Unemployed & Confused!

caliotter3 · Mar 30, 2007

You appear to be right at the edge of not having enough experience. There are many areas that you might find more desirable than straight bedside nursing. You really should try to get some more experience in other areas. What I see is hiring people questioning you why you left a job after only two years and focusing on the fact that you have only held one job. What you really need to concentrate on now is getting something to get away from the onus of not sticking to a job. It is an old saying that it is easier to get a job, when you have a job. So I suggest getting something going for yourself, then start exploring different opportunities if your new job does not seem to be the best fit for you. Good luck in getting your next position in a competitive market.

gt4everpn, BSN, RN · Mar 30, 2007

hello all!
i need all your help. i am currently unemployed and have been reading up on becoming a legal nurse consultant but i still have a lot of questions. i have a bsn with 2 years med-surg hospital experience and i have discovered i do not enjoy bedside nursing. so i am looking for a job that is non-bedside. i was originally considering research nursing but became discouraged because most are looking for people with experience. so now, i'm looking for some guidance of some sort i guess. any suggestions? comments? help? :smackingf

go to discovernursing.com they have a whole list of nursing careers and people who work in those areas there are about over 30 different career options so look up the website and see what you find. good luck!

GregRN · Mar 31, 2007

You appear to be right at the edge of not having enough experience. There are many areas that you might find more desirable than straight bedside nursing. You really should try to get some more experience in other areas. What I see is hiring people questioning you why you left a job after only two years and focusing on the fact that you have only held one job. What you really need to concentrate on now is getting something to get away from the onus of not sticking to a job. It is an old saying that it is easier to get a job, when you have a job. So I suggest getting something going for yourself, then start exploring different opportunities if your new job does not seem to be the best fit for you. Good luck in getting your next position in a competitive market.

Huh?? You're saying two things: that two years in one job is not very long, and then in the next sentence you say that her downfall is that she's only held one job. When most travel nursing positions require one year of experience, how can you say that two years is not very long? Even CRNA schools accept candidates who have one year of experience. Two years in one job is completely acceptable and hiring managers wouldn't think twice about probing deeper in this area. I can't help but wonder why you think otherwise. And your line, "Good luck in getting your next position in a competitive market" didn't go unnoticed. So, you've offered no help, given poor advice in an area you demonstrated you know nothing about, and then threw darts at someone who needed some support and direction. What a worthless post.

June, research nursing is not at all out of the realm of possibilities for you. If you're finding that lack of experience is the biggest obstacle in obtaining a position in this area, consider a "clinical research coordinator" position. It's very common for these people to be hired with no experience. It may not pay as much as an RN position but even if you found one part time it would get you involved in a research job and let you find out about other research opportunities at that facility as an RN.

What about OR nursing? A good friend of mine started out doing one year of med/surg, did travel nursing for a bit as a med/surg nurse, then changed to OB. She discovered, as you did, that she did NOT like bedside nursing. She has found that OR nursing isn't as "bedsidey" as other nursing jobs and she actually enjoys it.

Have you thought about going back to school and getting certified to do first assist in surgeries? Not bedside at all, but would required some schooling.

Anyway, just a few things to think about as you find your way again. Good luck. Let us know how your journey is going.

caliotter3 · Mar 31, 2007

GregRN

For your information I know plenty about the world of employment. If you think that a person who quit their first job and is talking vaguely about "legal nurse consulting" has any idea about what she may be facing other than that two years has taught her she doesn't like bedside nursing, than you are the one who is misinformed. The point of my post is that she needs to get some experience somewhere and develop a professional reputation for sticking with decisions before she wanders off into the ozone. I just go out of my way to be polite, unlike you, who thinks that your bombastic post is anywhere near helpful.

The OP named her thread unemployed and confused for a reason. She did not give the reason why she quit her job. To state that a hiring manager will not ask her why she quit her job, is giving her poor advice. She would do well to have an answer to that question when she goes to any job interview.

Psqrd · Mar 31, 2007

Cali I must admit that I kind of agree with greg your post was a tad awnry but greg your certainly not helping by calling her out on it. I do believe that June was asking for a bit of help. I am far from an expert as a nursing student but have worked in health care for 20 years...what I would suggest as a couple of ideas...first blood collection..blood banks need RN's...Dialysis nurse...school nurse...clinical nurse in a doctors office...QA nurse...discharge planner for a hospital...Teach CNA and Medical Assistant courses...I know that alot of nurses go work for the pharm and medical supply company...during and OR rotation the fellow that brought the Ortho supplies was an RN...Telephone advice nurse...community nurse for low income.

Thats just a few off the top of my head that I know that are out there.

Good luck.

P

charlies · Mar 31, 2007

I also agree that Greg's post was a little heavy handed.

However, I think that 2 years of experience on a med surg floor would look EXCELLENT on a resume. Does not in any way indicate a job hopper. 3 months on one floor, a year on another, 6 months another...that is job hopping.

Also, I guess it depends on where you are looking, but here in the northeast? competitive job market? lol, unheard of.

Trauma Columnist · Mar 31, 2007

Okay - well hopefully we have given the OP some things to consider. According to Siri (one of the other admins who is also a successful LNC), it is better to have at least five years of experience prior to pursuing that route.

However, some of the other posters' suggestions, especially like discharge planner or case manager have some merit. I worked as a case manager in the ER for two years while I pursued my BSN and MSN and post-MSN CNS certificate. The CM position gave me more flexibility with my education.

Another avenue might be for the OP to look at APN education choices. There are many fields there too and many are not direct care - at least not at the level of a staff nurse.

Hope this helps which is what we are all about. Let's debate the topic and in this case, try to help the OP versus duking it out among ourselves. Thanks everyone.

JuneBSNRN · Mar 31, 2007

Thanks to all for your suggestions and comments. I like the suggestions about teaching CNA/Medical Assistant courses, Case Management, Discharge planning nurse, and the clinical research coordinator. I will research up more on these positions and see what's available here in my area.

BTW, I live in Houston, TX, if that helps. Also, I don't know why it should matter why I resigned from my job. But I resigned because I wanted to be at home with my daughters, who were 9 months and 3 yrs old at the time.

chuck1234 · Mar 31, 2007

hello all!

i need all your help. i am currently unemployed and have been reading up on becoming a legal nurse consultant but i still have a lot of questions. i have a bsn with 2 years med-surg hospital experience and i have discovered i do not enjoy bedside nursing. so i am looking for a job that is non-bedside. i was originally considering research nursing but became discouraged because most are looking for people with experience. so now, i'm looking for some guidance of some sort i guess. any suggestions? comments? help? :smackingf

the title caught my attention!

however, i think your unemployment situation is self made....

looking for a research position...there aren't many research positions out there....keep looking and keep your fingers crossed are the only things you can do right now.

good luck!

GregRN · Apr 1, 2007

I also agree that Greg's post was a little heavy handed.
However, I think that 2 years of experience on a med surg floor would look EXCELLENT on a resume. Does not in any way indicate a job hopper. 3 months on one floor, a year on another, 6 months another...that is job hopping.
Also, I guess it depends on where you are looking, but here in the northeast? competitive job market? lol, unheard of.

It was meant to be heavy handed. The last thing a patient with an MI needs is a lecture about how they should have eaten better, gotten more exercise and visited a doctor more than once every 10 years.

Indy, LPN, LVN · Apr 1, 2007

Okay now I'm the one who is confused. What MI? Did the OP have a heart attack in the last two days or something? Or do I just really need some sleep?