catfish1

Job hunting SUCKS! I've been unemployed since June. Have so many resume's out and no call backs. Been a nurse for over 20 years and still here potential employers say I need more experience for... "whatever". It's so frustrating. I'm also picky about what I want to do, sometimes you have to be. Good luck on your job hunt and hope you find what you want.

I have over 20 yrs. nursing exp. in LTC/SNF as an LPN then RN. I also have about 6 months MDS 3.0 training. How can I find an MDS position with so little exp.? Is anyone willing to train you? Most everyone wants experience. I would think that my LTC experience would help some. I would even get certified at my own expense.

Hind sight is 20/20. I quit a hospital job, my first, not as an RN though, because of 2 nurses who were bullies. My preceptor dumped me after 4 weeks orientation and told the manager there was a disconnect then proceeded to ignore me. 6 weeks in and 2 days before being on my own I quit because of the hostile attitudes. How could I defend myself? I'm the new nurse and would only be treated worse if I were to complain to the manager. My preceptor, by the way, was 1 year out of school and everyone loved her. I wish now that I had dealt with these nurses one on one instead of allowing them to intimidate me into quiting a job I waited so long to get. The more I think about it, the madder I get. Lesson learned the hard way.

I was an LPN before becomming an RN so all that was really available to me was LTC. It has it's own stressors like having 25 to 30 patients that you give meds to and do all your treatments if no trearment nurse. Plus you do get admissions and discharges as well. On the other hand the hospital gives you 6-8 patients and you are responsible for all their care and you really need to be able to act independently. I have gotten alot of experience from LTC especially over the last several years because hospitals are d/c patients sooner and require more acute care. I've had experience with IV's, wound care, ortho, psych. I think hospital experience will give better opportunity with assessment skills and more advanced technical machinery. You will never learn to hang blood or get much if any experience starting IV's. Trying to go to the hospital now after being in LTC setting makes it more challenging system wise. They are complete opposites. Most hospitals are computer charting where LTC is still written. I just feel like I'm working myself backward if that makes any sense, like I've cheated myself as an RN. As an example, today I went for an interview for Hospice and was told I needed at least 1 year hospital experience. So you see even with all my accumulated years of experience as a nurse wasn't enough and it all came down to no hospital exp. This is just my own take on this and what I have been through. I dont do night shift but at times wish I could. You dont have all the other disiplines to deal with and can go at a little slower pace but night shift can be just as crazy as days I've heard. Just one more thing, I can relate to your type of personality b/c I am more quiet and unsure of myself and this can come back to bite you as a nurse.There are alot of hardcore nurses who can make someone like you or me feel pretty intimidated. You need to get a thick skin. I've cried alot of days after leaving work.

Get out now while your still in orientation. I just left my first hospital job just shy of 6 weeks and 3 days from comming off orientation for the same reasons. I was treated rudely and like an idiot during shift report. The youger nurses were the worst. I've been a nurse for 20+ years and don't need the harrassment or a hostile work place. It was my first hospital job too. After giving report one night I went home and called the charge nurse and said I wasn't comming back.

I quit my first hospital job just shy of comming off orientation for the same reason. Younger nurses being hateful and condicending during shift report. I'm 48 and have probably been a nurse longer than they've been alive. I had a less than stellar orientation and tried to learn so much in a short period of time. These nurses (2) would roll their eyes or breath like a bull ready to charge. After my shift ended and I gave my report I went home and called the charge nurse at 10 pm and said that I would not be back. I was really disappointed because I wanted to work at a hospital for so long.

Yes, this was a county hospital. I know I'm not alone with my feelings in regards to the horrible attitudes and hatefulness from other nurses. We do have a private HCA hospital close to me but after this experience I'm not sure if I want to chance it. I still want that hospital experience though. You learn alot in LTC/SNF but it's not quite the same. I do know that it made it alot harder going from LTC to the hospital. Should I take another chance or move on to something else? Thanks for sharing your experience.

I have an interview tomarrow with Hospice looking for admission RN. What can I expect as a Hospice nurse/ employee?

