Three-year RN BSN, Still Having Great Difficulty Landing Hospital Job

[thinkingpositive]

Hi everyone. I have been bottling my thoughts for a while now, and I am desperate for advice/opinion about my situation. None of my RN friends share the same experience, and I want to know if there is anyone out there who is going through the same.

I will have been a Registered Nurse (BSN) for three years in January.

My dream RN position prior to graduation/licensing was to be an ER RN. But fast forward to today, my professional experience comprise of everything but emergency or acute.

Good nursing, or a good nursing job for that matter doesn't necessarily mean working in a hospital setting. Like other blogs I've read, you can excel in any field, and feel as fulfilled as a nurse.

However, I have reached a point in my career as a nurse where I have become increasingly dissatisfied because I no longer find challenge, or mental stimulation in what I do. I feel that the routine-ness of my job has dwindled my skills, and knowledge, and I've grown increasingly depressed.

I've worked in Sub-Acute, and have a background in other non-acute care settings, and I feel very stagnant. I've taken acute care certification classes that do not pertain to my line of work in hopes of advancing myself, but I'm still here. My patients, and their families, as well as my co-workers praise my skills, knowledge, and my tact as a nurse, and I appreciate that. But I don't feel "alive" in my position anymore.

A year into my professional career, I was accepted in the MSN FNP program at a local university (since my chances of actually getting an acute care job were seemingly futile, I thought getting "ahead" by pursuing higher education would look good on my dossier, and would actually mean I will have a better chance at getting an acute care position).

Then, I read blogs from new grad FNP's expressing their concerns about not receiving any employment, or having such difficulty landing a job because they lacked acute care experience as RN's. Having had such difficulty landing a job myself as a new grad RN 3 yrs ago, I do not want the same difficulty to happen to me again. It is both financially, and emotionally distressing to go through such predicament.

I was fortunate once when I did receive a call from a local hospital for an acute care job. But when my lack of acute care experience came up, five minutes into the interview, I was out the door. The same day, I received an email that I did not get the job.

I graduated with my BSN hundreds of miles from where I am from. Prior to graduation & licensing, I was offered a job at the hospital I did my preceptorship in. My mentors thought I performed well as a nursing student that management placed me on top of the list for a PACU position from hundreds of applicants. Because of family et al reasons, I had to move back home. I was told by a seasoned nurse that as soon as I receive my license, landing a job will be easy as cake. Proved to be not the case. So, here I am. Three years later, I still think of that job I didn't take advantage of.

I would rather earn a position on my own, and prove in my performance that I am fit for a job instead of actually having someone hand me a job. But this has not worked out, so I've made several connections. And the connections I've made so far have agreed to be my references, but that doesn't even seem to work.

I've also submitted volunteer applications at local hospitals, and applied for jobs out of town, but I have yet to receive a phone call. I am a year and a half away from graduating with my MSN, and I am seriously thinking about taking a year break to focus on getting an acute care job, so I'd have a solid base, and be more marketable when I do graduate.

Sorry for the very lengthy post. And thank you for reading.

I just would like to know if there is anyone out there experiencing the same issues as me.

... What has worked for you in landing an acute care job? What other mediums have you used to get an acute care job? Please let me know...

[anon456, BSN, RN]

I'm sorry you are not able to move to hospital jobs. Without knowing your background at all, I would like to suggest hiring a professional resume writer and interview coach. They can often find good things about you that you didn't know about yourself and put those things forward so you stand out amongst the candidates. They can help you be more confident and have better interview answers. For example when I was hired as a new grad, I clearly didn't have experience. However I was coached to put forward my life experience (I was a non-traditional student), of which I had plenty. After hiring someone to help me, I started getting a lot more calls and was hired on the spot in a competitive job at a specialized hospital. You just have to find a way to get noticed. Good luck to you!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

What has worked for you in landing an acute care job?

I had four years of experience as an LVN in long term care, post acute rehab and psychiatric nursing when I earned my ASN degree and RN license in 2010. Although my heart was never set on working in an acute care hospital, I decided to submit some applications to see what would happen.

I received three interviews at three different acute care hospitals in the metro area where I reside. The first hospital was a major teaching facility, and the available positions were med/surg night shift slots, but I rightfully was not offered a position because I arrived at the interview several minutes late.

