ThatBLURN

I’ve been told by many agencies that local travel work is doable. I was offered remote telehealth last week. Don’t care much about taxation, just need a job. As for the relevance of what I posted, it was clearly a very emotional experience and I thought this was an appropriate and harmless place to share.

So I took several years off to care for my dad who had liver cancer, received a transplant that wound up having devastating complications, then, once they were finally able to surgically correct it, he started to have extreme pain and a very hard time walking with his right leg. Apparently, the radioactive isotopes inserted through his femoral to minimize the cancer so he had more time on the transplant list pulled out some hitchhiker ca cells that landed in his lymph node. It wasn’t long after that the cancer shot up to his lungs and took his life. For 2.5 years I was his live in nurse (while also raising a baby). I was terrified about returning to nursing because it had been so long and, despite my license being in good standing (the care I provided for him was able to be counted towards clinical care), I knew the learning curve was going to be rough. I contacted all the refresher programs in the state and was told repeatedly that it really wasn’t necessary for me to waste my time and money. Well, last year, after I had thoroughly pulled myself together from the grief, I applied to my specialty at the local hospital (the only game in this sleepy town). I had met with the manager before and had great feelings about the place from when I accompanied my dad there. Boy was I wrong. First mistake: I signed up for night shift. Didn’t think anything of it at the time because that’s what I had done in the past. Well, that was before I had a 3 year old and had finally managed to kick my ex out of the house (he was milking the eviction moratorium in my state and would laugh at me when I told him to leave). In order to switch back to a day schedule to be present with my kid and keep normal hours for her, I was robbing myself of nearly a whole day of sleep a week. The other problem with night shift was that management had no clue about my diligence, ability to successfully prioritize, skilled at forming very genuine therapeutic relationships, and, overall an extremely hard worker I am. Everything changed when I experienced lateral violence from a charge nurse I worked with frequently. She would yell at me in front of most other employees over trivial things or situations that were out of my control (faulty phone). I was also in a bad roll over accident a day after I had come from a hellish night at work and my sweet dog died in my arms. I was a mess when this happened and I regret driving so much that night. I feel so incredibly grateful that no one was seriously injured (though I do struggle with the lingering affects of a thoracic compression fracture which acts up if I don’t keep my core super strong). Since I was still in my “introductory” period, they told me they were going to extend it. During my meeting with my manager and her assistant, they downplayed it. They stated that the major reason for extending it was because they weren’t able to check in with me as much as they normally would due to the holidays. That was it. At this point, I didn’t think much of it. Then, I received a phone call from my manager saying that we needed to have a meeting with HR. My guess is that they overlooked protocol and, when intro periods are extended, HR needs to be in the picture. That meeting was completely different! They accused me of all sorts of nonsense that I never did or stretched the truth to make it sound like I was being sketchy (I won’t get into details). Of course I was not prepared at all for this and, stupidly, didn’t call upon my union rep who could have helped me save my job. They came up with an action plan which included working with an educator on a “clinical toolkit” (the educator seemed kind of at a loss because I’m way more experienced to be getting much from the material she provided). Over the next several months, I barely had a shift with patients either so it was nearly impossible to work on what they had asked me. They had me sitting for SI patients constantly. It became clear to me that they wanted me to fail. I can understand why they weren’t pleased with me. 1) I called out a verbally abusive team leader who was a pet of theirs (they’re response was “that’s not the ___ we know” ?.). 2)charting took me longer than most because it had been so long since I had worked. As far as patient care, I was proud of myself for being able to get back in that swing what felt like even better than before. 3) the car accident was probably concerning on many levels. I welcomed a drug test, I was tested for alcohol in the ED and breathalyzed (negative) but they weren’t interested. There were some weird politics going on at the time too. The union had been having the hardest time ever negotiating the new contract which had been expired for over a month because they couldn’t come to an agreement. I worked with new grads and travelers… I stuck out in a big way. Anyway, it’s a very large hospital system with clinics and the like spanning my entire county. I would love to snag some travel gigs locally but I don’t know how that would work considering I was terminated. There just really isn’t much left in the area and I own my dads old home in a beautiful part of the county that I am very attached to. I’ve spent the last month licking my wounds and trying to regain my self-esteem. I am a good nurse. I am very devoted to holistic care and not only pay attention to the patient’s medical needs but who they are as a person. I know this is a rare quality. I’m so hoping I didn’t permanently burn bridges with this organization. I’ve been told by so many that my old manager is a cold and cruel person but I never expected this.

What area were you entering into? I have never heard of a physical needed for employment. I know this place doesn't do that but a trucker friend had to so that he could obtain his CDLs (DMV ordered), I believe. I find that to be a bit intrusive for an employer to obtain that information. Honesty is a high value of mine but, in this instance, I am concerned that it could impact perceptions of me and possibly limit my opportunities for growth. Maybe I'm just being paranoid though. It is possible that HR keeps that information to themselves. I don't know and wish I did because that would make me feel a lot better.

