ThinkerBelleRN

I am a burnt out medsurg nurse. Was lucky enough to work at a wound/hbot center for a few years but had to leave the job to move to a different city. I have 6 years medsurg and 4 years ambulatory experience. Right now, I am trying to transfer to a clinic position at the same hospital I am working but have not heard from HR. I applied to every clinic position I see. I don't know how else I can fix my resume to get some hits for an outpatient/clinic/ambulatory job anything not medsurg not bedside not acute care. I want to go back outpatient. Im so desperate. What key skills should I highlight in my resume? What medsurg/bedside skills can I connect to ambulatory jobs? Also, during interview, what should I say when asked why I applied for the job and not make it sound like Im just exhausted and burnt out and just really want out out of bedside. Thanks in advance.

Can you share more about this? I have been looking for work from home jobs.

I know this is a very old post. At this point in my life, I feel like Id rather have this type of work from home job. What company did you work for and what are the requirements?

Do the all didactic classes you choose to take then enroll for available bridge week schedule. Professional practice is required even if you only just want to do 1 specialty.

I just had to wait. Apparently theyre processing a lot of applications. I waited 4 months to get my license. Hope you get yours soon!

Update. I found a job in a large teaching hospital, and just gave my notice at my current workplace. Will be moving to NY state after my 4 weeks is up!

I have not gotten my WOCN certification yet, but I suggest you refer your patient for proper evaluation of the wound bed and surrounding tissue. If it is infected, patients will need antibiotics not just topical antimicrobials. Zinc oxide creams are only for preventive/protective use. Patient is geriatric so wound healing is also slowed. You mentioned he also has cancer and therefore will also be immunocompromised. These two factors alone affect wound healing.

So I had a phone interview for 2 different jobs in the same hospital both of them have no previous experience in (oncology unit and endoscopy). I applied for these jobs during my desperate times so I could leave my current job asap and move halfway across the country. I also know I don't want to work inpatient anymore and so I am genuinely interested in endoscopy. I can't tell how the interview went but endoscopy manager suggest I come in to shadow for a few hours since I have no experience in endoscopy (I agreed and will travel to go visit my bf and shadow in said unit). Now oncology unit turned out to be inpatient and after talking to the manager I decided I really don't want to work there but I asked if I could shadow anyway (because at that time I was desperate and would like to keep it as a back up in case endoscopy doesn't work out). I have another video interview lined up for a different hospital in a med-surg unit (I have 4 years med-surg experience and currently working in one). This is the hospital that I want to work in. I plan to get foot in the door and transfer to my "dream unit" once there's vacancy. I would appreciate some advice: 1) At this point I am somewhat torn because although I don't have any offers yet, I am still a little stressed out with getting a job asap and not really sure which one to actively purusue, (a) get foot in door via med-surg, or (b) go for endoscopy since its outpatient and I grown interested in the specialty. 2) I have done more thinking and decided I don't want to work oncology. How do I decline IF offered the job? Or should I just let the recruiter know this and not waste anybody's time. 3) How do I leave a good impression during shadow day in the endoscopy unit?? Anything I should pay particular attention to? Tips? Advice? Should I try to assist staff while shadowing? Thanks in advance

I am currently working as an RN in the medical floor in the midwest, hate it and already so burnt out. Last spring I finally made the decision to relocate to upstate NY and still waiting to get my NY license, but have been applying for jobs because I really want to make sure I have a job lined up before I resign from my current job. However, even after getting a call back from the hospitals I applied to, which sometimes I would miss because I work nights, none of them would return my call or reply to my email. There was even one time when this one rehab facility scheduled a skype interview, but never called as scheduled. I called them after 30 minutes of waiting and emailed but they never even respond. Anyway, I don't know what I am doing wrong. I have total 8 years of experience outside of the US both in medsurg and outpatient (wound clinic), I have a BSN, although I know I still don't have a NY license yet, but do facilities really do this? Just ignore calls and emails? My coworker who moved to California got a facility consider her even before she got her license, and all she had to do was update them when she got her license. Because of this, I really started to wonder what's wrong with me and started to lose confidence. Even though I want to make sure I have a job offer before I give my notice, the hospital I really want to work prefers to do face to face interviews but I wont be able to travel to NY anytime I want to because we plan our schedule at work 2 months ahead. I have been so depressed here and find myself crying often and anxious before going in to work. I hate working inpatient already and have been wanting to just do anything but working in a medsurg unit. However, being that I need a job ASAP, I have gotten to a point that I am considering even a PRN job in a medsurg unit just to get my foot in the door and then transfer to the unit I really want. I am so torn whether I should just give my notice, move and then try to find a job when I'm already in NY or still try to find a job before I resign. A lot of people say it is easier to get a job when you have a job, but I am at a point where I can't stand it here anymore.

