 3,468 Posts

Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.
great post :) I think it's also ok, to say the truth, "as a relatively new nurse I ended up feeling pretty uncomfortable with 28 patients each shift. Someday that could be do-able, but I don't have enough years under my belt for that right now"

I think that is great! Just reading it, i have a sense of empathy for the applicant (good thing) because everyone knows how unmanageable the workloads in SNFs can be. Yet it doesn't cast blame. Two thumbs up!

Rockstar81

21 Posts

Hook up with a career coach who can help you tailor your resume' appropriately for the job that you want. #NoNursingShortage.

dbltrbl

1 Post

I have been suspended due to a resident death on the next shift after mine plus the CNA was suspended. The CNA has been called back to work, but not me. What does anybody think?

Satsun

21 Posts

Were you to blame any more than the cna?? Was there a write up? Call and ask

Lev, MSN, RN, NP

4 Articles; 2,805 Posts

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
I have been suspended due to a resident death on the next shift after mine plus the CNA was suspended. The CNA has been called back to work, but not me. What does anybody think?

Contact your (if you have it) and/or an attorney. Start looking for a new job.

+ Add a Comment