NLNM

Hello all, I'm looking into getting my certification to become a certified Occupational Health Nurse. What's the best book to study from that would optimize my chances on passing the test?

Hello all! I've attempted to transition from bedside nursing to an outpatient, Ambulatory setting but had no luck within the past 15 months. Why is it very difficult to get a job within an outpatient office as an RN even when it's just an internal transfer? I currently work three 12+ hrs a week as a night-shift RN. I have 4 yrs of experience and I have received Med-surg certification (BSN, RN, RN-BC through ANCC if that makes a difference). So far, I've gone on a total of 37 interviews, 7 external (at other health facilities) and the rest internally. I've even reached out to HR to get assistance. I was never written up and was never on a disciplinary action plan. The advice I received from HR after being told that my presence and the way I answered the interview questions during the mock interview were professional, I was told to make sure that I make sure I stick to my experience as being my reasoning for wanting to transition which is what I've been doing all along among other things. The feedback that I would receive when I do receive feedback is that another candidate was selected due to me not having Ambulatory care despite having bedside care and yrs of customer service from my previous profession (banking). There were many times I've been asked to come back for a second interview, just to be told that they were looking for someone with Ambulatory experience. During my interviews when I would be given the opportunity to speak to the staff, a few of the RNs have shared with me was that anyone could learn how to be an Ambulatory RN through the orientation that's provided and that it would be no problem for a bedside nurse to learn due to already having experience but yet, I am still without an offer. Any advice/info can be given as to how I can transition over? I no longer want to be a bedside RN for many reasons and I feel like I'm at the end of my rope with nursing due to the bad experiences I've had since I became an RN.

Amdecl6 , I truly understand your frustration. My frustrations with bedside care are pretty much the same in addition of "self scheduling" which requires 2 Fridays, 2 Mondays (in which I don't mind except the scheduling team, RN colleagues, would schedule additional Fridays and Mondays along with switching my other requested work nights around causing me to work every other night some weeks which is difficult working the night shifts with the additional Fridays and Mondays in a six week scheduling period) along with working the required every 3rd weekend, techs in which some aren't very supportive so how my night turns out depends on the assigned tech and charge RN who makes up the assignments the previous shift. Have you considered working in an outpatient setting? Yes, there may be a decrease in pay depending on where you work but a decrease in pay, a more predictable schedule, no holidays, weekends, less stress and your peace of mind may be a bit more beneficial than dealing with your current situation and higher pay. No job is perfect but you would need to take everything into consideration when making the choice to stay or leave. Everyone's situation is different so what some are willing to do may not be what other's are willing to do.

Hi HelloWish. When you made the decision to leave bedside nursing work in outpatient oncology, was there a huge decrease in pay (if any)? I am thinking about making the same change and although a decrease in pay is a possibility, I am finding that I am being offered way less in pay than what I could even imagine when making the change from being a bedside nurse to working in an outpatient setting.

Hello loveofrn, I'm not sure if you were asking me or 4boysmama, ADN, RN the question but I'm a Bachelor's degree nurse.

Thank you kelseykelsey4, BSN, RN! The information was very helpful.

Hello All, After performing a search on topics that discussed the salary for new RN grads in Philly (Phila., PA), I was only able to find salary info. for RN grads that work in a hospital setting but not the community setting. Does anyone know if the starting salary for a new RN grad working in a hospital is different than the starting salary of a new RN grad working in a community setting (healthcare center, clinic, etc)? Also, would it be alright to negotiate an offer as a new graduate RN if the starting pay is less than what was mentioned in other threads (about $27 an hr. for new RN grads in Phila). Thanks.

Does anyone know if the pay may be a bit different for a new grad with no experience working in a community ambulatory setting (clinic, health center, etc)? Also, can a new grad negotiate the base rate when an offer is given...is it advisable?

Hi Kayseadeecee, Thanks for the advice. I'm not sure if you've gotten the chance to read my entire post above but I mentioned that I had to let my car go because I couldn't keep up with the repairs therefor I am no longer able to apply to jobs that require me to drive. The best that I can do is apply for positions Septa and New Jersey Transit can get me to. Regarding my interviews...out of all the applications I've filled out, I wasn't given the opportunity to interview. I would be rejected before getting to that point. I've only gone on a handful of interviews. Now regarding the interviews I've gone on so far...I do feel pretty confident enough to feel that I have landed jobs after being interviewed but in the nursing world, you can never tell. Yes, when it's given, I have received feedback when I requested it to make sure the issue wasn't with me. I was told I interviewed well (When feedback was given) by a few places but lacked experience.

