So Freaking Frustrated!

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I have been thinking about this constantly. I posted earlier this week in the general discussion about a bad interview that I had. The more I think about this, the crazier I get.

I have been to 3 interviews at 3 different hospital systems. 2 of them were for pediatrics, one ended up being for med-surg, even though the recruiter told me it was for pediatrics. I have tried to improve upon my interviewing skills, been as professional as I can be, and I just feel like a fish out of water.

The first pedi interview went quite well, I felt, but I have yet to hear back from the ns. manager and that was on Oct. 16th. I have followed up with no replies. The job is still listed as open.

The second interview, the interview-ER had her feet on her desk, leaned back in her chair, and acted like she could care less. However, I was offered a job at this particular hospital in a med-surg unit in which I have never met a single staff member or a nurse manager, nor have I gotten a tour of the unit.

The third interview was with four people, in a small pedi unit. I was intimidated to death, and I am almost sure that they thought I was an idiot.

The reason I am so frustrated is that #1: everyone else i go to school with is employed, in an area of their choosing. (i will be living and have been interviewing 300 miles from where i go to school and where my classmates are employed.)

#2: I have always wanted to work pedi/newborn, have applied for every job under the sun, and the only job I've been offered is in med-surg.

#3: In school I enjoyed my pedi rotations so much. I almost can say that I disliked most rotations on adult med-surg floors. I DONT want to work adult med-surg.

#4: when i started school there were billboards everywhere advertising for nurses, promising great benefits. I am seeing less and less of these and less and less open jobs, especially for new grads.

I am doubting seriously if this is what I should be doing. I am a confident, serious student and this process of finding a job is making me feel that I will not be as good a nurse as I am a student.........if that makes sense. I feel like the interviews want me to have something or say something that I am not giving them.

Thanks for listening.

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Hey: why don't you just go back to the hospital where you interviewed and ask them point blank--will you get the job or what can you do better in the interview, etc. Also, I would call some nurse recruiters at the hospitals you are interested in regardless of whether they have postings or not and ask them about preceptor internships, new grad opportunities, etc... There is no reason that as a new ADN grad you will not get a job...you have come too far and done too much hard work, you know. Just think about all of the people who have not even made it as far as you....some can't even get into a good nursing program, etc. Dont' give up--remember life is; 10% WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU AND 90% HOW YOU REACT TO IT.

Best, hty/

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I would definitely call the hospitals you interviewed at to follow up. On your resume, make sure your objective says that you want to work with peds or newborn. When I was interviewing I made it very clear that I wanted to work in ICU and not med/surg. Also, did you wear a suit to the interview? You could also call the hospitals you are interested in and ask to speak directly to the Nurse manager of the peds/newborn units, thereby bypassing the nurse recruiter.

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Thanks for the replies. I don't have a suit, but I wore nice dressy professional stuff.......If I end up having more interviews maybe I will get a suit. I've thought about bypassing the recruiter and calling directly, but I didn't do that initially and now I'm worried that its too late. I have applied at virtually every hospital system and gotten calls from recruiters.

I think that is a good idea though, and I will try to make some calls this week.

Thanks,

JuicyJem

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I SERIOUSLY hear your frustrations. I have been there, done that and still going through it.

I was also thrown into a med-surg position. I do NOT want to do med-surg. I hate going into work day in and day out and feel like I am seriously going to burn out any day now and end up leaving nursing all together before I even get into the area I want to be in. I have no interest in Med-surg and I honestly try to learn but it is hard for me to so. Sometimes I'll start crying at work and will have to run into the bathroom to have a cry it out session for a couple moments to regroup myself together and finish out the shift.

It is NO joke having up to 10 patients it is very hard and frustrating and no other area BUT med-surg within the hospital setting has that many patients per nurse or team.

I done everything properly for interviews, I too followed up, I did TONS and TONS of research of proper interview etiquette, the nursing instructors at my school even gave us mock interviews and the one instructor who interviewd me said I did a wonderful job.

Fight for what you want or else you will end up miserable. Right now I am VERY depressed because of my job. I was the only person in my class who started in an area they do NOT want. All other 35 got what they wanted. I am so frustrated and each day I go to work it is a struggle dressing myself and I have to literally force myself to go into work. Things are getting much worse I literally take out my anger on my 6 year old daughter and I seriously don't mean to. I am a young single mom (23 years old) and she don't need the only parent she has in her life going insane.

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I am so sorry, that is awful. Thank you for the advice and I hope that things get better for you.

Have a good day:)

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JuicyJem,

I feel for you. May I give you some hints that worked for me? I interviewed fro 5 jobs and was offered them all. Too bad I picked the wrong one- but anyhow.

I also wore a suit and carried a briefcase. I carried copies of my preceptor paperwork with my preceptor's comments and showed them to the recruiter and the unit managers. Told them I would like to give them an idea about how other nurses viewed my clinical performances.

I brought along some completed care plans to show them. I informed them of my attendance record (this goes a long way- they want someone with good attendance). I brought along my transcripts.

When they asked me "Tell me about yourself" I told them my educational background and my desire to work in their facility. I didn't give any demographics. I also told them I would be happy to give two personal references.

Hope this helps. I think providing the interviewer with evidence of why they should hire you goes farther than just a verbal interview.

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I don't know about other hospitals but our maternal child area has very little turn over. People have been there 15-20 years in some cases. Is there a pedi hospital in your area? Are you willing to relocate to be near one or would you settle for med-surg for now and transfer to pedi when an opening is available? Sometimes you have to be flexible till the time is right.

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I would just like to say that I have been temporarily liberated from my frustration.

I made a quick decision, out of desperation, to apply locally where I am in school instead of back home, which is 300 miles away. It hasn't been my intention to stay here so it was hard to think about, but I did it anyways.

I called one nurse manager and got a call back within 20 minutes and got an interview set up for Pedi/PICU. I got an email a few days later from another hospital for NICU and I also have an interview there. This is a smaller town, and the people are SO much nicer, and my nursing school has a good reputation here, whereas when I was interviewing back home, no one had heard of it.

Anyway, thanks for all the replies. I will definately be using the advice that ya'll so kindly gave me.

Thanks!

JuicyJem

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I wish you the BEST and Good Luck!!!!! I hope it is what you are looking for and if so I hope you get it. I took a brave move this past week and applied to two different hospitals. One hospital is a Children's hospital and the other is a Teaching Hospital and I applied for the NICU there. I am really hoping and praying about these 2.

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Good for you!!! You deserve to have a job that you want and will enjoy. I can't imagine working in a unit where there weren't kids or babies. Good luck!!!!!!!!

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