I've been a nurse for 20 years. First an LPN then RN. All my experience has come from LTC/SNF rehab. About a month ago I applied to a local hospital and was hired to work on the orthopedics floor. I was very excited because I always felt like I cheated myself for not starting out in a hospital. You know how everyone says you should have at least one year hospital experience to be considered having solid experience. This ortho floor was more of a overflow of any type of surgical patient you could imagine.You had at least 6 patient per nurse, had to do your own vitals, if they were post-op it was Q4hr v.s., and you could have 3 discharges and 3 admissions in a 12 hr. shift. Most patients were young adults who were getting morhine every hour. My preceptor was a new nurse one year grad. I'm 48 and healthy so keeping up was not an issue. The charting was on computer and you were luckey to find one that worked plus the Dynamap machines were scarce or not working at all. It was a zoo. Doctor calls, call lights, oh yea and the yougsters who needed morphine every hour. It was like trying to learn to drive a race car on the Daytona 500. Everyone was so busy trying to keep up with their own patients. I started taking 3 patients after one week then it went to 6 one week before going off orientation. My preceptor told the unit manager she felt a disconnect between us? So I was paired up with another nurse but by that time I was so frustated and busy I could hardly do an assessment on my patients. Here I am lost with so many new things to learn like hanging blood, patients with constavacs after having bilateral knee replacements, N.G. tubes, patient need to go to the B.R, take off orders, PACU calling to give you report, ohh, I have another admission? Hold on my I.V is alarming, their calling me overhead your needed in room 409 patient needs pain meds. You know what took me over the edge? Several nurses were so rude and condicending at shift report. Rolling their eyes when I missed something or questioning me about things that they already knew. Finally one night at shift change this same nurse who was an absolute b.... had my group of patients and needed report. I started giving my report and the questions ripped. That was it for me after I got home I called and said I would not be comming back. I was so disappointed. I wanted to work at this hospital for so long and was so excited about it. I just could not put up with all these young nurses who felt superior and could not try and make another nurse feel welcome. What this long post is getting at is it's much harder to go to a hospital setting from LTC/SNF. It's totally different all the way around. Most women are mean and will chew you up and spit you out. You have to be able to fuction on your own very early on and learn alot in a short amount of time with little direction and most orientations are less than ideal. They'll promise one thing and do another. Now I'm not sure what I am going to do next. I think my chances would have been better if I was started on a slower paced unit with more support. Oh, and there are alot of bitter nurses in the hospital who wish they could leave thats probably what was wrong with the ones that gave me such a hard time.

Home Health is the absolute best option for mom's with school age children. I did Home Health for several months and didn't have a good experience due to poor management. I decided to try something else but nothing allows me the flexabilty that Home Health does as a mom. I can take my daughter and son to school and if they have a dr. appt. I can schedule my patients around them. If I had a job where I had to be at work at 7am I'd be dragging my daughter out of bed, taking her to some day care. That's something I never wanted to do as a mom. Good luck.

I'm with you. I was an LPN for 15yrs. before becoming an RN. Been an RN for less than a year and my first job was home health.The office closed after 6 months and I've been looking for a job ever since. Everyone wants experience as an RN. LTC isn't even an option. I want to try something new. Becoming an RN was supposed to "open so many doors" well that isn't happening. I worked hard in school for this? Just give me a chance!

Thanks. I've been out of work since Oct. and really need a job! I was an LPN for 15 yrs. and an RN for 2 with only LTC exp.and really would like to try something new. I'll keep you posted.

The ad says "Hospital acute care unit. Fresenius Medical Service". I'm not sure what that means. Could that be at a hospital? The lady I spoke with said training was available if I had no experience. I didn't ask too many questions since I'll be applying on Monday. Do you know what Fresenius starting pay might be or approximately? Thanks.

I'm applying for an RN position for Fresenius for acute dialysis. What are the hours/schedule for full-time employees?

I can feel your frustration. I also live in Fl. and can't find a job, even agency work. I got my R.N. in May '08 and instead of going to the hospital, I did home health and hated it .Way to boring for me. All I want to do is work weekends and still can't find a job. Really don't want to go back to SNF since I did enough of that kind of nursing as an LPN. Who said nursing is recession proof?

Nursing School Is Not Easy Especially With Children. I Was Separated From My Husband When I Went Back To School For My R.n. And My Daughter Was 3 And My Son Was 12. I Worked Every Weekend So I Could Be In School All Week. It's A Big Sacrafice And When Your A Mother It's Even Bigger. If You Are That Unhappy Maybe The Timing Is Wrong. I'm Not Saying To Give Up Your Dream But You May Have To Postpone It For A While. You Need To Be Able To Focus On Studying And That Will Be Hard If Your Feeling So Much Guilt. Maybe You Just Need To Sit Down And Regroup With Your Schedule. Ask Other Mom's What They Do. You Might Have To Put Your Kids Beside You With Crayons And A Coloring Book While You Study. Trust Me You'll Have Plenty Of Interuptions If You Study With Kids Around. It'll Just Take Decipline And Patience. And One More Thing; Dont Beat Yourself Up. Only A Caring Mom Would Feel The Way You Do. Good Luck!