The second hospital was a level I county facility with 600 beds, and the available positions were in med/surg oncology. I wanted night shift, but HR only had day shift positions open. Due to the low pay and the lack of night shift positions, I abandoned the hiring process altogether.

The third hospital was a 200-bed regional medical center in a small town located 30+ miles from my home. I was offered a night shift position in med/surg oncology, but was uncomfortable with the terms. The nurse/patient ratio was 1:8, I would receive only 1 week of orientation, no CNAs were guaranteed, and the hourly rate was less than what I had been earning as an LVN. I abandoned the hiring process altogether.

People might think I am crazy, but I realized my heart is simply not in the acute care hospital setting. I enjoy aspects such as downtime, the ability to take an uninterrupted lunch break, using the bathroom whenever I please, and not having to deal with high pressure decisions. The pace of the acute care hospital is not for me. I am the queen of routine, so I will stay put.

Therefore, I hope that the acute care positions that I did not receive were given to nurses who really wanted or needed them. I have been working at a smallish specialty hospital for the past four years. My hourly rate is significantly more than what the major acute care hospitals had been offering me, and I am growing here in my own way.

To the OP: there's hope for you. Good luck!

[olivia12]

Are you willing to relocate? If so, I know a very good teaching hospital that will hire you.

Sent from my iPhone

[thinkingpositive]

Hi Olivia, (and everyone who replied) I appreciate your response(s)!!!

Yes, I am willing to relocate. So long as the position I receive is a 12-hr/3 days (or nights) a week, I WILL relocate. I have actually applied to hospitals out of town. I am in Southern California, and I've applied to as far as 2-3 hrs east to El Centro/Palm Springs/ Glendale/ Pasadena/Loma Linda, et al towns outside of where I live. Please let me know which teaching hospital you have in mind.

I appreciate your response!! Thank you!!!

[olivia12]

Hi, I'm referring to a hospital all the way in New England. There are nurses who occasionally come to us from CA. If you're still interested PM me, there will be a big recruiting event the weekend of 9/26-9/27 I believe they are willing to cover some of your travel expenses as well.

Good luck on your search!

Sent from my iPhone

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I am in Southern California, and I've applied to as far as 2-3 hrs east to El Centro/Palm Springs/ Glendale/ Pasadena/Loma Linda, et al towns outside of where I live.

Relocating away from the state of California would be optimal if you wish to break into acute care hospital nursing, but I get the vibe that you cannot do this.

There's Sierra View District Hospital, which is a regional acute care facility in the isolated town of Porterville (central CA). There's also Kaweah Delta Health Care District, a medical center located in Visalia. Since they're aiming for magnet status, they're seeking RNs with BSN degrees.

[ArrowRN, BSN, RN]

I would say never allow the employer to play you into the trap of no experience, we've all been there and they know that, they can clearly see that on your resume, so ask yourself why would they still call for an interview? . As soon as that comes up, don't avoid it but learn to tactfully and quickly re-directed that issue to bring up your strengths in a specific situation and regain control of the interview. Hook them on that and they will soon forget about the dreaded "no experience". Getting an interview coach sounds like a good investment as the other poster mentioned. Sometimes just the little extra is all it takes.

[RunninOnCoffee]

I think in my job search out here I came across a large VA hospital somewhere around Loma Linda. I know when I was looking for a job right after we got out here (Feb/ Mar) either Loma Linda or Arrow head had nearly 2000 applicants for their posted positions. The job market here is awful! I hope you find what you are looking for!

[tcvnurse, BSN, RN]

University of Virginia is hiring.

[NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN]

If you want to stay in Cali look at Central Valley. Kern medical center, etc. I agree with the others in having someone review your résumé.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

Yes, have someone review your resume is always a good thing.

Start applying to smaller community hospitals, even if per diem, in their ER's. Urgent Care may also give you the patient turnover that you are looking for. One of the interesting things about Urgent care is that some use NP's, which may be helpful with your MSN looking ahead.

Something that may be an issue is that you are going for your NP, and there are not many facilities who are looking to orient a nurse to a new specialty, to have them leave shortly thereafter. Another thought is to look at the smaller ER's that use NP's as practitioners. Then you could suggest that this be a transition.

Good luck and do see a job coach to help you present yourself in your best light.