I got my RN license December 2020 and landed my first job as an RN case manager from an agency. Im interested in transitioning into acute care but when I apply I get rejected. How do I get hospitals to notice my application and not get rejected?

Keep an eye out for nursing fellowship programs. A lot of large hospitals have them for new nurses. Also, take some acute care CEUs like an EKG recognition class, ACLS, PALS, TNCC that you can add to your resume to show you’re serious about acute care.

You just have to keep trying or know someone. Are you in contact with schoolmates? Maybe they can name drop for you!! I had same exact problem 25 years ago- keep at it

Going straight into case management after getting your license means that you have no floor experiences and managers look at you as a new nurse who will need extended orientation to master bedside skills. And because you are not a new grad they will have to pay you more. Hopefully you'll find a manager who is willing to give you a chance.

First I would want to know where you went to school to obtain your ability to sit for your licensure. I have been a nurse for 50 years and fortunately, I had gone to a hospital-based program that gave me a tremendous amount of clinical experience, which does not happen today. I would list clearly what in your past experience would be beneficial in an acute care setting. I would recommend that you take a refresher course before you apply, this would help with your clinical skills, which you did not obtain while doing the case manager for an agency that did not give you.

Hi there. I wish it wasn’t so but it is very hard to get into the acute care environment unless you know someone or get into a residency program which you don’t qualify for since you’re not a new grad. Do not feel alone, this happens to so many of us. Maybe it’s a little easier as hospitals are less staffed post Covid and the “great resignation”. I recommend job fairs, both virtual and in person. Case management unfortunately does not prepare you to work any in patient floors. It’s a different skill set entirely. So it depends on where you are, maybe a small town hospital will hire you versus a large city hospital. Also you don’t need to start in med surg or at a level 1. Start where you can get it, get trained and get some experience. After a year or two of experience you’ll be much more marketable. If the bedside is your calling, go for it but remember nursing is so much more than that. Never let anyone make you feel like less of a nurse for working CM. Good luck.

Seems silly when there is no staff nowhere. I'm doing the opposite trying to leave bedside into case management.

I am in the same exact position as well. I graduated in 2019 and worked as a vaccinator and tester throughout the pandemic on the East Coast without any floor experience. I recently moved to Southern California (Oceanside) and I have been applying and so far no luck. Any advice or recommendations/connections?

Go to a hiring event.

Find the right market. Supply and demand is a contributing factor. And don’t take rejection personally. Just keep applying and interviewing and advocating for yourself and qualities that make you hireable and trainable.

Hi, I am like you, started home care right after nursing school and have no acute experience. I recently got hired from a hospital and will start next month. I recommended to go to open days, walk-in interview ( that’s how I got this job), referred by friends and connected with some recruiters via such as LinkedIn etc. Incredible health is also a good source for hiring managers to notice your resume (I got one interview from it). Hope this helps and best of luck.

Look for in-person job fairs. These days many facilities are using automated screening tools for applications and resumes and yours may be getting passed over for some reason. Having the opportunity to speak with a recruiter or manager directly might allow you to overcome that bias.

Hi, I am going to be very direct. You have not gained any clinical skills as a new RN. You will have to apply as a new grad. Look for jobs seeking to hire new grads. Accept it for what it is. Im surprised that they gave you an opportunity in CM as a new grad. CM can be challenging. Keep looking. Now is the time to get a foot in the door in Medsurg or tele. Tele is fast paced but you can do it.

If you are focusing your application to a specialty department it might be challenging. My advice would be to look for med/surg RN jobs, you would have better luck.

You will need to apply as new grad. You may need to reach not to HR or the nurse leader directly to explain. Depending on the recruitment software, it may disqualify you automatically.

Not sure where you live but I am shocked that you can’t find a med surg type position anywhere! I am in MA and we are training new grads in specialty areas even because we are so desperate for nurses…..I would suggest maybe trying to attend some job fairs perhaps and keep an eye on Indeed and Linked In for open positions. They are definitely out there!!

As I have advised RNs without acute care experien ce. Few things you need to do to get hospitals to notice your application:
1. Be cerified in BLS, ACLS and/or PALS. Ih you have not taken the ACLS or PALS before, review, review, review this course before you take them.
2. Ask for a recommendation letter from your charge RN. This person knows you better than the director or the manager of the unit.
3. Apply for RN Residency program. A lot of hospitals are Offering this opportunity. This cohort is for RNs who just passed their RN board exam to RNs with less than 12 months of experience. To find out you may have to call the hospital Education /Professinal Development office. A lot of hospitals are offering Residency Programs. The pay may be lower than the RN1 but it is worth it. Hope this helps.

