Regular schedule

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Aug 20, 2014

Hello to my fellow Houstonian

Rule # 1: Employers will never pay more for a job than they have to. Hospital jobs pay more than other settings because - they have to in order to attract and keep qualified staff.. because the jobs are harder, more unpleasant, more demanding, etc. Rule #1 corrollary = If the job is easier, with more predictable schedules, no weekends, etc... the pay will be lower because they don't have to pay more. BTW, ICU jobs are not any easier... the assignment may be smaller, but much higher levels of responsibility & stress more than make up for it.

Frankly, the only way to move into the 'better hours with more pay' realm is by matching your own skill set to those that are required for these 'cushy' jobs. This will mean high levels of specialty expertise & (most likely) more professional & academic credentials. Also - don't be fooled - some jobs that appear to be cushy are actually not. For instance, managers may be paid a salary based upon a 40 hour work week, but they can't get the job done without working a lot more than that.

My organization employs Acute Care NPs in the hospital setting as well as CRNAs & CNMs - but FNPs are only in clinic settings... their scope of practice/training does not qualify them to manage acutely ill patients.

Please remain in your job for at least a year. As time goes on, it will become easier as you become more proficient. Join the local TNA or your clinical professional group - begin to network with folks from other organizations/facilities. Active participation in a professional organization looks great on a resume - it will set you apart. You will discover that there are some really great places to work . . . and some not so great.

TXcatcher · Aug 20, 2014

Thanks. I don't necessarily need more money, just not less. My current hospital is the lowest paying in Houston...and they wonder why they can't recruit experienced nurses! Not that I make a lot as a fairly new nurse, but they wouldn't match my old salary. I can't imagine what nurses who've been around for a while must think when they apply to my hospital. I told as much to the nurse executive recently :nailbiting:

I remember in nursing school, the instructors would blabber about "so much you can do"...but I don't see that. The only positions I ever find are floor jobs. I have no idea how to search for a job that isn't a floor job. For instance, how do you get into case management? Or how do you get to work for the supply companies? Are there jobs for nurses in any of those really tall buildings downtown? Even on job search sites (Indeed, Monster), all I see is floor nursing (or variations).

TXcatcher · Aug 20, 2014

I'm not under the impression that ICU is easier. I just want to work with the higher acuity, more adrenaline type stuff. I know it's not always like that, but probably moreso than a floor. I loved my ICU clinicals, and that's what really made me enjoy the field. I started out wanting to be a midwife until #1 I hated women's health, and #2 I LOVED the ICU.

On a side note. I was speaking to my cousin who is currently in nursing school and doing an externship in my hospital. She also loves the ICU. She was told the hospital does not hire new grads into the ICUs. I know this to be a fat lie. Kinda just irks me. Anyway, carry on...rant over.

dexm · Aug 20, 2014

I was also told that hospitals don't hire new grads into the ICU when I was in nursing school, but that was absolutely false. MANY people I graduated with, including myself, started in the ICU as new grads. A lot of hospitals hire new grads into the ICU, and those hospitals generally have an internship-like program for new grads and nurses with no previous ICU experience. In fact, the job title for that position is also probably different than the titles for the other ICU positions - i.e., "Nurse Intern - ICU" vs "Registered Nurse - ICU." If you search for the latter you will probably keep running into jobs that require ICU experience, while the former will be for someone like you. Maybe try calling the recruiting office for hospitals you're interested in to find out if they have programs like this. Or, you could try searching for these jobs in during the times of year new grads are typically applying for jobs (i.e., march-june, september-december). There's a good chance you are probably already aware of all of this, but I thought I'd post just in case. If you've been doing all of these things already and are still unable to find an ICU job, it's possible that the area you live in is the problem and maybe it's time to relocate? Good luck to you!

Biffbradford · Aug 21, 2014

That 'adrenaline type stuff' isn't all it's cracked up to be. Sure, it's initially exciting to be involved in a code that has 2 nurses squeezing in blood as fast as they can get it in their hands, 3 phone lines going into the room stretched to the breaking point, one with the surgeon, one with blood bank, another with family. You loose count of people gawking from the hallway at 25. EICU on the overhead speakers blaring questions and orders. Everything that has an alarm is alarming. But after a few years of that and more, you'll realize that there's a person in there (somewhere) fighting for their life, stuffing body bags gets old, and you never hear about the ones that 'make it'. Do they really return to the life they had before? That all makes for great TV watching, but also makes for lousy sleeping when you can't get those images out of your head. PTSD - ICU style. Learn to enjoy helping people that can actually talk back to you, or simply smile back and do the best job you can for them. That's just as important.

allnurses Guide · Aug 24, 2014

It sounds to me like you need to pick a goal and stick with it. You have two scenarios in front of you:

1. Stick your current job out for a year, be a STELLAR employee in every way(on time every day, enthusiastic, easy to get along with, generally happy, helpful to others, precepting newbies etc) , make friends with your manager and the higher ups and start the political jockeying that comes these days with wanting to switch specialties. This can mean joining some committees at the hospital that have crossover with ICU (get to know those nurses/that manager), arranging a couple of days to shadow (on your own time, unpaid) and, you guessed it, get to know those nurses/that manager, or watch for their internships to open up and see if you can be considered for the one in ICU. However, the other things you say you want are at direct odds with the goal of going to ICU, as I am sure you are aware. You will probably have to be willing to not only work weekends, holidays and 12 hour shifts, you will likely have to start out on night shift to get your foot in the door. If you don't want to do that, then you probably don't want ICU bad enough to make the transition. This is how most people get to do it, by making themselves someone that department likes and wants to work with and feels is ready and willing to be a great learner and team member and who also is willing to take whatever opening is available to them.

2. As to finding M-F, no weekends or holidays you just have to watch the job boards and keep applying. However, you can count on with these types of jobs you will take a very large pay cut. Most of these types of jobs pay less than $20/hr in Texas for a nurse with your level of experience. Recognize that going to this type of a position is likely going to shut the door on your acute care career for good unless you stay on PRN and work those shifts a few times a month.

All in all, scene 1 is completely contradictory to scene 2. I would advise some soul searching and see what it is you really want and then pursue that goal with all your might. Recognize it may take another six months to a year to find the job you are hoping for and during that time you will need to keep excellent performance at the job you aren't thrilled with so as to make yourself valuable and maintain a great reputation. These days it is all about who you know and their opinion of you. Do things that extend your circle and go from there. I think no matter what you are stuck where you are for a few more months at a minimum. I wish you the best of luck in your search!

Ruby Vee, BSN · Aug 25, 2014

It sounds to me like you need to pick a goal and stick with it. You have two scenarios in front of you:
1. Stick your current job out for a year, be a STELLAR employee in every way(on time every day, enthusiastic, easy to get along with, generally happy, helpful to others, precepting newbies etc) , make friends with your manager and the higher ups and start the political jockeying that comes these days with wanting to switch specialties. This can mean joining some committees at the hospital that have crossover with ICU (get to know those nurses/that manager), arranging a couple of days to shadow (on your own time, unpaid) and, you guessed it, get to know those nurses/that manager, or watch for their internships to open up and see if you can be considered for the one in ICU. However, the other things you say you want are at direct odds with the goal of going to ICU, as I am sure you are aware. You will probably have to be willing to not only work weekends, holidays and 12 hour shifts, you will likely have to start out on night shift to get your foot in the door. If you don't want to do that, then you probably don't want ICU bad enough to make the transition. This is how most people get to do it, by making themselves someone that department likes and wants to work with and feels is ready and willing to be a great learner and team member and who also is willing to take whatever opening is available to them.
2. As to finding M-F, no weekends or holidays you just have to watch the job boards and keep applying. However, you can count on with these types of jobs you will take a very large pay cut. Most of these types of jobs pay less than $20/hr in Texas for a nurse with your level of experience. Recognize that going to this type of a position is likely going to shut the door on your acute care career for good unless you stay on PRN and work those shifts a few times a month.
All in all, scene 1 is completely contradictory to scene 2. I would advise some soul searching and see what it is you really want and then pursue that goal with all your might. Recognize it may take another six months to a year to find the job you are hoping for and during that time you will need to keep excellent performance at the job you aren't thrilled with so as to make yourself valuable and maintain a great reputation. These days it is all about who you know and their opinion of you. Do things that extend your circle and go from there. I think no matter what you are stuck where you are for a few more months at a minimum. I wish you the best of luck in your search!

Good advice!