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Think about this rationally. So you run a nursing unit in a hospital and you need a nurse. 2 people apply. 1 just graduated college and officially got licensed yesterday, the other has been a nurse for the last 20 years in a long-term facility with working references as a nurse. Who would you rather hire?
You have to remember that there's a human element involved. It's easy to blame the fact that you work in a nursing home for the reason that you can't get hired at a hospital, but at some point, everyone needs to step back and realize that the problem is themselves. If you can't get a hospital job with ANY nursing experience over a new grad who hasn't worked a single day as a nurse, what's REALLY the reason you can't get that job?
Also, hospitals tend to pay less, so that can weigh into it too. You're not going to get nursing home pay at a hospital. They might match your pay for your experience, but odds are, you have to accept a pay cut.
It was just an example, to make the point that if any experienced nurse is never able to get a job at a hospital because he/she worked at SNF, that it's probably the nurse that's the problem not the experience being in a different type of facility. And that the fact that these places hire new graduates who have never worked in nursing before, should be a hint that any experienced nurse should be able to get a job. If you can't convince a hospital to hire you, you're the problem, not your current job.
It was just an example, to make the point that if any experienced nurse is never able to get a job at a hospital because he/she worked at SNF, that it's probably the nurse that's the problem not the experience being in a different type of facility. And that the fact that these places hire new graduates who have never worked in nursing before, should be a hint that any experienced nurse should be able to get a job. If you can't convince a hospital to hire you, you're the problem, not your current job.
I can agree with that to a point. Managers tend to want it all, though ...nurses with experience, but nurses they can mold into exactly what they want. A nurse with a few years of acute care experience might be preferred over a nurse with 20 years of SNF experience who may be perceived to be set in SNF ways ...but as you say, personality and individuality counts for a lot where that's concerned.
I can agree with that to a point. Managers tend to want it all, though ...nurses with experience, but nurses they can mold into exactly what they want. A nurse with a few years of acute care experience might be preferred over a nurse with 20 years of SNF experience who may be perceived to be set in SNF ways ...but as you say, personality and individuality counts for a lot where that's concerned.
That's where examples of your ability to change and adapt matters a ton on your resume.
ccrahan
5 Posts
Is it true that you can get pigeon-holed if you dont work at a hospital right away after graduation? I heard from a nurse once who worked at a long term care facility after school that she was never able to get a job at a hospital because she got pigeon-holed.
If I decide to work at a clinic or something after school (perhaps part of a nurse corps loan repayment program) I'm worried that I wont be able to get a job at a hospital afterwards.
I'm interested in your feedback.
Thanks,
Christine