New Grad ASC for opthalmalogy vs. Acute Care

Nurses Career Support

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Hi everyone! I graduated with my BSN in Dec 2011 and finally, I received two stable job offers. I am having a dilemma as to which one I should pick. Ambulatory care or acute care, esp if my goal is to become an NP in a clinic?

In nursing school, I knew that I did not want to be a floor nurse. I wanted to work in ambulatory care/outpatient/clinic, so my goal is to go back to school and get my NP after a year or 2 of working. I have read other forums and they said the FIRST job they received as a new grad was for ambulatory care, so they were advised to take it. I, however, have received two offers. One offer for an ASC as an RN for opthalmology patients doing perioperative work, and the other is for a New Grad transition program at an acute care hospital. I am pretty sure I don't want to be a floor nurse forever so I wanted to ask you guys if it would be better to just stick with my goal and gain experience in outpatient/clinic care or go get acute care experience regardless of wanting to go back to school and get my NP license.

I'm concerned that the outpatient jobs may no be stable in the future and if I work there now, I would ruin my chances of getting a more stable job at an acute care hospital if outpatient doesn't work out. Acute care hospitals are usually always abundant once you get that experience in. I have a chance to get acute care experience, but I'm not sure if I want to take it since I don't want to do acute care in the long run anyways :/

If I can please have some feedback on to what is most beneficial for my future, I'd appreciate it! I love the fact that outpatient is a lot more laid back and I am able to get to spend more time with my patients as well as be a little more autonomous. I am not really bothered by making less money in outpatient because I believe that happiness is much more worth it than having a job that pays well, but hating that job.

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