Hi

just keep applying to different hospitals and different positions. Dont limit yourself to only a few specialties. Before I lend my fist hospital 18 months after applying, I got hired in LnD. However, i had already being a RN for almost years and previos to that a LPN. But sole people had the luck to get hired right after graduating. I had applied to over 10 hospitals, at least 3 different health system and at least submitted 40 applications.
So dont get discourage, remember they can only hired certain amount of people because they may not have anyone to train new grads. Some hospitals prefer at least 1 yr acute experience. Try a teaching hospital ...look up sole information to ace the interview and have patience. good luck

most

I would encourage you to keep trying and finding extra credentials that’ll make your resume appear good to employers. You could volunteer or job shadow with the local hospital to get a field of the acute care setting. I worked in LTC and SNF facilities for over five years since I got my RN license. This year I decided to move to acute care, specifically the ICU. It was a big move but I kept pushing. I just recently accepted a position in the ICU.

Have you applied to HCA west hills hospital and medical center? I know they have openings for nurses

You accepted a job you were not prepared for. It has hindered your experience in bedside care. Thus you have no bedside experience.
The nurse profession, in my opinion, has developed a mistrust of each other. Youv
started off on the wrong foot.

most hospitals require a refresher course if you have no recent acute care experience. many colleges offer these refresher courses.

Maybe list your CEUs that are related to Med-surg with dates, establishing your interest in changing jobs.

Its hard because you have no bedside experience but dont give up. I moved from Chicago to Georgia to get back on the floor after graduating from Nursing school in 1997. I had been away from acute care bedside for more than 10 years, they thought I couldn't handke it. Wrong! You need a good orientation and refresh yourself with basic nursing and you should be fine. It really depends on you and your preceptor. Good luck

Since you never had a chance to practice as a skilled RN, you might want to market yourself as a new RN graduate. Then, you will be considered for their internship program. I am assuming that wherever you apply will have one in place for you to transition into the nursing role.

It may interest you to find out the reasons for rejection. Feedback from the recruiter(s)may help. If you're sincere about your inquiries as to how you may improve your chances to get hired in an acute care setting, they would most likely give you constructive feedback. You may also consider joining an RN internship program. Acute care settings are not what they used to be. My guess is that most acute care settings want experienced RNs to meet the immediate acuity level of their patients. We need nurses so pick an institution that is willing to give you the experience as a new (acute care) RN.

You dont mention how long you had the job. The key is length if time on the job. Most companies want minimum of 1 year continuous work to be considered.
For example if you worked 6 week contact in 2020 and nothing more, I would pass on your resume. However you you have 2 years of experience that is continuous I would bring you on for an interview

Work PRN 1 to 2 days a week. Get back in the Acute swing slowly. Study.
Good Luck,
Brent

Ask for a position that is a re-entry precrepted transitional role, such as: a New grad program, or a precepted general med surgical position. Yale New Haven health has several programs like these listed, but the jobs are in Connecticut.

Consider applying for a Federal RN position; pre-cepted, then laterally move later. The military is an option that offers tuition forgiveness as does the VA. The VA is actively recruiting Case managers for their homeless care teams - nationwide! The VA also honors time in service for years served in the military and combines that time toward Federal Nursing Service.

VA Travel Nurse Corps headquartered in Phoenix, AZ may be an option to pursue, but the benefits are kind of week compared to regular Federal RN positions at the VA or DoD. Incidentally. DoD jobs on military bases are Worldwide if that interests you.

Case Management may be predominantly thought of as psych social Nursing; so, you could transition to an Acute psychiatric position with a good orientation, then once back in the hospital transfer laterally to the area you want to work in.

Consider applying to jobs in areas that are hard hit by the Nursing Shortage, but be ready to move stat because you will likely be hired immediately.

Lastly. Apply to a bridge program online and then indicate you are advancing your degree: bam, hired well there is a very high probability of being hired that is.

Have you considered a reentry program? That may provide both the practical education and the correct evaluations of your current skills, so that employers will search for you!

Connections.

What is the name of your agency? I would love to be connected to them. I'm not sure I can PM you.

Is this an on line application? Sometime you must match key words in your experience or resume skill to even move forward. Do not ever fabricate your skills but make sure you are truly representing yourself on the resume.

I would highly suggest you go back to your school and use your Alumni services for resume writing and transitioning. This services is afforded to you as a former student.

Good Luck. “Be That Nurse”

unfortunately, someone gave you bad advice about going into case management. That is an advanced practice role and I Am surprised that you got it. Being anew grad, you cannot get an acute care position without getting med/surg experience. What I Would suggest is this :
remove the case manager experience from your resume and resubmit as a new grad, looking for med surg experience. Because of the pandemic, a lot of new grads never got hired so if there is a gap in your resume, you can remind them that your graduated during the pandemic and were not able to be hired as a result. Now that the pandemic is over, you are looking for an entry level position as a staff nurse. If you look at job sights, you will see recruiting for either full time or contract nurses. DO not expect a big salary . It depends on what the hospital management wants to pay. If possible, do not join the union because all nonunion hospitals hire nurses at sometimes a higher hourly wage. Look at city hospitals as most of them are desparate for nurses. IFfyou speak a language, put that on your resume as well. It will be interesting for you to give us a followup when you do get hired. Good luck