What direction can I go in nursing if I'm not making enough to survive where I am now but feel stuck?

[bluescoop, BSN, RN]

How do I pivot my nursing career in a competitive market with no relevant experience? I'm a nurse in SF with 4 years of experience (SNF/FQHC), currently working at an FQHC making $50/hour, which is well below the local average and certainly not enough to live here and save money. I kind of want to transition into a hospital for the experience and to increase my earnings and stability, but I struggle with 'imposter syndrome' and worried I won't be able to handle it. I've been fired from a job before and my nursing professors all thought I was dumb. I also feel ugly when I wear scrubs and that's why I like working in outpatient care now because I can wear regular clothes. Nurses come to the Bay Area for higher pay and our applicant pool is super overcrowded at large systems like Kaiser, Sutter, and UCSF. New grads can't find work here and even a lot of amazing experienced nurses also have an hard time. Additionally, I don't drive, which limits me to city hospitals. Should I stay and negotiate a raise at my current FQHC, or is it time to look for a hospital that is hiring nurses with non-acute nursing experience? I kind of want to work in medsurg just for the experience since I don't know anything about any specialties. 

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

So, a couple things:

1. You graduated and you are an RN - thats something to be proud of. Don't let "imposter syndrome" be your future

2. Learn to drive. That will expand the areas where you can work.

3. Learn to love scrubs! They are comfortable, washable and flexible enough to be realistic for many nurses. I'm absolutely positive you don't look "ugly" in scrubs. And...besides, even if the esthetic isn't great, you don't go to work to look for a partner. 

4. Best wishes!

[Mergirlc, MSN, APRN, NP]

Are you able to move?  If you can, you may want to check outside the Bay Area in the more populated, smaller towns such as: Redding (Shasta County), Bakersfield,  Eureka, etc..  Even if you couldn't drive, you could get to any of the three I mentioned taking bus - even flying since all the three have airports.  But, I would just strongly recommend focusing on smaller cities or towns and not just the major ones. The main issue you might have in a smaller town, is if there is no reliable transportation within the city, then you would have to Uber all over the place or take a cab or if you ride a bike, do that.  But if you are able to leave the Bay Area, I would strongly suggest that. Of course, apply in the Bay Area anyway. You never know what might hit. But you might want to apply to the smaller hospitals and see if that might land you somewhere.

And as somebody else mentioned, I would definitely recommend trying to learn how to drive. You don't have to have your own car right away, but eventually that will open up an entire world to you!

Good luck!

[Barden]

You got this!

[movenurse]

I'm not familiar with that part of the country at all, but I will say getting med-surg or med-tele experience can be a game changer for your career. If you can get into a teaching hospital, even better! They usually are more welcoming to new/inexperienced nurses and have somewhat lengthy residency programs to help your transition into bedside care. And if you can do a year on that floor, that will open up many more opportunities for you. 

I also don't see any harm in trying to negotiate a raise at your current job if you wanna start there first. Just try not to make it known that you're considering leaving. 

After 15 years of being a nurse, I still struggle with imposter syndrome so I can absolutely relate to you on that front. Like someone else mentioned, you completed your nursing program and passed your boards. Think of that and all your other accomplishments when that imposter syndrome starts sneaking up on you. Give yourself some grace, and give yourself some credit!! You got this!!