Need advice -- will I get pigeonholed into 1 type of nursing??

KatieBell · Sep 21, 2005

i don't think anything will pigeonhole you exactly in nursing, but from experience clinic work is not like hospital work. (this is not to say that working in a busy clinic is not challenging or stressful etc, but you do different things). you will not get the same experience (of caring for acutely ill patients who need hospitalization), and many managers may be reluctant to hire you for hospital positions if you only have clinic experience in your career, so it might be more difficult for you, but certainly not impossible. (now if you want to go from clinic to icu or ed, well...)

Editorial Team / Admin · Sep 21, 2005

I need some advice. I'm a new nurse -- graduated in May, passed boards in late June. I worked for about a month and a half on a very busy med/surg floor and HATED it and ended up quitting. (Long story, but it wasn't a good floor and all the other new nurses there have quit as well).
Now I've been offered a position at an Allergy & Asthma clinic. My concern is this: if I take this job, will it pigeonhole me into this field? Or should I still be able to find another nursing job in a different field down the road? I'll get that all-important "1 year of experience", but it won't be in med/surg.
I figure I should be OK, because you hear all the time about the widely varying jobs that nurses have had in their careers. But I'd appreciate advice/reassurance.
Thanks!
amy :)

Hello, amyrae76, :nurse:

Pigeon-holed????? Only if you allow it to be.

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Sep 22, 2005

I have to give my opinion. 12 years ago I went straight from school to a large clinic, and worked mostly clinic ever since. The hospitals want nothing to do with an experienced nurse that does not have hospital experience. I have found this to be true in Az and TX. This has held true even in places with nursing shortages. I interview well, have a professional appearance, and sterling references. I would caution you to make this decision very carefully.

On the other hand, I have been able to obtain management and staff positions in ambulatory care, and most recently clinical research. I love what I am doing now, but if I lost my job it would be difficult. When I graduated it was the last down cycle in nursing, and nurses were being layed off by the thousands. I love my hours and schedule with weekends and holidays off, especially since I was a unit secretary for over 10 years prior to becoming a nurse and did my share of shifts, doubles, nights, weekends, and holidays. However, an atypical background is not easy, and it really does limit your options.

Best of luck to you.

MarySunshine · Sep 22, 2005

Crunch,

I have no experience in this situation, so I don't doubt for a minute the experiences you've had. But I find the rationale confusing: why would a hospital hire a new grad and train them, but not hire a nurse with a clinical background and train them??? Seems like the nurse with the clinical background would be faster to train. Odd.

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Sep 22, 2005

I didn't either! I am told they want young, easily influenced nurses. That they do not want to pay for experience ( although I would have been flexible at that time), and do not want "more mature" people. This is what other hospital nurses have told me. i wouldn't know though because none of the hospital's ever responded to my applications either here or in AZ.

Editorial Team / Admin · Sep 22, 2005

I didn't either! I am told they want young, easily influenced nurses. That they do not want to pay for experience ( although I would have been flexible at that time), and do not want "more mature" people. This is what other hospital nurses have told me. i wouldn't know though because none of the hospital's ever responded to my applications either here or in AZ.

Hello, CrunchRN,:balloons:

That is discrimination!!!!!!!!!! :eek: :nono: :nono:

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Sep 22, 2005

Siri - it really is. It is very hard to prove though. I am only 42, and when i applied in a previous state I was only 36. It is not overt though so you cannot really fight it. I was just happy that I had networked with some hospital nurses and found out what was going on. Prior to that I could not figure out why someone with fabulous references wasn't even getting any calls from the hospitals with all their many ad's in the paper. I did get calls, but not from a single hospital.

Editorial Team / Admin · Sep 22, 2005

Siri - it really is. It is very hard to prove though. I am only 42, and when i applied in a previous state I was only 36. It is not overt though so you cannot really fight it. I was just happy that I had networked with some hospital nurses and found out what was going on. Prior to that I could not figure out why someone with fabulous references wasn't even getting any calls from the hospitals with all their many ad's in the paper. I did get calls, but not from a single hospital.

Hi again,

If this institution's administration actually told you this, this is proof enough for they have told others the same thing. This needs to be stopped. Someone needs to nip this and now.

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Sep 22, 2005

Unfortunately, it was staff nurses who enlightened me so it is not something you can prove. I would love to find out from other nurses in differing regions if this has occured in their areas. No one was more shocked than I was not to get calls during the "supposed" shortage. That is why I felt it was so important to let the original poster know what can occur.

rn/writer, RN · Sep 22, 2005

I need some advice. I'm a new nurse -- graduated in May, passed boards in late June. I worked for about a month and a half on a very busy med/surg floor and HATED it and ended up quitting. (Long story, but it wasn't a good floor and all the other new nurses there have quit as well).
Now I've been offered a position at an Allergy & Asthma clinic. My concern is this: if I take this job, will it pigeonhole me into this field? Or should I still be able to find another nursing job in a different field down the road? I'll get that all-important "1 year of experience", but it won't be in med/surg.
I figure I should be OK, because you hear all the time about the widely varying jobs that nurses have had in their careers. But I'd appreciate advice/reassurance.
Thanks!
amy :)

I started out in a similar way. Substandard sub-acute unit in a sub-sub-standard nursing home. This place was not good for a new grad, an experienced nurse or the residents. I got out after six months and went into psych with the same reservations about pigeonholing that you have expressed. I really liked my new job and stayed there for five years. Then, for personal reasons, I had to take time off.

Fast forward five more years. I have six months of sub-acute, five years of psych, and a five-year gap. I didn't know whether I even stood a chance of getting a job I could live with, but with the nursing shortage (not as acute in my area as in other parts of the country), I figured I'd at least give it a shot.

The best thing I did was take an inexpensive RN refresher course. Eight weeks of classroom, skills lab, and clinical. This renewed my technical abilities, got me up to speed on the latest practices and equipment, and gave me some hospital exposure. But the best thing it did was renew my confidence. Before the class, I felt like a poor relation showing up at the door. After, I knew I had something to offer and that made all the difference.

I commend you for having the good sense and desire for self-preservation to get yourself out of a bad situation. If this clinic job seems like a good fit and you don't have other irons in the fire, go for it.

If your long-range goal is hospital work, keep an ear open to opportunites and put the word out that you are interested. Many jobs are never advertised because they are able to fill them by word of mouth. Look online for positions even if you aren't actively job-hunting so you can keep abreat of what is out there and what kinds of qualifications they are asking for. If, at some point, you have the chance to take a refresher class (not only meant for those who have taken a hiatus but also for those who need to change their specialty area), by all means, check it out.

IMO, it's better to have a job you can live with and trust that you'll find your way down the road than to worry overmuch about doors that may or may not close. Doors open for those who have determination, good skills, and a sense of optimism.

I wish you the best.

nelcoy4 · Sep 22, 2005

Unfortunately, it was staff nurses who enlightened me so it is not something you can prove. I would love to find out from other nurses in differing regions if this has occured in their areas. No one was more shocked than I was not to get calls during the "supposed" shortage. That is why I felt it was so important to let the original poster know what can occur.

I heard about hospitals doing that. There was a CNA (that worked at my last job longer than I have been alive) that was real close with the nurse manger and she told me that the manager likes to hire brand new nurses esp ones with no children. They are easy to manipulate because of their lack of experience. Also they would not issues with their schedule because they do not have any children. I was so shocked because I left my job because of my schedule and the higher ups was suprised because I don't have children.

I'm sorry to get off topic, but I understand how you feel. But like somebody posted you can go to the refresher classess if you ever wanted to go back to the bedside.