If only we can switch jobs. I have been doing wound care overseas 4 years of my 8 years as a RN. Moving to the US, I wasnt given an option to purusue wound because it turned out they needed more people on the floors. I am currently working on the floor but would really want to go back to wound care. I have been applying everywhere but no luck. I would like to think it is easier to get a job on the floor, as many hospitals are short staffed with high turnover rates in med-surg and other inpatient units. Keep applying, I hope we get to practice our passion.

Have you gotten your NY licenses? I thought it says on their website that they are not able to update status of application over the phone. I have completed all my papers and course works first week of July. I haven't heard from them until now. I have a job waiting.

I will be starting the WOCN program through Emory and manuals will be included in the tuition, but they also have recommended books for the WOC core curriculum. I also looked at the WOCNCB website which has a list of recommended books/references. Since books can be pricey, my question is for those who have done the program and WOCN certified, which books do you think are worth purchasing? Thanks.

Thank you. I am curious about case management but have no idea what a case manager does exactly.

I am currently working in the medical floor, and hate every second of it. I dread going to work everyday and find myself crying after work, and have been feeling anxious before my shifts. I have done wound care nursing and hyperbaric medicine before and love it, and it is still something I want to do. Right now I just want to resign from my job asap, and decided to look for jobs in wound care before I give my notice. However, there aren't that many wound care jobs, and the few I applied has not responded. I am getting desperate and now considering other options (anything but inpatient bedside nursing), just so I can leave this bedside job asap. I have have tried applying at family practice clinic but did not even get an interview, long term facility wont even hire me because I have no previous experience with MDS. I have over 3 years of medsurg experience and 4 years in a wound center. What other non-bedside nursing jobs can I look into? How one can transition into a different specialty or field of nursing without prior experience? I am willing to go back to school. I prefer to go back doing a M-F 8-4 schedule where I don't have to take care of 6 patients at a time, or maybe just something else that will not make me completely quit nursing. I am just done with working on the floor.

I am an international nurse who recently just migrated and started working in the United States. So I am not familiar with the hiring process and timeline involved, as well as the timeline and process for resignation here in America. Overseas, where I am from and other countries I previously worked in, we were just asked to submit one resignation letter addressed to manager, director of nursing, and HR, and I just had to give the letter to my immediate manager and she starts the process. We were also required to give 3 months notice and within that time frame, we get through with clearance forms, getting our employment/experience certificates, getting written recommendations, and attending an "exit interview" wherein HR and other bosses would ask about reasons for leaving etc. With the hiring process, it also takes a couple of months for interviews, background checks, and medicals. Currently, I am employed somewhere in the Midwest and just not happy in my facility and area of work I was assigned in; while my fiance is a thousand miles away in another state. I signed a 2 and half years contract with hospital, but I am just so miserable here which starts affecting my health, so I am currently saving up to pay for the breach of contract fee. My fiance and I both agreed about moving to a different city where we can finally settle, start our lives together and build a family. Given our plan, I would prefer to not be unemployed for a significant amount of time and would like to make sure I can secure a job in the new city we plan on moving to before I give my resignation in my current hospital. I just need to somehow figure out the realistic timeline and logistics of moving to a different state, getting a job and endorsing my RN license. I'm sure 10 months will go by quick so I am trying to gather as much information as I can to make this move possible. My question is, how is it usually done here in the United States? I understand my question seems a bit too general, since maybe it does differ per state, city, or facility. Specific to my situation, If I plan on leaving after 1 year of working here, I am not sure when I should start sending out applications, and if I should even let my manager know I am moving to another city and not going to finish my contract. I'm sure the prospective employer will call my current facility and inquire about me, and I am not sure how that will affect my situation even before I give my notice. With regards to the license, should I try and obtain a license in the state I am relocating even before sending out applications? Also, what other things should I try to get before leaving my current facility (certificates, recommendations, etc)? I would appreciate any advice or input as I am just completely clueless at this point, as it turns out its just so different here.

Thank you for the reply. I will definitely look into the areas you suggested.

I have been a RN for about 10 years now, and I feel like I have not really found my true calling. I do know I never enjoyed any inpatient work, and when I did wound care and hyperbaric, I actually really enjoyed it and think that it is a good area to focus. However, now in my new facility, I am forced to work in the medical floor and I feel so unhappy. It's almost like I have no choice to even pick the area I want try and pursue. Oftentimes I consider a complete career change, something that is not as stressful, that matches my personality. On the other hand, I don't want to go back to school for a different career path, and not even sure what I want to do outside of nursing. I am very laid back, and don't handle stress very well. Stress triggers my alopecia areata, so I am trying my best to avoid it if possible; and working on the floor does not help my condition. I still enjoy clinical work, and would like to stay in the nursing profession. That being said, what could be a good area of nursing for me to focus my practice that is not as stressful. Thanks.

