How to determine where to work after school?

[JoAnnS]

Hello:

Happy 4th..

Just curious:

Since you are fresh out of school, how & where do you decide to work?

You take the best salary. Ok, don't laugh at me.

Out of school, you don't have experience (except the clinical's) so who is most likely going to hire you? Nursing home's I expect.

Just trying to think ahead. Wondering if I apply at the nearest Nursing home or one that pays more, but I'll have to drive about a hour.

I do appreciate your comments.

I know I have a long way to go since I haven't even started school yet. But looking to hear what all y'all have to say.

Thanks

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) tend to pay the most money, because these places tend to have extremely high turnover rates. Getting hired at an LTCF or SNF is a rather easy feat to accomplish.

I would apply at the nursing home that is closest to your home, because it makes no sense to drive to a facility located an hour away when the increase in pay will only add up to a couple of dollars per hour. You'll just end up spending the extra money on gas and car maintenance. Also, quality of life is a factor. I have endured some lengthy commutes during my 26 years of existence and, if given the choice, I wouldn't do it again. Commuting led to weight gain, back pains, stress, and too much time away from home.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Happy 4th..

Thanks! The same to you, too! :)

[SurgicalLPN]

Well when you think about nursing and what it means to you what kind of nursing comes to mind? Now think about what rate of pay you could be satisfied with because LTC pay sometimes 4 times more than hospitals. Good luck in nursing school!

[JoAnnS]

nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities (snfs) tend to pay the most money, because these places tend to have extremely high turnover rates. getting hired at an ltcf or snf is a rather easy feat to accomplish.

i would apply at the nursing home that is closest to your home, because it makes no sense to drive to a facility located an hour away when the increase in pay will only add up to a couple of dollars per hour. you'll just end up spending the extra money on gas and car maintenance. also, quality of life is a factor. i have endured some lengthy commutes during my 26 years of existence and, if given the choice, i wouldn't do it again. commuting led to weight gain, back pains, stress, and too much time away from home.

hi

thank you.

this is a great place for information. what you are saying makes a lot of sense.

have a great day today

joann

[Fiona59]

Well, during your training you'll be exposed to lots of different areas of nursing. I went into nursing thinking I'd do geriatrics. Found my real love is surgical nursing.

Up here, we are primarily unionized, so we make the same pay no matter where we work. There are some jobs that have extra pay (but it's not much) such as in dialysis, the OR, or in the cast rooms.

You'll find something that appeals to you.

[caliotter3]

In many areas the job situation is not spectacular, so many new grads apply to every place available and take the job that is offered to them, if there is one. If you are lucky, you live in an area with plentiful opportunities. In this instance, apply for the positions that you think will grab your interest the best. If none of your first choices make you an offer or interview you within a reasonable time, then you can start applying to what is left. If you are unlucky to live in an area without good job opportunities, you may find yourself having to cast your net further or even relocating. I would suggest trying to get something closer than the job you mentioned that is an hour away. I've done the long commute thing and I can attest that it gets old very fast. It wears you down over time and wears down your car even faster. Do not do a long commute unless you really are in a bind for a job. JMO.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

Actually, from what I have witnessed, people wind up specializing sometimes at one of the places that happened to hire them. Some folks have plans, or a focus for work, and get redirected somehow. I had a friend that winded up in pediatrics, and that was not her plan at all. I wasn't sure, but, expected to go to med-surg, but got hired in the same clinic where I was an assistant. It was actually the best for me because I do love patient teaching, I hated med-surg (but plan to do overtime up there every now and then) have weekends and holidays off and then, I branched over to home care on some weekends.

When you go for your clinicals, you may then get a better feel of what actually interests you...you will have med-surg, psych, pediatrics and women's health rotations.