Whats the best way to ramp up my nursing career. Im stuck in a rut on a med/surg unit for 3 years now!?

Ive been a registered nurse on a medical/surgical unit for 3 years now with 5 years experience as an LPN prior to that (total of 8 years experience) and I want to move onto something bigger & better, problem is each time I try to apply to a position such as Recovery, OR, Ambulatory surgery or Pre-op, I never get called for an interview because I have no previous experience in these areas. Well how the heck do they expect you to get experience if they wont give you experience. Any experienced nurses with any input would be greatly appreciated

Answers:
You didn't mention if you have your ADN or your BSN, but one of the very best ways to ramp up any nursing career is to obtain your BSN. Many employers will actually absorb the cost of the degree and can be done via on line classes. Nothing would show your current employer and others your serious about your career more than continuing on with your education. Make sure to be the one that volunteers to float to other units when the opportunity presents itself, and express an interest in maybe becoming part of the unit your floating to if it interests you. If your looking outside your current hospital, and you see positions posted for positions, don't hesitate to send a personal letter and resume to the nurse manager of the unit your applying to. Make it short though, express your interest and make sure to mention you have submitted an application as well. Also, becoming active in any local nursing organizations is a wonderful way to network. Good luck..jen
maybe you need dto beef up the experience you get on med/surg. ( IN your application I mean) after all , there aren't many experiences you DON'T get working on a busy unit like that. many folk applying will not have previous experience in those areas, but are getting interview on how they sell themselves. you could get a professional cv done by a good resume writer.
Hi I have been an R.N. for 16 years now and worked lots of different areas. It may help by getting acls tncc and taking some critical care courses. Keep applying for various postions and something will open up for you.
Go for your bachelors and/or master's degree in Nursing. Start taking classes or CEU's in whatever specialty you want to go into. Take some classes in PACU, in ACLS or whatever else. The OR and it's related departments (PACU, SDS, etc...) are very hard to get into in a hospital. It's like Maternity - very involved in cliques and it's WHO you know, not always what you know.

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