Cant you request for a transfer? I am not a new grad, but extremely unhappy in my workplace. I am currently saving up to just buy out my contract and move out of place. I have not heard of other hospitals buying out a contract, but perhaps you can use your sign on bonus to cover some of the amount of your contract. Look at the terms of your contract and see what the total amount is, and figure out how much will be deducted from that amount after a certain period of service in the hospital

Maybe your facility require wound certification prior to hire? Most postings I see just want med surg experience, and certifications to be done within a certain period after hire. I am looking at moving to another state, so I am just worried that the next facility will be the same and will want to keep me at a job I don't like.

This may be the reality in most institutions and it makes me feel even worse, because what you just described seems to really explain why I am in this situation. I spoke to the wound care nurse and she said they do need nurses, and that those who she had in the clinic all run out the door screaming coz they dont like it; and she was very excited to have me especially because I wanna get my WOCN certification soon. Seems like the unit isnt so sought after here. I hope we can someday move out of the high stress environment and pursue our passion.

There's a different manager for hyperbaric/wound care unit. I am new to the US and do not know how things work here, just like you saying I can just transfer without my managers permission. In all my previous facilities, transfers required permission, so now that I am here, Im still learning the system in the US. I have been applying for an open position for wound clinic nurse, I did get a reply, but as soon as they found out I am an "international nurse already hired by the hospital", they immediately refer me back to the international talent coordinator (the same person who I have been telling about my concern regarding area of assignment). I am so confused and don't exactly understand why I can't just work in the area that I am interested and passionate about and actually have the work experience. I feel like I am being forced to work in stepdown just to fill in their nursing need. Just now, I saw on glassdoor and indeed the same job post for hyperbaric/wound care nurse for their clinic and was posted just 3 days ago, and I meet the basic qualifications. I don't know what to do. ?

Hi everyone. I'm a foreign educated RN just recently started working in the US. I signed a contract of over 2 years with my current facility, who petitioned me to come to the United States as a nurse. Most of my previous work experience was in hyperbaric/wound care, and I am passionate about the specialty and have been looking at getting wound certification (once I get to the US) ever since. However, I am now assigned in a stepdown unit despite my lack of experience in this area. I am completely uncomfortable and not confident working inpatient as I have not done so for at least 6 years. I already expressed this and my desire to keep doing hyperbaric/wound care to the coordinator but all I get are vague answers with no assurance. I am just overwhelmed by this new assignment, and it's not helping that I am not motivated because of my lack of interest in stepdown (or any inpatient setting). I am getting depressed because I know exactly what I want, but feel so helpless. I am still in my orientation period, and it seems like the unit I am in is short staffed. I have talked to a few people who advised me to just speak to my manager about this, but Im not sure how she will take it. I do know I would absolutely love to be transferred to hyperbaric/wound unit and get my clinical hours for when I start my certification program, but I don't even know what to say or how to ask my manager, especially knowing the unit needs nurses. I would appreciate any advice on this. Please help.

Hi nurseontheway, I am in a similar situation. The only difference is that I did not choose to do step down unit, I was assigned to the area despite having indicated in my resume that I am a hyperbaric/wound care nurse with no experience in inpatient care in the past 5 years. I still want to do wound care, and I am just overwhelmed with the learning curve in my new area. I feel stuck and helpless. I do hope it gets better for you.

You might be right. I wouldn't have guessed that because in the other 2 countries I worked in, and 4 other hospitals in these countries, foreign nurses were placed in both inpatient and outpatient units, and even in specialized areas. Of course these assignments were based on the nurse's previous experience and qualifications. The United States could be different. The irony is, recruiters prefer nurses with previous experience and sometimes even specify area of experience/specialty when looking for foreign nurses for their affiliated facilities. That maybe could just be a front, but these nurses will just be placed anywhere as these hospitals see fit. A bit misleading, but oh well... whats an immigrant to do? í ¾í´·*♀️

Hello Jennylee and Inthecosmos. Well, i just came across a job post on some jobsite that the hospital is looking for nurses for hyperbaric and wound care, which means there is a vacancy. I applied, and got a reply. But when they found out that I am a foreign educated nurse, the lady I talked to said that the hospital only allows international nurses to work inpatient. I asked her why but she said she doesnt really know. Im surprised by her answer. I dont know what to do anymore.