Troubles with Job and Job Hunting

[daisybsn]

Hey there!! So I graduated with my BSN in May 2009. My dream nursing job would've been to work in NICU, but I definitely would have loved to work in pediatrics and women's health as well. Trying to find a job back then was ridiculous b/c pretty much every hospital was on a hiring freeze so I ended up getting hired on a med/surg floor in June 2009. It took me 3 tries before I passed my NCLEX finally in November. Our hospital had a new policy that let those that didn't pass the NCLEX the 1st time work as a PCT III, but still follow your preceptor and work under the role as an RN. I put in my 2 weeks notice at work b/c our floor is rough and it got to the point where I was miserable and questioned why I did nursing everyday. I would come to the floor and make myself physically sick b/c I wouldn't know what kind of night I was going to have. Med/surg is definitely not for somebody like me. Now I have one children's hospital telling me that I can't qualify for RN II status b/c they go by the date of when you get your official license, which means I don't have my full one year experience. That same hospital pretty much only gives the RN I jobs to those that have connections, which I don't. I really don't know what to do b/c I busted my butt to get where I am only to feel like I have to start off all over with the job hunting and be considered an inexperienced nurse because I don't technically have the full year of experience. Even though after working a year on my floor, I could pretty much work anywhere and be fine b/c it is a crazy busy floor. Any advice??

[zarina_1007]

daisy i have the same problem hir..almost all hospitals in Us require at least 1 yr experience.. i still don't have a 1 yr experience and i am also looking for an employer b/c my nclex will expire soon.are there employers there who accept forreign graduate RN ?

[llg, PhD, RN]

Daisybsn: I think you know what you need to do: you just don't like it. You are going to have to start over and start job hunting, considering places that are not your first choice. It sounds like your first choice is not going to work out right now ... so, you're going to have to look at other options. That might include adult med/surg options even though you do not like that specialty.

On what terms did you leave your previous employer? Can you get a positve job reference from anybody there? What will a prospective employer be told when they call to check on your status there? Are you eligible for re-hire? That information is critical to you right now. If you left on good terms and can get a decent reference, you might be able to get a job on another unit in the same hospital. I would be checking out every possbility at that hospital before abandoning it completely as it might be your best chance to get that necessary 1 year of RN experience. Another unit might suit you better -- and you need a job that will get you some experience before you can move on to the jobs you really want.

But keep in mind ... pediatric med/surg jobs are still med/surg jobs. They are not necessarily easier, less busy, less stressful, etc. just because kids are involved. Why do you think you would not have the same stress in peds?

[daisybsn]

Well our floor is not like your normal adult med/surg floor. I've looked at other floors in the same hospital that interest me, but there are no openings and they're in high demand. So the odds of me getting a job on those floors are slim to none. The hospital I work at is not known for being the best either. We have in-house nurses as well as nurses that are pulled from other floors that refuse to come back again b/c it can get crazy there. They call our floor the "nursing home" floor b/c we always seem to get the combative, total care elderly patients. They ask us what we must smoking to make us agree to work there. I have had some bad nights on that floor. To the point where many nights doing primary with 6 pts I would be so busy, I wouldn't be able to be done giving 9PM meds til 11:45PM. I wouldn't be able to start charting on my pts til 6AM. I'm in good standing at that hospital and know I'm eligible for re-hire. They tell me I'm one of the better RNs who's leaving the floor. I'll keep on the look out for openings in the areas that interest me for a few more weeks, but if I have no luck then I'll just have to settle for another job. As much as I don't want to have to do it.