Ready for a change but so far no luck...

[Lmoh0615]

I have been working as a nurse in psychiatry for 18 months and started straight out of nursing school. My passion has been to work in Women and Children's but it was very difficult to get a job out of nursing school with only an Associate degree.

I work at a large county hospital and thought for sure that it would be extremely easy to move once I had completed my six months to a year in my current position. I've applied to many positions within the W&C unit at my hospital and have only been contacted for one interview for postpartum and I'm absolutely sure that it was only due to my diligence in sending emails and calling the managers and directors that even got me that.

I am beginning to become frustrated and starting to feel defeated. I have read so many posts about landing the "dream job" and I have tried everything they suggest. I need HELP!! I even tried to follow up with the manager of the unit to find out what I can do to improve myself in hopes to grow and become part of her team in the future and she has yet to respond to me. I feel as though I am being ignored and don't understand why. The interview was great, it was a back to back 1st and 2nd interview that lasted over an hour and I cannot pinpoint anything that would have caused me not to have gotten the position.

I know that W&C is where I belong but I don't want to leave my hospital. Can anyone suggest how to handle this and what my next step should be? I am applying to BSN programs now so that should help but I feel I am boxing myself in by staying in Psychiatry. PLEASE HELP!

[babynurse73]

Funny I'm leaving l&d for psych..... May I ask how you like psych? Are u leaving because u don't like it or do u just have your heart set on l&d?

[Lmoh0615]

I've actually really enjoyed psych - more so than I thought I would. I just have such a passion for W&C and I am fascinated with anything and everything to do with that department. I feel that psych is a great background to have for any other department, but especially for Women's. The nurses I work with either love it or hate it, I am the black sheep I think, just because I don't fit into either category. I could stay in psych but I so desire to be in women's. Why are you leaving L&D? How long did you work in that area?

[babynurse73]

I've worked on Ldrp for 6 years...it's been a great experience however so much has changed in the past 6 years and its no fun anymore. It has gotten very task oriented with additional and redundant charting , more work. Etc. my hospital is in the process of achieving baby friendly status, which is a good thing for the most part but again more work and documentation . Less staff-vAcancies not being filled, low solucient scores, which is a bunch of BS! I find that I hardly have time to teach and that's such an important part of my job. I do teach a lot about breAStfeeding however, and many times we spend a lot of time with mom only to find out she's formula feeding the next day...Ugh!. I think some moms are guilted into breAStfeeding though.... I can write more about it, but hard to type on my iPhone :)