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OK, so I spoke with the HR person on Friday and she will call me back this week with an offer. What happened was that I interviewed for a Med-Oncology position and instead was told that the manager wants to hire me for an Ortho position. I dont know what the reasoning behind this is...but I think I will decline the offer after all. I don't have an interest in Ortho (and manager was aware) and I don't think it's going to be worth the stress of having to learn a new specialty for a 2nd job. Besides, I was already told that my pay will be based on how many years I've worked there..Being, that I never worked at this facility-I'll probably get paid as a new grad. I would love to learn new things...but I dont think this is the right fit for me..Any thoughts?? Thank You!!

I know how crazy the job market is here. Unfortunately, I think you have a better chance applying for the field you have experience in. I'm pretty sure most hospitals require you to have at least 1-2 yrs experience since you are interested in specialized fields. My other advice is to apply for a Med-Surg unit at a hospital, then wait to see if there is an opening for a "new specialty" position & you can transfer internally. At least, you'll be working and have your foot in the door..

I was wondering if there are nurses out there who work at two different facilities & work two different specialties at the same time. My current job I work on a Med-Surg/Oncology unit. I have an offer for a part-time position in another facility but in Ortho. I've floated to our Med-Surg/Ortho unit, so I know the basics. I've always had an interest in expanding my knowledge & skills and I think can do two specialties. Anyone have a similar experience? Please share, I'd love to hear about it :)

i know right? in this day & age of emails..how hard is it to send an automated email. i can understand not so much for those who didn't get to the interview stage, but I at least had an interview-and I waited for a month before i left 2 messages to the recruiter for a follow-up. if she didn't want to call me back with the bad news...which i already had a feeling after not hearing anything....then at least send me a cheap email LOL!

@Lev

@Lev

I was just wondering what kind of experiences and for how long before you went to the ER. Also, what made you transition to ER nursing. Thank You!

@BeachyRN2Be This hospital is 140-bed hospital that is barely a year old. It is owned by a for-profit company that has 2 other nearby hospitals in the area. I understand that there are a lot of applicants, but all I ask is even a measly automated-generated email that says that the position has been filled or something.... Anyway, I learned to not take it personally anymore:woot: IMO, if I or any of my family had an emergency...I wouldn't take them to any of the facilities here...I'd rather drive 30 miles away & get a speeding ticket & rush them to the hospital I work for..OoOps, did I say 2 much?

hello, i have an opportunity for an RN position in the ER in one of our hospital's other facility. i been in med-surg for more than 10 yrs...and i'm ready to move on. i know...its been a looong time. I've been soul searching for the past 2 yrs, and its been such a roller-coaster ride. i actually took on a new specialty position in our ER over the summer, but changed my mind after a few shifts...it is a level 2 trauma with 44 beds, 3 triage rooms, 1 trauma, 1 cardiac trauma in the ER dept. the difference this time, is that this smaller ER sees more of a geriatric population and its not a designated trauma. it has 107-acute beds. this smaller er will stabilize any patients, then transfer them out to the main hospital facility which is a 288-bed facility. i don't really have any other specialty interests with other floor nursing..i don't have an interest in icu, tele, pcu, or surg. eventually i would like to try clinic nursing or urgent care sometime..any suggestions? thanks for reading :)

i would've been fine with an automated email that says something like "the position you have applied for has already been filled, thank you for interest...." etc...

hmmmmm....we do have similarities im looking into transferring into another position that i jus applied for...butwe'll have to see how it turns out.. im hoping to hear something by next week. i jus dont wanna jinx myself jus yet so i wont say anything..but im thinking this is just what i need. ive been having "itchy feet" for the last 2 years...and it's not fun..ill update hopefully w/good news..

ur right! there is always room for growth :) thanx for ur input..i might look into joining some committee or something..make myself useful for the time-being until i know what my next step will be..

@RunBabyRunRN I'm not sure if you wrote it somewhere...but what is your nursing experience? In my facility, if you don't have experience in the specialized areas like ICU or ED..you need to apply through a New Specialty Program. It is for experienced RN's (at least 1 year) that would like to transition to a different/new "specialty."

if you don't mind me asking...what kind of position and unit are you applying for? depending on the facility & position...some places/people just operate differently, IMO.