Thanks everyone for your words of wisdom. I know there are alot of moms who go through these same issues too. I love this web site and all of you fellow nurses for caring and sharing. Only good tears.

I was an LPN for 15yrs. working mostly LTC/S.N rehab. Now I'm an RN(since May of this year)and still trying to decide what area of nursing to try. I know being a pediatric nurse is about more than loving children. What kind of person makes a great pediatric nurse? I did a clinical rotation at a pediactric hospital while in school and took care of a child who was in a vegatative state. When I left that evening I cried all the way home and could'nt wait to hug my kids. The little boy was my daughters age. Is this a sign I may have difficulty being a pediatric nurse? Thanks for any replies or suggestions.

When you do 12 hr. shifts do you do 3 in a row or 2 in a row and then a day off? Curious because I'm considering working at a hospital. Thanks.

Thanks SICU Queen. I agree with you about my husband. It makes it very difficult. I love my kids (We also have a 14 yr. old son). Sometimes, I dont think we give our kids credit. The last thing I want to do is break my childrens "spirit". Well, think I'm getting off track with my original question. My mom is close by and can help,but she is 78 and my daughter can be a handfull so I dont want to stress her out too much. Thanks for your reply.:nuke:

Thanks everyone (moms) for your replys. It's tough being a parent and I know there are no perfect jobs. Yes, me and my husband are booth stressed,especially while I'm looking for work. We've always had issues about parenting and we've been married 14 yrs. I'll keep everyone posted.Thanks again!

This is for all the mothers who are nurses. Any of you with elementary school age children working 12 hr. shifts feel bad about having to get their kids up early and take them to daycare/grandmas house to be at work by 7 am? I am struggling with the dicision to take a full-time position at the hospital or not. What if my 6yr. old doesn't adjust well to not have mom take her to school and pick her up or be gone until 7:30-8:00 two or three nights in a row? This would mean my husband would take care of her on the days that I work and he is very strict with her and yells at her alot which always breaks my heart. We never agree on parenting issues.:argue: I really need the experience in the hospital even though I've been an LPN for 15 yrs. and an RN for 9 mo. Any advice or ways to get over this anxiety I'm going through? One other question. Do you work 3 12's or 2 12's in a row at the hospital? Thanks for all who reply.:nuke:

Would you tell me which program offers "forgiveness"? I'm down here in Bradenton and looking for a BSN program. I have a pretty large loan right now and would love to have it paid off! Thanks.

Need advice please. I've was an LPN for 15 yrs. then went back to school and got my RN. Most of my experience is LTC. I've been an RN for less than a year now. There are big gaps of time in my work history due to being a stay at home mom, school, ect. Three of the previous facilities worked for are closed. My last job at a LTC has had so many changes,new DON, new ADON. So my dilema is references. I never know who to name. I have'nt worked as an RN since getting my lisence in May '08. I really want to work in the hospital setting but not full time because of my daughter who is 6yrs. old. I want to be able to take and pick her up from school and just be there for her. I've decided to work only weekends. Here's my other dilema. Yesterday, when I applied at one local haspital I was told that I need to do a full-time orientation even if I only do weekends. So, my only other option is to go to another LTC facility without a doubt get hired on the spot. If I continue to choose to be a mom at home 75% of the time, I'll be waiting at least another 4 yrs. before I feel comfortable not being available for my daughter during school hours and she is able to do more things independently. I know this is a choice I am making and could take my daughter to an early morning daycare program if I wanted to. She is my last child and dont want to miss these important years with her because I'll never get them back. Should I just go to work at a LTC and get any exp. I can and apply at a hospital after 3-4 more yrs.? Also, would someone advise me on filling out applications or a resume'. What do you do when you have no professional references to give? Thanks for anyone's input.

I just passed my NCLEX RN last week and now I'm trying to figure out where to work. I've been a LPN for 15 yrs. My only experience is LTC. I need flexability because I have young children and working at the hospital isn't a good fit especially working 12 hour shifts. I'm more concerned about solidifing my skills. I've always wanted to try Home Care nursing. Is this a good place to start as a new grad? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.