Question for all the new nurses

Da_Milk_of_Amnesia, MSN · Jan 10, 2010

I have to start with saying that at first when i started I was not where I wanted to be...I was 1 step away I was doing CT step down and I wanted to be doing CTICU, but they didnt want to take me for one reason or another considering I did my externship there..so I was forced to do something that my heart was not fully in...I ended up resigning from that job..well it was more a forced resignation but in any event I packed my **** up and left and I went to find a new job...I work at another area hospital where I do trauma and I work in the ICU/CCU and at the first hospital I was at you had to have 2 years exp and you had to wait for someone to either die or retire before you could get into the Units..So to answer your question at first I was not happy with where I was....But now I am totally happy where I am and I love what Im doing..it's not always happy, but when you're asked to work in the ICU because I'm a step above everyone else. It's a good thing.

kxvc · Jan 10, 2010

I graduated in August. Nursing is everything I thought it would be and then some. I got my dream job in the ER I wanted to work at. What I had not realized is that I was looking at it through rose colored glasses. No one seems to care I am fresh off orientation without my ACLS (we have 6 mo to get it and I get mine this month). Don't get me wrong, it is a rewarding career and most nights I love my job. I have learned to say no to staffing when they call to add me on for an extra shift because they're short staffed. I went in extra one day and just about lost my sanity. Maybe in the future when I have a better handle on things, but right now I enjoy my days off. I am an ADN so I do plan to go back to school in the fall once I am done with my basic training and education in the ER. I may even continue my education after that if the situation allows.

smurfynursey · Jan 10, 2010

my experiance is very much like emtrn6785's. i started out in a small communuty hospital doing med/surg/tele because that is all i could get. for various reasons i ended up leaving that job after about 2 weeks - it was a horrible experiance. my true love was always peds and i got a job working at a camp for disadvantaged kids in june. i was there for the season and then got a job at a peds. long term care facility. i love it but i have plans on moving to a peds oncology job after a few more months...

Delawhere_RN · Jan 11, 2010

I graduated in Dec and am job searching now. I am in that "whatever is available" mode right now, and feel that each potential is a "diamond in the rough" because really I like alot of aspects of different branches in nursing. Where I'll fall in love (with my job) I have no idea, so where I go is an adventure, hopefully I won't hate it.

But I have the goal of staying somewhere 6 -12 months before moving on, take inventory of what I like and don't like, get involved with things that has to do with nursing and healthcare and see where the next move is.

But I actually thought, before nursing school, that there was nothing to nursing.....boy was I pleasently wrong!

Mustang Sally · Jan 11, 2010

I graduated in May and had trouble finding a job. I evenutally found something in Med/Surg at a horrible rural hospital. That lasted 3 months when one of the Level 1 hospitals in my area called me for an interview. I am now in the ED and I am exactly where I am supposed to be. As for nursing being everything I dreamed of, well, after a rocky start I can honestly say that it's better than I could have imagined! And while I hated every minute of this past summer, it makes me appreciate what I have even more!

Blackheartednurse · Jan 11, 2010

I'm a new RN and I'm starting my first job in few weeks...Although nursing career is very chalenging I dont regret getting my license...I know that desk job is not for me...I always wanted to start in med-surg,you know general unit to learn everything from the scratch..I send an infinite number of applications and couldnt for the life of me find a job in my home state...By the end of 6 month mark I started to seriously freak out and question my future..so decided to become flexible and applied to bunch of hospitals all over United States..I applied to every floor except ICU...I got few calls back and decided to accept a position on cardiac floor (post heart surgeries,cardiac patients and medical overflow) in a reputable,very large teaching hospital..I never wanted or planned to work on cardiac floor as a new grad (although I enjoyed my tele clinical rotations!) but I didnt believe in my capabilities being a new grad and all but I guess I was in a way "forced" or thrown to a deep water given the bad economy...I always wanted to start my rn career in a small county hospital on a regular floor and take it from there but the destiny had its own plan--I'm pretty excited about starting in few weeks but also much in fear!!

webmansx, ASN, RN · Jan 11, 2010

I'm a new RN and I'm starting my first job in few weeks...Although nursing career is very chalenging I dont regret getting my license...I know that desk job is not for me...I always wanted to start in med-surg,you know general unit to learn everything from the scratch..I send an infinite number of applications and couldnt for the life of me find a job in my home state...By the end of 6 month mark I started to seriously freak out and question my future..so decided to become flexible and applied to bunch of hospitals all over United States..I applied to every floor except ICU...I got few calls back and decided to accept a position on cardiac floor (post heart surgeries,cardiac patients and medical overflow) in a reputable,very large teaching hospital..I never wanted or planned to work on cardiac floor as a new grad (although I enjoyed my tele clinical rotations!) but I didnt believe in my capabilities being a new grad and all but I guess I was in a way "forced" or thrown to a deep water given the bad economy...I always wanted to start my rn career in a small county hospital on a regular floor and take it from there but the destiny had its own plan--I'm pretty excited about starting in few weeks but also much in fear!!

Tis your destiny...Go get 'em !!!! Sure you'll be awsome! :)

Nurse Joey · Jan 11, 2010

I'm in the Houston area, and when I graduated I was shocked to learn the nursing shortage didn't apply to unexperienced LVN's. Hospitals want you to have hospital experience, but if a hospital won't hire you then how do you get the experience? I did eventually find a few jobs, and I am currently working different areas to get experience. I orginally wanted to work ED, but thats not happening. I do plan on getting my RN. Best of luck to all.

Shona0522 · Jan 11, 2010

I graduated in May and went right to work at a small critical access hospital in my hometown on the Med-Surg floor. I am so thankful that things have worked out this way! I have found being a new nurse to be overwhelming at times and the team environment on our floor has helped me in more ways than I can count. I have to say that I never really thought much about working med-surg when I was in school. I just kind of always thought I would specialize in some area and thought I might like Labor and Delivery. After a lot of thought, I decided a med-surg job would be a great start, as I wanted to get some experience and gain some confidence. This has proven to be one of the best decisions I could have made!

I may go on and specialize some day, but right now, I'm feeling pretty good about my decision to work med-surg. I am taking a tele class right now, and ACLS is scheduled for March. I am learning so much about so many different conditions and getting comfortable in my own skin as a new nurse. Everyone is different, but I think I would have been completely stressed and overwhelmed starting out in ER or ICU. I haven't ruled out going back to get my BSN, but it's not in my near future. We'll see...Maybe someday!

Best Wishes to you!