I don't think I'm too old yet..I just turned 42..Nowadays, they say 40's is the new 30's?? It would probably be nice to have a master's degree eventually. Maybe I'll wait till my kids are a bit older and look around for a program.. I have a 6th grader and 3rd graders. My boys are a handful...If it's NOT work on my mind...it's my kids! Thank you for your input @caliotter3

Yup, I feel the same...I guess I prefer to be bored as well if I get to choose. With me, it seems like I go through extremes...either I am bored with my work or feel overwhelmed! I have also tried unsuccessfully to get a part-time or per-diem at another facility..as a floor nurse on med/surg/tele...but my hourly pay is probably too much to match?

Hello..My post are for anyone who feel like me...I'm not going anywhere or anyone who can give me any friendly advice..Although, I am blessed to be at the facility/unit where I've been..I've been on the same unit (med-acute-oncology) for more than a decade! For the past 2 years I've been going thru like a "midlife crisis" as far as my work is concerned.. I've been there done that with being chemo-certified in the past, relief charge, preceptor..took outside classes EKG, ACLS..Even took on a new specialty position in ER for about a week..thinking I needed a challenge & different unit... Obviously, I went back to my home unit because that change wasn't what I thought I wanted...I know sounds confusing...Anyway, I came to the conclusion that maybe I should just stay where I am (at my home unit) & try to make the best of it. I was going to start on maybe getting my Med-Surg Certification... But I am just lagging...i have a brand new review book sitting on my desk...i don't have the motivation....but I feel like I'm bored doing what I do and I'm just going through the motions of "working." I don't want to feel or be like the "old school" RNs who are comfortable & complacent in what they are doing..and just waiting for retirement LOL! I do want to stay within the same facility...since I have seniority..in 2 more years...I don't have to "float" anymore .......I could even be a supervisor...but I DONT want to... I'm perfectly fine w/my personal & family life...so I feel stuck...Any advice?? Thank You!

I suggest reviewing the Interview Questions & Answers, then practicing out loud. It seems like you are already confident in your nursing skills...so as long as you're confident in interviewing...you should do fine!

hello, if you dont mind...why are you moving to the Murrieta area in particular? i don't know how fast you want or need to start working, but maybe try the agencies first...that way you can find out how other facilities are without having to be committed to just one off the bat. also, you might have a better chance in the bigger hospitals in North San Diego (40 miles) away. if you want to work nights...theres no traffic :)

I, myself had applied for med-surg-tele positions in the Murrieta-Temecula area in the last 2 years with NO bites LOL!. I have years of experience working in another hospital in North County SD. I recently tried again...thinking maybe things changed?? This time I was soo excited & I got a little nudge & actually had an interview...but NO call back whatsoever . It's been about a month...I just dont get it..I live in the area & it would be nice to get a part-time or per-diem position. Oh well...I heard Kaiser will be opening up in a few years here...maybe I'll wait till then??

I'm in CA, and we are part of the union in my facility. On Med-Onc, Med-Surg, Med-Ortho units it's 1:5 on days/nights. Med-Surg-Tele is 1:4 or 1:5. When staffing is ideal we have resource/break nurses as well.

Any RN experience will only be a benefit for you in your job hunting experience. I was also a product of an "old" new grad 15 yrs ago. As a new grad, I got a position in a board & care facility back in my home state. After a year, I moved to another state and applied to many different RN positions. At first, I accepted a position at a SNF-after one month I got my position in a hospital. So something is better than nothing. Good Luck and Hang in There!

Nursing especially in a hospital setting is high-stress no matter what unit you are on, no matter how much experience you have. More-so if you are new to nursing...but it will take time. I have "many" years of experience on med-surg and still have anxiety about working sometimes. In life, You go through ups and downs like a roller-coaster. The important thing is to find a healthy balance between your work and personal life. Unless we are millionaires, i think its a must that we all have to be employed in some sort of way right? At least in this profession we can pick what days we want to work and work 3 x a week, being that you put in for your required weekends & holidays...Others...have NO choice..Well, that's one benefit...and there are more, of course!

If it's in the same facility, I doubt if you can work on 2 different units at the same time. With your ICU experience, you should survive being a clinical supervisor on a Med-Surg unit. Good Luck!

Hi there! My advice..try to get in a New Grad Program first...get familiar with the hospital system..then after a year or so some hospitals offer a New Specialty Program to internal candidates in Labor & Delivery. If that is what you are truly interested in..keep up with your certifications If trying to get into a New Grad Program..even experience at a Skilled Nursing Facility will get you further than NO work experience at all. Hope that helps! Good Luck!