good job for a new grad?

Specialties Ambulatory

Published

I graduated a month ago, and passed my boards and became licensed a week ago. I've been applying like crazy to every RN job in the surrounding area, and so far no one has bitten, except the clinic job that I accidentally applied for. I have a second interview tomorrow, and I'm wondering if it's a good job for a new grad. Its in a pediatric clinic, and I would be doing mostly triaging, paperwork, some rooming of patients, and some injections. My passion is in ED, but everywhere requires 2 years experience. I'm afraid I'll lose my skills that I spend the last 2 years learning. But it'll give me that experience that everyone wants. Is a clinic job considered experience for hospital work? Is it worth it, or should I hold out for a hospital job?

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New jobs are hard to come by. And I am a new grad too. And I read one post that said this well. What skills are you trying to protect? We don't have any yet. ;). Good luck with the second interview.

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IV starts, catheters, iv drips, blood admin, EKGs, everything. I'll be spending the next few years doing paper work and giving injections

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What I am saying is that practicing those things in school and in clinicals is not becoming skillful in them.

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Specializes in Cardiac, ER, Pediatrics, Corrections.

Hun, just a little advice. I'd change your profile pic so you can remain anonymous. Who knows if an employer reads these or anyone you know for that matter! Just looking our for you!

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Specializes in retired LTC.

A good job is any one that you can get in today's job market.

Any nsg job = nsg pay + nsg skills.

No nsg job = no pay + no skills.

I credit theCommuter for this pearl of wisdom - I did rephrase it as best as I remembered it.

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You might find pediatrics is your passion, and the experience wouldn't hurt for landing a position at a children's hospital ED.

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Great advice laKrugRN!

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Specializes in education, school nursing, med-surg, urgent care.

I agree with amoLucia and Maddy's Minion... if that's the only offer you have then it's better to have A job than NO job. Also, working with peds patients (and their parents!!!) is a huge skill in itself. And being able to work in a peds ED down the road would be a bonus. We can't always get our dream job when we first graduate but you can work towards it bit by bit. You're right, you may not be doing Foley catheters, IV's and ostomy dressings at the clinic, but there is more to nursing than doing those procedures. While working in the clinic you can do some volunteer work, get certified in ACLS/PALS or engage in other types of prof development to make your application more desireable to hospital settings if that is really your goal. Good luck in whatever you decide!

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I worked in a peds office for a year. I ended up leaving because I knew I didn't only want to work with kids. However, I really value the time I spent there. Even in the ambulatory setting I did straight caths a lot on little ones who had a fever of unknown origin and we also did EKGs on kids. The nurse typically did the weight checks on the babies that are fresh out of the hospital. You learn A LOT about how to help new parents with breast feeding and become a great resource. You also learn about assessing jaundice colors and when to send for a stat bili level. We also did vaccines on month old babies all the way to 18 year olds. This REALLY boosted my confidence working with children. I think you should take the job. Primary care is always a great starting point because no matter where you go, you can take those skills with you.

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Thanks everyone. I decided to take the job and if everything goes right, I'll start Monday. I'm looking forward to having a job. Any experience will help, and hopefully it'll get me to where I eventually want to end up

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Nice choice, hawksrn! And congrats. Everyone here was right with the advice of any job is better than no job. You will now have a nursing job to put on that resume! I started in the hospital, got a year in there, went per-diem and took an outpatient job. While I do not plan to stay forever in this particular clinic, I can say that I have learned that I actually like outpatient a lot more than inpatient. I am a "work to live" kind of person and the clinic has greatly improved my life outside of work. Pros and cons to both. IV starts, catheter insertions, etc, are all hands on skills that you can pick up and work on when you go to inpatient. You will be using your critical nurse thinking at the clinic and in my opinion, that's what is most important! And hey, you're just starting...and can go wherever you like from here! Good luck!

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