[GeorgiaPeach2008]

I have a question for everyone. I think I already know the answer, but I want to get your thoughts. I am graduating May 9. YAY! I work at a teaching hospital in the Neonatal ICU as a nurse extern and I like working there. However, my real desire is to work in pediatricOncology. At my hospital we had a pediatric oncology doctor but he resigned/fired whatever a few weeks ago so now we are having to send our oncology patients to Atlanta. I applied for a NICU position and I have had my interview, but I want know if I got the job for a few weeks. Am I making a mistake if I take the job in the NICU or should I apply for a peds oncology position in Atlanta or a general peds position at the hospital I work at so I can at least have peds experience? If I went to Atlanta I would have to move about 2 hours away.

[llg]

We'd really need a lot more information before we could give you any reasonable advice. For example: How do you feel about moving 2 hours (or more) away to find a peds oncology position? Is that something that you are comfortable with? Would you be more comfortable working peds at your current hospital for a year or two to get that experience? Is there a good chance that your current hospital will recruit another peds oncologist ... or is your only chance to work in that specialty dependent on your moving away? etc. etc. etc.

Given the difficulties of the typical transition from student to staff nurse ... I lean towards getting peds experience in your home community where you have friends, family, etc. (if that is the case) ... rather than moving to a strange city where you don't know anyone, signing a lease, etc. Then, after you have some experience under your belt, you can move to a larger hospital as an experienced peds nurse.

But then ... I am assuming that you don't have a support system in the larger town -- and that getting peds experience in your home community is a reasonable option for you.

[kristenncrn]

I totally agree with llg.

I'd also say that one absolutely wonderful thing about nursing is that you don't have to do anything forever! Keep in mind that most of your positions are temporary... you're always changing and growing, even if it's just to charge nurse or preceptor.

Peds Onc (from friends who work there) is a pretty unique place. If you were to choose general Peds for now, you'd have an excellent foundation to move there - or most any place else. Even going in to the NICU for a year would be a good foundation - you are a critical care nurse right away (rock on!) and you have some amazing assessment skills in a complex population. Going straight into Peds Onc, which is considered to be a pretty emotionally difficult field, could be tough simply because that first year of nursing is already emotionally difficult. I wish it weren't, because I really believe it doesn't have to be as hard as it is for most of us, but we deal with reality as nurses. And statistically - you're up for a few rough shifts.

But what a fantastic life - and what a cool person you must be to like this kind of environment!

I wish you the best of luck and congrats on graduation!