Thanks for responding Lev

Hello All! I am a new RN graduate bachelor's degree nurse (May 2014) and I am still looking for my first RN job. I interviewed for an RN position at a healthcare community site two weeks ago with someone from the HR/Admin. team of the facility of the job I applied for. I was called in for a second interview which took place last Thursday (12/11/14). After spending an hour being interviewed by the Nurse Practitioner who the other RNs report to and another Nurse Practitioner that works there, I was told that I would be meeting with the OB team (the department with the RN opening) after I was given a tour of the facility that same day. The OB team was in a meeting at the time so I was told that I would be contacted at a later time to see when I would be available to come in to meet them before a decision was made in regards to hiring me for the position. Right before I left, the Nurse Practitioner (the person who makes the decisions to hire RNs) explained to me that the input from the OB team would determine if she would hire me after I've met with them. She also told me, as she was walking me out, that she would like for me to email her an interest letter stating my interest for the RN position (no fewer than three sentences...no more than 6 sentences) and to attach my resume to the email so that she could forward everything to the OB team to review. She said she would be able to set up a time for me to come back in once everything had been emailed over. Well...as soon as I got home from meeting with her, I emailed her both the interest letter and my resume as requested and left her a voicemail message indicating that I've done so and to contact me back (phone call or email) to let me know that she received it. It is now Monday, 12/15/14, and I still have not heard back from her. I really thought I did a good job on the second interview but because I haven't been contacted yet, I'm getting the impression as if perhaps after all of that, she might have changed her mind. Does anyone have any advice for me on how I can proceed from here, when I should contact her (or the other Nurse Practitioner) back, or should I just give it more time before reaching out to her? Thanks, NLNM

I have applied to public health RN positions for PA but I'm still waiting for a response. I was told that it takes a while to be contacted...it's been a few months now. I have not tried Craig's list though! I will see if I am able to find work that way and update this post. Thanks! If you have any other suggestions, feel free to share again!!!

Con't.... to new RN graduate programs (yes....they even look for experience, not clinical experience, but previous work experience in new RN grads, smh). I am now up to over 550 plus applications total (hospitals, non-hospitals....any type of facility) and STILL without a job. Any other suggestions LadyFree28? Any suggestions are appreciated! Thanks.

Hi LadyFree28, You are absolutely right...it doesn't matter where yhe experience comes from which is which I never limited my searches to just hospitals. I pretty much looked everywhere here in Philly. I've applied (online....with a resume that has been professionally updated and cover letter) and dropped off a paper application to places that weren't online) to both big and small hospitals, clinic/healthcare facilities, nursing homes, rehabs....any place that has nursing positions. I also applied for home health RN positions up until a few months ago before I had to let go of my care because I could no longer keep up with the repairs. The farthest I will look for an RN job is as far as Septa and NJ Transit would take me. I've even gotten feedback from the few interviews (when possible) I've been on and was told that someone else with more experence received an offer. I would even hear this same excuse (the interviewer said good things about you, however, you lack experience) when getting feedback after applying

Hello All, For all the nurses who were/are having problems finding a job as a new graduate that responded to this post, has any of you found an RN job in Philly yet? Here's my update (original story above was posted from my old account, NewLifeNewMe and the current one, NLNM): Well...I've gone on 3 interviews since then but nothing resulted from them. However, I've learned that because I graduated in May 2014, I pretty much missed my mark in getting hired for some places. I was told by a nurse recruiter that they usually only look at the applications of the new graduate nurses who have graduated for their new RN grad program. What this means regarding my situation is that an RN who had just recently graduated within the last month or so will be considered over me despite the fact that I've been looking for a job since March of 2014. What another nurse recruiter has shared with me is that the longer a new grad RN is out of work post-graduation, the less chances she/he might have for getting an RN job because they see it as if someone should have hired us by now and that it may be an indication that something is wrong with that nurse (yes...this is what was told to me when I asked for feedback...cant make this stuff up). What this means for me??? Apparently, it's a good chance that I may not get an RN job...at least in Philly and my chances are getting slimmer as more time goes by. I can't afford to move out of state so that's not an option for me. #losinghope