I am applying to the local hospital shortly and I am pretty sure I will get the job. I know that sounds bold or maybe arrogant but it appears they really need nurses AND I have several contacts in their organization who worked with me while I assumed a private duty nursing role (POA) over a 3 month period as my father died from cancer. One contacted me yesterday to ask if I would be interested in taking on a bedside nursing role. I am extremely grateful for the care he received through this facility and had nothing but exceptional interactions with HC staff as I was advocating for him. I really don't want to screw this up. This opportunity is a dream for me. Here's the problem: I was re-diagnosed (as an adult) with ADHD about a year and a half ago and have been taking prescribed stimulants (amphetamine salts) daily since. Due to this new opportunity, I have been taking breaks consisting of 2-5 days from my medication to see how it alters my functioning and also performing at-home urine drug screens. They are urine screens and function just as an OTC pregnancy test would. After one day, it's been showing to be out of my system. The days off are OK but my productivity and attention are definitely messy (exacerbated by full-time mom duties with a toddler). Reflecting on my practice in the specialty I have chosen, I definitely don't see how my diagnosis (while I was un-medicated) could have ever negatively impacted my patients. However, it has induced a great deal of anxiety for me because I have felt as if I have to work harder than my colleagues often. I worked for years without medication but have yet to return to my specialty medicated. I am TERRIFIED about the drug test! I wish to keep my diagnosis private from my employer. I also want to avoid opening pandora's box and potentially be at the mercy of the BON. Any advice and/or experiences in this matter? Greatly appreciated!! J

Thanks! I did notice that. It's helpful for sure. I just wanted to branch out to the stated platform because the usage is so great.

Hi! I wanted to reach out and see if there are any Bellingham, WA RNs out there. Looking to network and get a feel of the job market. I'm hunting for my ideal, long haul job situation right now. Most importantly, I would love to connect with other nurses on their lifestyles, careers, family balance, etc. In general, I want to strengthen my tribe of nurse buddies in this little slice of the PNW. I hope that someone catches this post that's in my area! If so, let's chat!

Hey all! This is a repost because I wanted to put it in an area that receives more traffic. Here is goes: I have been wanting to do this for a long time but have been holding back because I can't seem to find another group out there for a state. This would be an informal chat and place for nurses to network outside of their nursing association. Is there something I am missing as to why this isn't a thing?? There are SO many other FB groups out there for nurses but I think having state-specific and informal ones can be significantly valuable for so many. Thoughts? Insights? Thanks!!

I am a volunteer with a food distribution (mobile- pickup and delivery foodbank) non-profit and was offered a vaccine through them yesterday so this is astounding to me.

So I went from LTC/SNF to med-surg and I was so relieved by the change in workflow and the culture. The number of patients I cared for at the LTC/SNF was often very overwhelming. In med-surg, I definitely had moments but I (very) rarely reached the end of my shift still feeling extremely busy. Every shift at the care facility was a hustle. Just saying, you might be pleasantly surprised. I would recommend doing your homework first if you do try to go into med-surg. Every hospital is different. Inquire about their acuity scoring, if they have a max acuity # for each nurse, and if they have a patient/RN ratio max. Culture is also a big consideration. Mostly, is it a team-oriented culture? What does the organization do to promote teamwork? I would also wonder what the staffing requirements are regarding charge RNs, physicians, float nurses, and unlicensed aides. It can be a great environment. I especially liked how social it was. If I was having a hard shift, most of the time there was someone there to chat or laugh with. This made a big impact on the reduction of stress for me. Whereas, in the care facility, everyone was so spread out and working so hard that I would either not see others for a while or didn't have time to interact with my coworkers. It was lonely. Part of the reason I eventually chose to strictly work med-surg. Hope that helps!

Congrats on passing the NCLEX! The ANA offers a medical-surgical review CE course for $45. There are also a lot of other great education options on their site, though a bit pricey. I think you get what you pay for. CEs are abundant, though I have found many sources to be frequently lacking in quality. Not the ANA though. I don't know where you would look for a refresher course (not to be confused with CEs) but I'm sure they are easily found. Looking into them in the past, I recall them being lengthy and expensive. Considering it's been 7 years since school though, taking CEs and/or a refresher course would benefit your practice so much. You owe it to yourself and your patients to be current with EBP clinical knowledge/skills. If you can, the refresher course would be the best option because (I believe) it carries more weight when being considered for a job (than CEs). Also, it's my understanding that there is a clinical component to a refresher course so you can exercise your clinical judgment, network, or even find a place to work! As for not taking on night shift, I agree with previous comments and Nurse Beth. You should probably re-think that possibility. There is a great deal of opportunity to learn without the intensity that comes during the day when one would be juggling communications with other staff and patient schedules. The night shift is still very hard work but I found it to be a more supportive learning environment. Fewer distractions. I have a toddler, have been away from work for a bit, and expect night shift to be what presents itself. It's actually ideal because I would just need someone to watch my daughter while I rest. It's comforting to know that I would be under the same roof as her while someone else is watching her. If your child is school-aged and you are having to do digital learning, maybe consider joining a learning pod. If they go to school then that's time you can sleep and not pay a sitter! Just some ideas to help you brainstorm possibilities. Best to you!

I was hoping to convey to you how much value you have. Experience is gold in the nursing world and you have so much of this. You are not washed up! I have been job hunting extensively and have seen a broad mix, though that mostly depends on where you live. Also, you might have to dig a little deeper to find the postings for the role you want (more on that below). As for shadowing, it doesn't hurt to call and find out if that's something they will allow you to do! I don't see why anyone would refuse a volunteer RN offering an extra set of hands in exchange for insight into the position. If you want to find something new, you have to charge at it and apply, apply, apply. Interview THEM during your interviews and, if something doesn't feel right about a new position/organization, it's OK to leave before you end up wasting their money and your time. Believe that you will find what is meant to be. Don't let one dud interview chip away at your hope for finding something perfect for you. Pretty much all change is uncomfortable and hard work but it can be so rewarding. I hope you can recognize your value to the field and click into something that resonates with you. What type of nursing have you done? Have you looked into professional certifications? Where do you live and are you in a position to relocate? Some more advice I can offer is reading up on the many certifications and/or specialties that are available and searching for related jobs. Branch out with the job search sites. There are a ton of websites that specifically cater to nurses/ healthcare professionals as well as the many other well-known search sites, Linkedin, and professional organizations (including the facilities themselves). If you are limited because of your location and are in a position to move, maybe you can entertain the idea of relocating? Also, with this much experience, you have so much potential to be a nurse leader. Leadership has so many forms. Is that something you might be interested in? If so, there are leadership certifications that could open doors for you. It could be worth your time to check in with Nurse Beth or another 'professional development' nurse. There are many highly educated and qualified nurses out there that can help you explore your passion and guide you to grow into your ideal role. It sounds like a big obstacle right now is the notion of feeling "stuck". I can totally relate. I feel completely immobile right now too but for different reasons. I have had to do a lot of journaling, self-care, learning, and processing of my emotions to wiggle out of that stuck feeling. I came to the conclusion that feeling this way can work for or against me, depending on how I chose to approach it. I encourage you to nurture your emotional health right now. This whole planet is so psychologically fragile at this time in history but those in healthcare are especially vulnerable. You sound discouraged and my wish for you is that you recognize how much you have to offer, that you feel strong, that you can see the many opportunities out there for you, and that you embrace these feelings as drivers for needed positive change. There is so much you can do with what you have that working a non-related minimum wage job will likely never be a reality for you. I do hope you can embrace a well-earned sense of confidence about your future.

Since you haven't built your resume in such a long time, you may not be aware of the resume bots that are used by a large majority of HRs. I don't know how you submitted your resume but, if it went to HR, then it likely was sent through the pile of scanned resumes. These "bots", or rather just a computer program, scans resumes for target words matching the description of the job you are applying for and rates the resume. It's a quick way for them to go through candidates but (IMO) a flawed system that leaves good, and experienced nurses in the dust. Make sure that you view the job posting on their site or wherever else they posted it then tweak your resume, application, and cover letter to include keywords from their post. Also, I think that it is entirely up to you to figure out if a different field is right for you. I encourage you to network through the facility, have lunches with various RNs/managers of departments that you may be interested in, put the word out to people you trust that you are thinking of trying something different. Basically, ask a ton of burning questions to yourself and coworkers while also establishing new professional relationships. Do you want to be a nurse right now? In your last paragraph, I got the vibe that you might be over it. I think it's worth it for you to commit to a change of scenery. If it were me, with all those years under your belt, I would aim high and be open to exploring many new possibilities that feel good to you. You have done your time in the trenches! Take care of your body and spirit. All those years speak volumes and can lead you to the place that is most fitting to you.

I LOVE this!! I really want to get my foot in the door with pediatric care. My ultimate dream career is to work in administration for a pediatric hospital/clinic. This would be a perfect place to start. This might require a 2.5 hour commute for me but it would be worth it to get on track with what I am passionate about. Thank you!

You make the assumption that you have a clue what my career goals are. You also the assumption that I don't completely understand what you are saying. Look at the page before this one and you'll find the clarification I wrote on this topic.