needrn

Oh, yes, I forgot to mention that am 44 years old, and I do have a recurrent back injury, which limits my lifting ability....

I would go back to the hospital that you did your internship in. I am sure you left a good impression with them (that's why they offered you a position), and they will still remember you. I would ask to speak with the Director of Nursing first, because they know what their nursing needs are. Good Luck, NeedRN

I have been a RN for 3 1/2 years now, but I am not sure if I nursing is for me. I got interested in nursing while taking care of my mom after her open heart surgery. I always wanted to help people, and I always liked to challenge myself by learning new things. So, after being laid off from my business administration job, I decided to go to nursing school. I loved the theory, hated the clinicals, except peds and psych. I wanted to go into psych after graduation, but decided to do med/surg/tele, so I could learn some clinical skills. And I did. However, the stress was too much for me. It was very difficult to deal with the lack of staffing, the amount of responsibility, and the posibillities for making an error and losing my licence. So I quit after year and a half. I went to work for an agency part time, doing occupational nursing at a major corporation. I loved it, my manager was great, willing to train me in this new nursing area. I got hired on permanent part time. Alas, my mgr became ill and had to go on permanent disability. The new manager, who used to be a nurse in the dept, did not think I had the skills, education and experience to work for this MAJOR corporation, and she intimidated me all the time. I got laid off, even though I did my best to learn the job. I have been looking for work, but have had no luck so far. I am not sure if I can go back to the hospital scene again. I would like to work at a private practice or a clinic, and I applied at many of them in the area. But seems like they all want LPN's, not RN's. I had few interviews, including at nursing homes,but no job offers. I have also applied at the VA, no luck there either. The other hospitals in town are on hiring freeze because of budget cuts. I've applied for case management jobs, no luck. They want CM experience or BA in nursing. There is only one psych center in the city, and I am planning on applying there. I found that most specialties, though, want you to have experience in that area. I am thinking of maybe trying home care, but not sure if I'm cut out for it. Has anyone been in a similar situation? I thought I would love nursing because of all the different areas I could be working in, but I have been very dissapointed so far. I also wanted to see if I could combine my business education and experience with nursing, but tough luck there, unless I get BA in nursing? I don't really want to leave nursing, but I really don't know what else to do......? Any suggestions anyone? NeedRN

Thank you Daytonite and everyone else for all the great info! I did ask my nurse manager for a copy of my evaluation review. She asked why I need it and if I was leaving. I was not planning to leave at the time, and she told me to ask for one if/when I need it. I did not know I could get it from HR, and OF COURSE no one tells you about this...Live and learn the hard way, I guess!

Thanks all for your responses. I have had some interviews and I have never said anything to trash my former employer. I do talk about all the great skills I aquired while working there, and that I am ready to move on. Still a pretty harsh response, though, Daytonite!!! I would hate to think that an employer would assume all those things about me! The reason I got into nursing is that I like helping people, And I GET A GREAT SATISFACTION FROM DOING IT! NOT BEING ABLE TO HELP SOMEONE WHEN THEY NEED ME IS WHAT MAKES ME FEEL I HAVE FAILED AS A HEALTH PRACTITIONER AND A PERSON! (Can't you tell I am still a novice to nursing? This coming from having a little over a year of experience...) Anyways, thanks LLG for the "not a good fit" idea and TRiAGE'S positive outlook! I have three interviews lined up for next week, so WISH ME LUCK! I'll keep you posted...

I was told NOT TO SAY AT AN INTERVIEW THAT I LEFT MY JOB BECAUSE OF THE STRESS AND BAD WORKING CONDITIONS/TOO HIGH NURSE PATIENT RATIO/NO REGARD FOR PATIENT ACUITY, ETC.? BUT ISN'T THAT THE REAL REASON WHY PEOPLE LEAVE JOBS EVERYDAY? AM I SUPPOSED TO COME UP WITH SOME OTHER REASON SO NOT TO MAKE MY FORMER EMPLOYER LOOK BAD? WHAT'S YOUR EXPERIENCE?

Thanks everyone for your kind words of support! I feel a lot better now! You guys are the best bunch ever!!! I feel that I have a lot to give to nursing (and I have been). Many people have said that I am a great nurse. I think I just ended up at the wrong place. I have prepared my resume, sent it to few places, had one interview already! I will keep you posted!!! THANKS! needrn

I was in this job for little more than a year, and I knew for a while that it was not a good fit for me. I tried to stay for financial reasons(my son just started college). I tried transferring to different departments twice, and twice I was stopped by my nurse manager. She wanted to know if I was trying to leave the floor. I did not have the guts to say that I had a hard time working on her floor, and said I need to work a different shift instead, which she was ready to accomodate, as long as stayed. I guess I should have been upfront with her, except that now I felt that I should stay because she was so accomodating. I have an Associate Degree in Nursing and an Associate Degree in Business Administration. I have a background in business/finance. I would like to find a job in case management or something on that line.

Thanks, Jules A! I think I will call my former NM and explain the situation, hopefully she'll be understanding...and maybe not give me a horrible reference!!!.... Although she did try to accomodate me by putting me on a diffrent shift, I just did not have the guts to tell her that working on the floor is pure hell!! (I think she knew that already!!!) I think the last draw was coming home after an exrtemely bad night and being pressured to quit by my husband who hated seeing me stressed out and miserable every day....and who thinks I can get another job anywhere just like that!!! I wonder???!!!

HI, can you tell me how can an RN get to be a CCM? I have been a tele nurse for a year, and I really think bedside is not for me( I also have a business degree and have done finance/sales in the past)...Also, how much experience do you need to apply for an insurance job?....In my area (Central New York) they seem to be hard to come by....Thanks!

I quit my job a week ago without a notice! I worked on a horrible tele(= everything else) floor, and had no energy to look for another job while I was working! called my NM on my day off and left message I was not returning back to work, she called back to ask if this was a 2 week notice or immediate resignation, I said it was immediate...NOW i WISH I SAID IT'S 2 WEEKS BECAUSE EVERYWHERE I APPLIED THEY ASK FOR REFERENCES(MY MANAGER'S NAME AND PHONE#!!!!) WILL I GET BAD REFERENCES BECAUSE OF THIS? WILL ANYONE HIRE ME AGAIN? I know this was a harsh decision, but I HAD to do it to keep sane!!! Things were so bad on this floor, nurses would cry almost every evening(including me)!!! Staffing was horrible, considering the patient load and acuity...I could not/would not stand it anymore!!! We were asked every evening if we could stay for nights(or would get mandated) so we could admit more patients on the floor....I like nursing, but I would like to see patients get better and get the care they deserve, instead of feeling like I am walking the line everyday....Is it too much to ask? Still worried i may not be able to find another job, tough.... Please someone reply? Has this happened to you?:uhoh21: