Rules for Applying to RNI and II positions?

[RunawayN]

Wanted to hear your thoughts about applying to jobs.

Currently, I'm a nurse with (almost) 2 years of acute care experience, mostly in general surgery and ortho/neuro. Right now, I'm searching for job opportunities elsewhere and possibly in different departments.

If I apply to a surgical floor then I would of course try to apply to RNII positions but if I'm going to a different department, say Tele or General Medicine or Cardiac, should I focus on RN I positions.

Of course, I know that the ladder may vary from hospital to hospital but for the most part, I'm considered to be an RN II.

Thoughts?

[Seaofclouds, BSN, RN]

I think it's best if you look at the job descriptions to make sure you meet the requirements for the positions, whether they are RN I or RN II. These things vary a lot from one company to the next and some companies don't even have a ladder like that.

[RunawayN]

oh yes, I do look at the job description and it does vary a lot from hospital to hospital.

But suppose it's just a generic "one year of acute care experience preferred" with a RN II labeled job description for a unit I'm not familiar with. I meet the requirements but it does not say anything having specialized experience which is throwing me off completely in my job hunt.

[_firefly, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Though it varies, it seems like RN I is typically new grads or 0-1 year experience. So, you should probably only be applying for RN II or possibly even RN III.

[klone, MSN, RN]

Everywhere I've worked, an RN I is a new grad position. Once you finish the residency/orientation/training, you automatically become an RN II. RN III is for nurses on the clinical ladder, and wherever I've worked, you could be eligible to get on the clinical ladder after a year with that facility.

[RunawayN]

I think I was overthinking this ^_^'