HELP! What should I do?

Nurses Job Hunt

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Hi nurses!!

I am a new grad, second career nurse. I have been job hunting since I graduated December 13, 2013. (And I mean the REAL DEAL hunting- cold calling, going to area hospitals and introducing myself to NMs on units I'm interested in, emails, phone calls, networking with friends of friends, doctor friends of friends, NM friends of friends, nurse friends, nurse friends of friends, nursing school instructors, linked in, job websites..... not a stone unturned) I used to be in sales and I guess the skills of shameless self-promotion never left me. My goal is oncology nursing and to get on the ladder at any area hospital with a strong new grad training program so I can start the climb. I received word Friday that I will be getting a call from HR at the hospital of my choice for a position on a unit I hadn't really considered, adolescent mental health. There are two problems: first, does psych offer any transferability to the oncology field? Second, the shift would be 3p-11p (the major after-school-homework-dinner-prep-how-was-your-day time with my 3 kids and husband). I was so convinced it was going to be so easy to take the first good job that came along......... and I was truly willing to be flexible with my first real RN job! But psych? 3p-11p? Ohhhhhhhh.

Am I dumb to take it? Am I dumb not to take it? I live in an area SATURATED with nursing schools and hundreds of their fledgling new grads. I want to be with this hospital so badly! (Big system, strong training, lots of transferability, Magnet status, good vibes during clinicals, strong nurse relationships, yada, yada, yada).

PROS:

The idea of psych seems very appealing to me. I have some personal experience with dealing with mental illness in my family and I'm able to empathize with families enduring this struggle in a way that is unique and hard-won. I definitely have the energy for it. I'm a goofball and dealing with kids and teens would probably offer the opportunity for me to use this trait in a way that actually benefits the patients. It's THE hospital system where I want to be (not the exact location however). If I take the job I could transfer someday to another location closer to my home

CONS:

It's not oncology. It's not even a skilled-nursing position that will help me with the necessary skilled-nursing requirements of oncology (tubes, drains, blood, gore, wounds, surgeries, machines, meds, more meds, physical illness, life and death, etc). I'd be using up my "new grad" training on a psych unit and lose (new grad "forgivable") training on thousands of said nursing skills needed on other units. It's 3p-11p! Location of the particular hospital in the system is in a major city, which means fighting with traffic 30-45 minutes each way. Would it look bad if I took the job to "get in" but then left in a year or two for another location within the same company?

So what do I do?????????????????? Any constructive input would be GREATLY appreciated (money is pretty consistent for new grad positions at any location in my area and perks don't matter either b/c my husband's job provides all benefits). Tomorrow I'm emailing all my contacts as a last-ditch effort to get interviews and/or consideration for the 50+ other RN positions I've applied for/expressed interest in. I will probably have to make a decision by the end of the week- April 4, 2014. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I really do appreciate any help this fabulous community of all nurses.com provides! I looooove the articles and comments!

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Specializes in Home Care.

It's a job. I'd take it. Get your foot in the door.

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It's a great foundation for learning how to address complex behavioural issues, which, let's be honest spans pretty much every area of nursing & it gets your foot in the door. Every patient has the potential to become a mental health patient because mental health is not static. Tip: never turn your back on a psych patient (or any patient for that matter). And always know where/never obstruct your access to an exit. Don't be scared, from my experience patient behaviour on mental health units and well, most other units, is comparable. Oftentimes, the mental health patients seem more rational that "regular" patients because depending on the severity of their mental illness, mental health patients are more aware of their diagnosis or "otherness" that's often ascribed onto them. There's a lot of reluctant and/or undiagnosed mental health patients floating around health systems & you my dear will encounter them all throughout your career whether you are in psych or oncology. Trust me, I've worked in both areas ;) Good luck!

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Specializes in critical care.

A couple of thoughts...

If this is a hospital with a code team, get on it. Then you won't feel like you're completely removed from the skills you want to keep fresh.

My other thought.... My husband works second shift and has since k started school. This makes it possible for me to be in school because I won't miss clinical if the kids are off school. It is not ideal. We have weekdays when we don't even see him, the whole week. It's hard. Right now it's an ends to a mean. I think we've hit a groove where our nights are harder when he IS home because it disrupts our normal routine and then the kids (and the dog!) are completely nutty. This is not a way I would want things to be permanently. It is, however, entirely survivable and when you need to get your foot in a door, it can become a comfortable routine. It is worth it, in my opinion. I know the situation isn't the same. We've had this schedule for 3 years, though, and if you're hoping to simply get your foot in the door and wait for the dream spot, I think it's worth considering.

This sounds like it's a hard decision to make. I hope you find your answer easily and it feels right to you in the end. Best wishes!

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I accepted the position!!! I'm so excited. My preceptor's shift is 7a-7p so I'm not going to worry about the other shift until the time comes. NM said 11p-7a is not hard to get and that I shouldn't have a problem if I request it after my preceptorship finishes. I've been reading A LOT about adolescent psych and I think it's going to be a beautiful fit. I'll post again in a few months after I know what I'm dealing with…. thank so much for the advice posts.

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I am jealous, I want to work in adolescent psych!

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Specializes in N/A.

I hope you enjoy yourself! I never imagined I would get into mental health, but I did and I am so glad that I got to have the experience. Although I wasn't in nursing (Program Director) as a manager, I had to fill in for my direct care staff on many occasions and have "had my bell rung" as we say here in the south :) several times. It is very hard, emotionally exhausting work at times, but also very rewarding. You may fall in love with it and never imagine yourself anywhere else! Caffine is so right on-never turn your back and know that many mental health patients are very aware of their situation. I also learned to take off my glasses when a patient gets agitated because I have been hit in the face twice with one bloody nose! Also quite a few poop throwing incidents I would rather forget :scrying: but I feel like I can handle almost anything now! Good Luck!

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Congrats on the job!! Just wondering- how did you end up getting your in? Any advice? It sounds like you really worked hard so good for you for getting that job!

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Congrats on the job!! Just wondering- how did you end up getting your in? Any advice? It sounds like you really worked hard so good for you for getting that job!

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Specializes in Wound Care.

I work in adolescent mental health now and LOVE it. I work with teenage girls who have eating disorders and other underlying psych issues.

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