I am a RN that did an entry level master's degree program. I have been licensed since June 2012. Graduated with the MSN in April 2013.
I live in Sacramento, CA, probably the worst job market for new grads in the county. So, after being rejected for hospital jobs, I accepted a job at a SNF/rehab facility in August 2012. After working there a year now and continually applying for better jobs, still no hospital job offers have come my way.
I have only had two hospital interviews. Both interviews were with a hospital that had hired many of my classmates recently. I was the only one in my nursing class that actually worked as a RN job during our master's degree program. None of my classmates had medical backgrounds. After being with my classmates almost every day for 2.5 years, I know for certain that none of them had better experience than I did.
So I'm asking myself, why are they getting the jobs and I am not? My GPA was 3.93. I have been told by many recruiters that my resume is very good. I have good references. I have at least SNF experience. I wear nice suits to my interviews and speak articulately. Yet no hospital job offers.
In both of my interviews with this large hospital chain, when I spoke about my SNF experience and all the nursing skills I did learn from it, my interviewers seemed to "poo-poo" that experience. They made sure to remind me, "it's not considered acute care experience...". Yes, I know that, but shouldn't that experience be worth something? Well, apparently it's not worth much in the mind of interviewers.
I can't even get a home health or hospice job. Actually I'd much rather prefer an hospice job anyway. I went on a hospice interview, and the story was pretty much the same.
Because I have paid RN work experience, I'm not eligible for new grad jobs. But the other jobs posted ask for acute care experience, which I don't have. So it's a catch 22. I feel totally stuck working at the SNF.
I am thankful to have any job right now, but SNF jobs are fraught with problems from ridiculous patient ratios (1:30 or 1:40 where I am at). So I am passing meds for 30-40 patients, treatments, taking and inputting orders, calling docs and family, handling the emergencies like falls that happens almost every shift, and the mountains of charting on computer systems what are frequently slow or down altogether. And we get in trouble if there's overtime. It's truly a 'no win' situation.
Anyway, I just wanted to vent and say that depending on where and who you interview with, SNF work may or may not be well received.
Sourapril, because that's what all hiring managers want. The acute care exp. Like OP, after hundreds of applications I wad unable to land even an interview as a new grad (nyc) so I ended up in SNF. In the mean time I kept looking and recruiters would always poo poo the snf experience. I wanted to shout you try medicating and doing wound care on 60 residents in 8hrs. I had chronic uti for gods sake. Alas I have yet to land that elusive hospital job. I am happy running an out patient clinic for a nice doc though so cant complain.
I mean why does every new grad wants to get a hospital job? I think it's urban myth that you need a year of acute care experience before you can work in the field you like. It's true that most new grads don't have as many options as experienced nurses when it comes to finding a job but why limit yourself to hospital nursing? What's wrong with home health, SNF, public health or other nursing? You can be a great nurse anywhere.
I feel like as a new nurse it would have been nice to be able to learn the ropes worth a good orientation, support team and other RNs around. Orientation in one ltc I went to was only 3 days. 2 of themvin classroom and then u get the full load of 40 residents. In ltc on night shift I was the only rn watching 2 floors sometime. No docs. And now in clinic I am again the only rn although the doc is there and its mostly walkie talkies that come in. My friends in home health also say its difficult because when u have a question u have to call someone and hope they pick up. We did okay but as a new grad you hope for a little bit more guidance besides "heres your assignment I hope you can swim".
I mean why does every new grad wants to get a hospital job? I think it's urban myth that you need a year of acute care experience before you can work in the field you like. It's true that most new grads don't have as many options as experienced nurses when it comes to finding a job but why limit yourself to hospital nursing? What's wrong with home health SNF, public health or other nursing? You can be a great nurse anywhere.[/quote']
THIS...
Nursing is not just hospital...there have been many nurses that have had successful career either not stepping into acute care, or was able to step into acute care after years of being in a community setting...get your experience, sell yourself on your nursing practice, and go from there...
From a nurse who spent 8 years outside acute care and was able to land a critical care job in a saturated area-the northeast.
I agree with you sour april -- you can be a great nurse anywhere. And yes, there is nothing wrong with home health, SNF, public health or other field of nursing. I enjoyed my SNF days, although, it wasn't my first job option to start my nursing career, it was both a necessity for me financially, and and necessity to gain experience. Like any job out there - there will always be pros and cons. Pros - experience, paycheck, etc; cons - non-acute setting, imbalance patient to nurse ratio (40:1; sometimes 42 + to one RN; risking your license, extremely limited attention given to pts especially if you have so much in only eight hours, etc.)
I personally want to pursue hospital nursing because hospital constitutes 'acute care.' And plus if all the hospitals, and or clinics you've researched are asking for experience in acute care setting of at least three years to be considered as a candidate for a FNP position --- then that's what you do: look for an acute care setting nursing field.
If you're set, and happy with staying c your current nursing position and feel that it would be your chosen life-long career, then, do what's best for you.
I mean why does every new grad wants to get a hospital job? I think it's urban myth that you need a year of acute care experience before you can work in the field you like. It's true that most new grads don't have as many options as experienced nurses when it comes to finding a job but why limit yourself to hospital nursing? What's wrong with home health, SNF, public health or other nursing? You can be a great nurse anywhere.
Many jobs do require one to two years acute care experience. For example, in my area, home health requires 2 years acute; hospice requires 2 years acute. Clinic jobs so far from what I have seen in my area, do not require hospital or direct patient care experience. Perhaps public health does not either.
To me, getting 1-2 years acute right at the start is a good way to go as this can launch you into a new field later.
The catch 22 as other posters have mentioned....if you don't start in acute care, but in LTC, then trying to get acute care experience later is REALLY difficult to do because hospitals hire new grads or people with acute experience. It's what it is today in 2013. Ta-da!
sourapril
2 Articles; 724 Posts
Why is everyone so set on working in the hospital?