Will Ambulatory Care help me break into Acute Care?

[StarmanRN]

Hello Allnurses, I am lucky enough to get a job interview for an ambulatory care job, should I get it things would be great as I'm tired of looking and the job market in California is awful. I believe the job will probably be in a in an Infusion Center (PICC line insertion, removal, cleaning, wound care, etc) or GI lab that is part of the main hospital building, I'm not sure just yet which will be something that will be cleared up in the interview and with questions. Anyway I'm willing to take anything up to this point. I'm just wondering if Ambulatory Care counts as Acute Care and whether it will be easy to work my way into Intensive Care as I need it to apply to CRNA School and that is one of the few fields along with ER and Cath Lab I was truly interested in. Most places in the area require 6 months experience before you can even apply for their jobs and was wondering if the experience I earn while on the job will allow me to easily apply for jobs if moving units and positions within the hospital system isn't a possibility. Also first interview, any tips? I do have some managers who are said they would contact me about possibly filling a Med/Surg job or E/R job but those are just prospects.

[brownbook]

Hi, just some guesses. You would be doing IV conscious sedation? You would (should) have ACLS (and PALS wouldn't hurt). Those courses will help you look good for CRNA.

For the interview show your willingness to be flexible. Say you like floating to different areas. Willing to take courses (at your own expense?), float to any areas where your help is needed. (Still not exactly sure where, what, areas you will be working in?)

[nursel56]

In my various job hunts and jobs in California over the years I have never seen ambulatory care experience count as acute care experience even if the job entails skills you describe but things are so crazy here job-wise it's hard to say.

Long held truths are being blown out of the water, and if you've been looking for a while in this brutal job market future employers will understand that it isn't like the old days when you could point and say, "I'd like to work there, please!"

The fact that the facilities are connected to the hospital could also be a great networking possibility as "word of mouth" is still taken seriously by HR depts- and gives you an opportunity to shine that other applicants won't have.

Anyway just my .002 - good luck to you!!

[Genista, BSN, RN]

I think you are smart to try ambulatory care. It will get you some experience, and perhaps you can move later on to the area you prefer. If it is in the same hospital, you may establish good contacts and experiences to help reach your goals. Good luck!

[studystudy]

Long held truths are being blown out of the water, and if you've been looking for a while in this brutal job market future employers will understand that it isn't like the old days when you could point and say, "I'd like to work there, please!"

The fact that the facilities are connected to the hospital could also be a great networking possibility as "word of mouth" is still taken seriously by HR depts- and gives you an opportunity to shine that other applicants won't have.

This is what I'm hoping, too! After becoming increasingly desperate, I accepted my first job at an infusion clinic in a medical office that is connected to a hospital. Literally connected by a long hallway, and I'll even be wearing the hospital's badge. The hospital offers services in some specialties I really, really want to work in. When I go to HR to get my badge, etc, I'm planning on talking to HR and putting a face to my name and applications that I have filled out. I am hoping (praying!!!) that this will work out in a few months, and I can finally have my "dream job."

And even though people are turning their noses up at me once I say I took my first job in a clinic, I can't imagine people really truly holding it against me when nurses are the only people in the world that truly understand this rough job market for new grads right now! I'm thankful to finally have a RN job, but I'm not giving up on my dream.

Good luck on your interview and your future in acute care!

[nursel56]

Let us know what happens!

As far as people who turn up their noses -- I hate that cr*p. Just brush it off.

A few months ago a new grad RN had a similar story - after looking for months finally decided to take her first job at an LTC (another area some people scoff at) and decided to take the attitude that that was far better than no job, look at the positives and things she could learn at that LTC, and asked for thoughts from the board about whether she should listen to those who said it was a career killer.

Every single HR person or nurse manager who responded said they would hire her over the others because she displayed a positive attitude, was practical and resourceful, and proceeded to take the best option available and make the best she could out of it.

So she was out at least using some of her skills, as opposed to her "friends" who preferred to remain jobless and wait for the perfect job.. I really love hearing real world success stories like that.