Stuck in home health

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

Dear Nurse Beth,

I have been a nurse for past 7 years. After graduation I couldn't find a job in a hospital. I have been stuck with home health private duty for past 5 years. I have so much potential which i would like to use help myself grow. But i am still unable to get a job in a hospital or acute care. Any advice

Dear Stuck,

It is challenging to land a job in acute care without experience. Consider taking a refresher course to update your skills. It's also a way to network and learn about potential job openings from the instructors and classmates.

Have you applied to sub-acute facilities? It's often much easier to find an entry level position. Working in sub-acute will give you an opportunity to use your skills and can serve as a stepping stone towards acute care.

Best wishes,

Nurse Beth

Author, "Your Last Nursing Class: How to Land Your First Nursing Job"...and your next!

[TAKOO01, BSN]

Hi Stuck,

Maybe a hospital is your dream job, and if so, you should try to get a job there. But are you really "stuck" in home health? If the hospital is not a big dream for you, home health has a few avenues that you can explore, and you're already in the game. You can do regular visits, start visits, UAS, home infusion, home dialysis, care management and team supervision. There are probably even a few positions that I am forgetting. If you hate home health, then okay, walk away. But if you kinda like it and are looking to show your potential, you may already be in the specialty that can do that for you.