I'm looking for some of your expert opinions on a situation I am in. Quick, a little about me, I graduated with my BSN in December 2012, passed the NCLEX February and got my license early April. Ever since, I've been applying constantly for RN positions with not even a single interview. My dream is to work in OB, eventually get my CNM but that's getting ahead of myself. With this job market, I was not picky and applied to all types of positions. I attended job fairs and a few weeks ago received a call from one of the companies that had my resume from a job fair. I went on an interview and was offered a full time position, but it is in a non medical inpatient psychiatric facility. I accepted the job, as it was my only offer and in this economy I am grateful to have a job. I have heard that if you want to go into a field other then psych, you shouldn't stay in psych for long as you lose your medical skills (in my case I haven't even had an opportunity to practice them at all yet as a nurse) and you are not marketable outside of psych. On the other hand, if I didn't accept this job, I'd be not working as a nurse at all. I plan to continue to apply to jobs in OB or Med/Surg while working. I would like to think that a year of Psych nursing would look better to a year of not working at all, but is this the case? Does it look that bad that my experience will be in psych? Would I have a better chance eventually getting into OB if I don't take this position? And just to make it clear, I am interested in this position, I love psych and I think I will love the job, it's just that I love OB more and unfortunately they are very different specialties.

Smart Girl for accepting the job. First of all reject all negative information that you here. Let me tell you my story. I started working as a case manager directly out of nursing school. It was my first job offer as a nurse and although not desirable...It paid great money and I needed a job. While working I started applying for clinical jobs. I updated my resume to make sure that it reflected all of my skills. I finally got an offer for an inpatient psych position for a small hospital. Again....not my first choice but I was making some progress. Again...I kept on applying for other positions....then got an offer for a psych position in the crisis center. There I learned how to draw blood, do EKGs, assessments, admit-discharge, etc...on the side I obtained my ACLS and PALs....got back on the job search...now I am going to be an ER NURSE!!!!! My dream job from day one. With patience and persistence you will and the job that you want.

Please stop referring to NURSING jobs as MEDICAL. Physicians are the only clinicians who practice medicine. Our industry is Health Care - not 'medicine'. Whew - I feel better now.

PP is correct - a paying job is preferable to no job. And psych nursing is a 'real' nursing job. If it is an inpatient psych facility, how can it not be also providing "medical" (psychiatric) care? Getting your foot in the door with a health care employer is important.

I think any position as a nurse is a good thing at this point. I have worked in medical offices and in healthcare for the last 10+ years but none of it in direct patient care (medical transcription, billing, coding, and management) so I know that's what I'm dealing with right now. I do believe I will find a nursing position soon though and that my experience in management and healthcare in general is a positive. Good luck!